Rebekah Staggs

Are you the kind of cook that follows a recipe exactly for everything? Do you cook loosely based off of a recipe? Or are you the kind that throws this and that together and see what happens?

It’s been almost 18 years since my husband bought me a monthly subscription to one of those Recipe Card Collections and I started to learn how to cook and bake. I could make a few dishes, but most of my experience cooking involved opening up a can and heating it up. Some of my first attempts were, interesting to say the least. Thankfully, my husband was supportive of my attempts and the questionable meals I sometimes produced. Each success giving me confidence to keep trying. In time my skills improved and I enjoyed having friends and family over and making meals for them.

At first I followed my recipes to the letter. Hesitant to stray from the recipe in the least bit lest I ruin the meal.  We’ve gone from low fat, to freezer meals (When I had a young  infant/child and not a lot of time.), to Atkins, to Biggest Loser, to a selection of our favorites with new recipes mixed in for variety.

As I became comfortable in each cooking style I started to loosely base my meals off of a recipe. I still needed a recipe, or two or three, to give me ideas and work from there. I started to create things that weren’t quite following a recipe, but weren’t totally my original recipe either.

It’s only recently that I’ve been daring enough to just throw a few things together and see what happens. I’ve known several “natural” cooks that were able to do this with great results. Seeming to instinctively know what flavors and textures will blend well. I don’t think I’ll ever quite get there. Mine is more having enough experience with similar dishes to know what we liked and didn’t like. I’m still hesitant when I’m not following at least an idea of something, but I’m not afraid to wander outside of the cookbook anymore either.

I still follow recipes to the letter for new techniques and for baking where it is a matter of ratios. I haven’t quite learned the knack of all of the ratios for baking. I’m getting better at altering bread recipes and such. For the first time trying a new food I am likely to follow a recipe pretty closely. But, I am enjoying this new aspect of cooking for me. Of throwing this and that together and seeing where it takes me. It’s been 18 years of cooking and I’m still learning new things.

Keep on cooking!