Miss Manners: i have no recipe to give

[minoanmiss]

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Cooking is one of my passions, and I love to share my food with others. And while I love positive feedback, I am sometimes taken aback by the automatic request for a recipe as soon as someone compliments something I've made.

Unfortunately, I do not use recipes. I am an intuitive cook, who many times throws things together. I have explained several times to these people that I do not use recipes, but continue to get asked.

I am not a curmudgeon, and not trying to keep my creations' ingredients secret; I just don't have the time, energy or memory to remember everything that went into a dish. What would be a good response to the constant, "This is delicious. Recipe, please!"?

GENTLE READER: "I made it up and don't have one. But I'm flattered that you liked it so much. You'll just have to come over again and I'll try to re-create it."

Comments

[conuly]

Who cares about other people's tastes? If you're cooking, it's your food, and you may as well like it.

[dissectionist]

If I’m feeding myself, I’m making a PB&J sandwich or heating instant ramen. There’s no way I’m going through all the hassle, mess, and stress of cooking just to feed myself. So in my case it’s automatic that if I’m cooking, it’s because there’s others that will be eating it. As the only reason I’m going through that stress is for them, I feel a lot of pressure to make food they can enjoy.