Do you tinker with recipes?
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
Eugene, Oregon
November 5, 2018 7:28pm CST
I'm cooking tonight and making this Skillet Chicken/Sun-dried tomato recipe I found. The one thing I did not have is heavy cream, 3/4 of a cup. Now, here I would tinker and use half and half, to cut down the fat. I didn't have that either though.
Anne said I could use some milk with added butter, but I draw the line with tinkering there. So, I made quick trip to the store and got some half and half.
Hmm, now I read that recipe more closely and there are several steps. That will take some concentration, but only about a half hour.
So, you see that I am kind of a slave to a recipe. Do you freely substitute ingredients or recipe instructions?
Hmm, now I read that recipe more closely and there are several steps. That will take some concentration, but only about a half hour.
So, you see that I am kind of a slave to a recipe. Do you freely substitute ingredients or recipe instructions?19 people like this
24 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
6 Nov 18
I wrote a cookbook, so yes I will try out 2, 3 different things, like milk, cream and half and half.
4 people like this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
6 Nov 18
Oh yes. Recipes are merely suggestions.
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49184)
• United States
6 Nov 18
We substitute all the time how did your meal turn out ?
how did your meal turn out ?2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Nov 18
It was fantastic, @Tampa_girl7. I am always shocked!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326431)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@JamesHxstatic I am mostly surprised when I cook and it turns out nice. I don't think I've done 'fantastic' too often.
@sallypup (58208)
• Centralia, Washington
6 Nov 18
@JamesHxstatic Thanks. We've had hard times so I've done a lot of subbing in food; if a recipe called for brown sugar and I had molasses and only white sugar, I'd add molasses and white sugar.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Nov 18
@sallypup Sounds like that would work.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Nov 18
Now that is creative, something Anne might think of, not I.
2 people like this
@noni1959 (9889)
• United States
6 Nov 18
I substitute and I add or take away and make them my own. I made some oatmeal cookies but didn't have any chocolate chips so I took some Hershey kisses and sliced and diced to use. Gave them a bit better taste I thought. I'll lessen the amount of sugar or add something I think may enhance like cinnamon.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326431)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
Many of the 'old' recipes that I use can be made equally well with much less sugar than they suggest.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
9 Nov 18
We can't get chocolate chips in Japan so I use some lovely dark chocolate slabs that I crumble up. I like them better than chocolate chips.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Nov 18
That daredevil,Vince. I must have the right stuff.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16548)
• China
10 Nov 18
For me,recipe is just for reference.I often substitue the ingredient I like for the one in the recipe.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459742)
• Switzerland
6 Nov 18
The first time I try a recipe I stick to the ingredients listed, because I want to test the recipe as it is described. Sometimes I skip some ingredients that I judge have nothing to do with the recipe and are put there for a "commercial" purpose to sell more products.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459742)
• Switzerland
13 Nov 18
@JamesHxstatic I cannot stand when a recipe specifies the brand I should use, unless it is a recipe I find on the site of a specific brand. Of course if I search the chocolate mousse on the site of Lindt chocolate, they give a recipe telling you to use a bar of dark Lindt chocolate, this is acceptable.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Nov 18
Oh yes, that happens too. Some recipes specify brands.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12644)
• Ireland
6 Nov 18
@jameshxstatic I can’t be bothered cooking according to someone else’s instructions. I cook free style. Sometimes it works. Other times we go hungry.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Nov 18
I am a recipe hound. I get emails with recipe sites.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80050)
• United States
12 Nov 18
I will tinker with a recipe to a certain extent but I probably would have gone to the store for the heavy cream and not look for a substitute. I would have been leery that a substitute would ruin the dish
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Nov 18
It did not seem to affect it. I just did not want the extra fat.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Nov 18
Not a bad idea. I guess I do that some too and Anne certainly does.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
9 Nov 18
I think I have never faithfully followed a recipe in my life. I like to play around with them too much. Or a lot of things were not available 38 years ago when I came to Japan, so I learned how to improvise and substitute. My mom was the kind of cook who followed the recipe, but mostly recipes on a box. My dad was the creative one, and he made great stews, desserts and other things. I think I take after him.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Nov 18
That is a good choice, I am becoming more adventurous.
@resukill22 (25052)
• Las Pinas City, Philippines
6 Nov 18
Sometimes I'm not always follow on what in the recipe, I follow what I think much better.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Nov 18
You are an adventurer and probably a good cook too.
1 person likes this
@resukill22 (25052)
• Las Pinas City, Philippines
10 Nov 18
@JamesHxstatic not so much but thank you hehe
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Nov 18
I have grown to like cooking and was a single dad for several years.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Nov 18
@leny34 Yes, I cook pretty well actually and get a lot of good recipes online.
1 person likes this
@leny34 (8506)
• Sidoarjo, Indonesia
9 Nov 18
@JamesHxstatic so you can cook too?
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i have to sometimes.if i'm allergic to an ingredient,or it's hard to find,or if it's something i plain don't like in my food.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Nov 18
That is a good reason to make changes.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170794)
• United States
6 Nov 18
I like to try to adhere to recipes if possible, but sometimes you have to improvise..and sometimes you might come up with something a bit better than what is written.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Nov 18
It is nice to get lucky that way.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Nov 18
We tinker with everything! As we don't eat meat (including chicken) or dairy, you know we would really have to use some clever substitutes.
Now we are encouraging some others to be adventurous and add their touch to any recipe they enjoy. Some here have allergies, others have kidney issues while others just don't eat certain things by choice. It can make it fun to pull a meal together!
1 person likes this
@hillhjill (23664)
• United States
6 Nov 18
Yes if I'm making something and don't have all what I need I will make do with what I got or make it as close as I can.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Nov 18
I gotta have the right stuff I guess.
1 person likes this
@things4gotten (477)
• United States
6 Nov 18
Most of the time I will try out a recipe and then try to think of ways to improve upon it the next time I make it.
1 person likes this
@NormanDarlo (1071)
• Ireland
6 Nov 18
I usually try to follow a recipe to the letter the first time I attempt it, but after that I freewheel it, and seldom look at the recipe again. Enjoy your chicken!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29340)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Nov 18
It turned out great, but will change it a little next time.
1 person likes this
