Anyone else just make stuff up? Recipes, I mean.

[LeahBoo]

I hate following recipes, most of the time I just make stuff up. 75% of the time, it turns out. But not always...

I have a pan of "baked oatmeal" in the oven. I have never baked oatmeal, and I didn't even follow any sort of oatmeal cooking guidelines, and made it up on the spot.

I took a gallon sized bag of peaches I froze last year, dropped them in hot water until they thawed. Drained the water, blended them till smooth. Poured them in a bowl, added oatmeal, added 2 eggs, poured this into a pan, sprinkled brown sugar and cinnamon, and put it in the oven. I figured it has whole grain, fruit, protein (eggs), and could be a quick, grab on the way out the door, breakfast. I think I'd heard you can cut it and eat it like cake? I realize now that it could have used a bit of salt.

So, any predictions? Will it turn into something edible?

[StrongBeliever]

Oh yeah. Almost %100 of the time. Once you learn the rudimentary basics cooking on the fly, sans recipe, is really easy. I'd say that I have something go horribly wrong about once every four or five months, on average. And it is usually edible, just not scrumptious.

Your peach baked oatmeal? Well, judging by all the peaches I would say that it might end up softer than something you can pick up a square of and eat. But that depends also on how much oatmeal you put in there. If it were me, I would have thrown in way more eggs(binder), but I am a traditional foodie and always throw in extra eggs(protein and omega3's), even on the rare occasion that I "follow" a recipe. Sounds scrumptious though. For some reason I want to think of a mish-mashy gooey cobbler... You know, like the topping was stirred in before it was baked. *haha* I'd love to hear how it turns out.

I personally love baked oatmeal... I've made it a good many times with no recipe. Though once or twice it turned out crumbly. Super good when it is a big dense cake-like chuck of oaten goodness.

[LeahBoo]

Well, I didn't add any additional water, so I figured the oats would soak up the excess liquid. And they did, it worked perfectly!

Can I make this with steel cut oats? I bought about 5lbs of them at costco november-ish, and haven't even opened them.

[InMediasRes]

Oh, I almost never follow recipes. Even when I do, it's more like getting an inspiration and then taking off with it. Like PP said, if you have the basics down, and know the physics of what different ingredients do and you have a good nose for picking out which spices go well together, there's no reason to have a recipe.

[nicolelynn]

Yeah like 98% of the time, then I only use recipes for baking where ratios of rising agents are important. Even then I tweak them.

My Dad used to be a chef and taught me HOW to cook, how to measure by eye with my hand, what flavors go with what, etc.

[blumooned]

I don't like to follow recipes - I too use them as guidelines/ideas! I worked as a cook/pastry baker for a few years, so I know how to cook. Even when I use a recipe, I almost always want to change something! Maybe it's my inner rebel. Sometimes stuff doesn't work - but usually it still tastes good, just looks weird!! So, I eat it anyway.

I think your peach oat bars sound great! It actually sounds like something I would do. I may steal the idea - it sounds like something DS would like to eat.

[ollyoxenfree]

All the time. Or I alter recipes as I'm cooking or baking.

I find, though, that I tend to make variations of the same things. Using a new recipe will take me outside my comfort zone. Especially with international foods, where I'm unfamiliar with the ingredients. So one of my few New Year's Resolutions was to try a new recipe once a week on average over the course of the year - i.e. 52 new recipes. I don't mind using recipes though, and I have a big collection of cookbooks that keeps growing.

[KristyDi]

I very rarely actually follow a recipe. I usually have one (or several) that I'm working off of, but I usually adjust as I see fit. I usually wind up with good results.

ETA if it's something I know how to make (like chili or pasta sauce) then I don't use a recipe. I go from memory and by feel and taste.

[azmomtoone]

Originally Posted by LeahBoo

I hate following recipes, most of the time I just make stuff up. 75% of the time, it turns out. But not always...

I have a pan of "baked oatmeal" in the oven. I have never baked oatmeal, and I didn't even follow any sort of oatmeal cooking guidelines, and made it up on the spot.

I took a gallon sized bag of peaches I froze last year, dropped them in hot water until they thawed. Drained the water, blended them till smooth. Poured them in a bowl, added oatmeal, added 2 eggs, poured this into a pan, sprinkled brown sugar and cinnamon, and put it in the oven. I figured it has whole grain, fruit, protein (eggs), and could be a quick, grab on the way out the door, breakfast. I think I'd heard you can cut it and eat it like cake? I realize now that it could have used a bit of salt.

So, any predictions? Will it turn into something edible?

To answer the title question - Nope, it never turns out for me.

However - I am absolutely going to try your oatmeal thing!! I have some almost-too-ripe peaches sitting here begging to be used in something and that sounds so good!

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by KristyDi

I very rarely actually follow a recipe. I usually have one (or several) that I'm working off of, but I usually adjust as I see fit. I usually wind up with good results.

ETA if it's something I know how to make (like chili or pasta sauce) then I don't use a recipe. I go from memory and by feel and taste.

yep, this is how i roll too

[earthmama369]

I make up my own recipes all the time. It's fun. And since ds has food allergies and I have a weird diet due to IBS, it's often necessary. Good thing I enjoy it!

That baked oatmeal sounds delicious. I have two bags of peaches we picked last summer in the freezer and I've been pondering what to do with them. The kids loooooove oatmeal. I bet they'd love this!

[LeahBoo]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

I make up my own recipes all the time. It's fun. And since ds has food allergies and I have a weird diet due to IBS, it's often necessary. Good thing I enjoy it!

That baked oatmeal sounds delicious. I have two bags of peaches we picked last summer in the freezer and I've been pondering what to do with them. The kids loooooove oatmeal. I bet they'd love this!

I wish I'd known what I was going to do with them when I thawed them. I was figuring cobbler or something, so I took off the skins. I could have left them on for more nutrients.

My "made from scratch without a recipe" pancakes did not work so well. I couldn't find my cookbook and had never made them. I knew what went in them. They were edible, but not something I could feed to other people .

[Adamsmama]

I do the same thing ... I also like to take a recipe and change it to my "tastes". Most people I know think this is crazy insane but sometimes I think something will taste better with different ingredients.

[caiesmommy]

I'm a HUGE collector of vegetarian cookbooks, but RARELY followa recipe. I may get the idea from the cookbook, but I never follow it to a tee. Thats why Im not a great baker lol.


My mother in law laughs at me b/c shes a recipe follower, cant cook anything without a recipe.

[becoming]

We're in Cajun country, so 99% of recipes I've tried are too bland for us. Now I either don't use a recipe or I change it a LOT to suit our tastes.

[lil_earthmomma]

I'm probably 99% make it up as I go cookin'!

Unless I am trying to learn an ethnic recipe or technique, I don't like recipe cooking.

Yesterday I made the most delicious strawberry bacon salad!!!

The dressing: (into my blender)

the ugly strawberries in the basket (probably came to about 3 handfuls?)
some balsamic vinegar
a few shakes of thyme
a few shakes of rosemary
a few shakes of tarragon
a small shake of cardamom
walnut oil
and while blending I drizzled cream in till it was the consistanc I wanted.

SO GOOD!!!

Tossed this on top of a spinach salad with sliced strawberries, crumbled bacon toasted pecans, and feta. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! I loved it, and will definitely make it again.

[Bri'sgirl]

I'm a mix of the above. About half the time, I use a recipe, but I don't think I've ever followed one 100%, unless it's baking. I'd love to be a good baker, but it's not something I've learned well, yet. As far as cooking goes, if I want to make something new, I scan the internet for similar recipes, then combine what I like about the different ones I find, to make my own. My gram taught me to cook when I was pretty young, maybe 6 or 7, and she never used a recipe. She just threw in a little of this, and a little of that, until it tasted right.

[aggieP]

I don't use recipes 90% of the time. I only use them if I am baking or attempting something difficult.

[Jaxinator]

It's probably about 50/50 for me. If it's something I grew up eating, like chicken parm, no. I've seen/helped my mom with it dozens of times, and added my own ingredients to it and so on.
New things however, yes, I'll need a recipe. I bought some phyllo and plan on making spanikopita with it, and I will most definitely use a recipe.
I have no problems making variations on simple things though, like oatmeal or grilled cheese for instance.