http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/all-about-cooking/just-how-important-are-recipes/ You Have To Eat, So Learn To Cook & Eat Well Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:38:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/all-about-cooking/just-how-important-are-recipes/comment-page-1/#comment-54465 Peter Hertzmann Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:14:23 +0000 http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/all-about-cooking/just-how-important-are-recipes/#comment-54465 Recipes are how the elements of a dish are transferred from one cook to the next. As such they are very valuable from both a current and an historical value. I think the real issue is how rigidly individuals feel that they must follow a recipe as a set of rules that cannot be broken. If you develop your cooking skills sufficiently, it will only require the hint of a recipe to create worthwhile dishes (although the dish will be yours and not a duplication of someone else’s unless you follow their prescription rigorously). Many people fall into a trap where they feel they can only cook if they have a recipe to follow, this is unfortunate. But conversely, when I'm trying to recreate a dish from the past, following a recipe is very important. Recipes are how the elements of a dish are transferred from one cook to the next. As such they are very valuable from both a current and an historical value. I think the real issue is how rigidly individuals feel that they must follow a recipe as a set of rules that cannot be broken. If you develop your cooking skills sufficiently, it will only require the hint of a recipe to create worthwhile dishes (although the dish will be yours and not a duplication of someone else’s unless you follow their prescription rigorously). Many people fall into a trap where they feel they can only cook if they have a recipe to follow, this is unfortunate. But conversely, when I’m trying to recreate a dish from the past, following a recipe is very important.

]]> http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/all-about-cooking/just-how-important-are-recipes/comment-page-1/#comment-54191 Lynette Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:41:15 +0000 http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/all-about-cooking/just-how-important-are-recipes/#comment-54191 Actually, I think what he says is common sense and is something that was widely known by our grandparents. Their recipe books are almost cryptic as compared to ours today. Perhaps that is why I tend to gravitate towards cookbooks which have no pictures. A good example for me of this last point is Annie Bell's Evergreen. I would like to know though, what is his recipe for maintaining his energy levels! Actually, I think what he says is common sense and is something that was widely known by our grandparents. Their recipe books are almost cryptic as compared to ours today. Perhaps that is why I tend to gravitate towards cookbooks which have no pictures. A good example for me of this last point is Annie Bell’s Evergreen. I would like to know though, what is his recipe for maintaining his energy levels!

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