Question of the Day: Do You Give Out Your Prized Recipes?
I had a recipe for a squash/apple/walnut dish that I loved and made for special occasions including Thanksgiving. My mother-in-law asked me for it and I didn't think twice of giving it to her until I tried her version of it. She has made it 2 or 3 times since Thanksgiving and sad to say, has sort of ruined it for me. She is admittedly not a very good cook and she has massacred this recipe. I have decided that in the future I will not give anyone a recipe that has any kind of special meaning to me. Does anyone have a similar policy?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
14 Comments:
i find it flattering when people ask me for a recipe and i always give them out when asked. i'm pretty specific about the ingredients (for instance, i list what brand of chocolate i'm using for that particular recipe or i'll note that it might make a difference to use muscovado sugar instead of regular dark brown) and this has resulted in a few jokied from friends about having 'ocd' but that's okay.
it puts me off when someone won't share a recipe with others without good reason. offhand the only good reason i can think of might be if your business depended on it.
the word yes at 11:26AM on 01/12/07
If it's something basic (like broccoli casserole), I'll gladly share, but if it's one of my specialties, I usually use the excuse that I really don't HAVE a recipe, but the next time I make it, I'll try to write down what I do. Then I forget to write it down and they forget they asked...
I too have had a favorite dish ruined for me when someone else tried to recreate it. I had a friend make "my" chili recipe for a tailgate and it turned out terrible. She kept saying "But I made it just like you do - how much beer do you use?".
I don't use beer in my chili... my queso dip, yes. My chili, no.
LindaD at 11:32AM on 01/12/07
I rarely cook from recipes or use measuring spoons and the like, so when someone is nice enough to ask for a recipe, I sound like I'm trying to avoid passing it along. Or I wind up saying something like, "Well, I threw in two tablespoons of leftover gravy , some of the mushroom ketchup that I got in my Christmas stocking, and the last of the pickled cranberries," which means it's odds-on are that I'm not ever going to be able to replicate it myself.
Barbara Hanson at 11:36AM on 01/12/07
Good question, ThatGirl153. I hope your friend doesn't know your handle ;) I totally don't mind giving out my prized recipes -- not that I have that many of them. Like the word yes, I'm flattered when anyone asks. Most of mine involve pizza or burgers, and I'm always happy to spread those gospels.
Adam Kuban at 12:01PM on 01/12/07
I find it funny when people don't want to give out their recipes. Food is meant to be enjoyed and shared. And, unless you are the dude with the keys to the vault with the Coca-Cola recipe, your recipes are not worth bricks of gold bouillon.
I do have to add that I am rarely asked for recipes. The reason is that I don't know too many people who like to cook. They never ask for a recipe, they just call from their cars and ask if they should bring a red or a white.
Acme Instant Food at 12:15PM on 01/12/07
Oops..."gold bullion" not "bouillon." That's what happens when you always have food on the brain.
Acme Instant Food at 12:21PM on 01/12/07
i don't cook from a recipe either... i just look and my fridge and try to make things taste half-decent.
wandabun at 1:44PM on 01/12/07
Ditto with the don't really use recipes. It seems that the things I get asked about most often are those Yummy, but ridiculously simple recipes. I often spout off oh its easy, its just "insert ingredients here ". People who are REALLY interested in the recipe will ask again and I will try to write it down for them. I have often thought about taking copies of my recipes with me when I bring a dish with me to an event, but that seems a litte vain...lol.
Sindy at 3:12PM on 01/12/07
Interesting question, I've never really thought about this. But if someone asks for a recipe, I always share it. No one's ruined anything as far as I know, but I don't usually have people serve my recipes back to me.
megnut at 3:48PM on 01/12/07
I have found that when someone asks for a recipe, they not only like the food, but want to share it with others. My grandmother always told me to be flattered. too have had people recreated my dishes with not the same results, but what can you do? be flattered that they asked, and make sure the next time you're bringing something, make sure YOU are bringing your signature dish and not the person who tries but can't quite make it as good as you do. .
Kimberc13 at 5:38PM on 01/12/07
I don't really cook from recipes either, but I certainly have some methods and dishes that I revisit, and I am happy to share those with whoever is interested. I think it's a bit petty to withhold recipes from interested parties. Also, I assume that over time the other person will put their own stamp on the dish, pass it on, etc. and the recipe will evolve. At the same time, I would find it a bit weird if I shared a recipe with someone and they brought the dish along to a gathering at which I was also present (at least without consulting me). It would make me feel that they had not just shared in my recipe, but usurped it.
caley at 5:45AM on 01/13/07
I do not give out recipes. I do however give out tips. I don't cook wth measurements either. So if you ask me how I make something I ask you how you would make it and I give hints. I plan someday, God willing to write down my recipes either for fun or profit. So no one will get them yet.
JerzeeTomato at 5:29PM on 01/13/07
Don't we all rely on others to share their recipes at some point, whether it's Julia Child giving out hers in her book or someone posting a recipe on their blog? We all give and take inspiration and learn techniques from one another. Like caley mentions above, people take a shared recipe and somehow make it their own, for better or worse, but that's the fun part!
Mags at 12:17AM on 01/14/07
When I am asked for a recipe I generally give them all the ingredients and rough proportions but since I really don't measure it very precisely it comes out some of this or that or whatever was on hand. I try to give them a technique - if there was something special. I also encourage them to experiment and maybe change or emphasize what they like in a dish.
If it's a pastry item I'll just refer them to the cookbook / author and tell them if I modified it in some way (changing the extract or the fruit ... whatever - but that is usually minor). The fun part is in the experimenting.
Louie at 9:24AM on 01/20/07