Do you have recipes written for family favorites

[softfluff]

I don't have recipes for family favorites that I was taught to cook by my mother. She has been gone since 1984. I was thinking about this when I posted meals that your family goes yes to. I know how to cook them, just don't have them written down.

My Mom was of the mind, god knows from where that you couldn't cook, unless you knew how to cook at least 10 meals, a cake and corn bread from memory, you didn't know how to cook. Of course she didn't tell us that she just taught us that way.

I have a ton of cookbooks and honestly even when I use a recipe, I look at it and season to my family's tastes. For instance I have a recipe for chicken korma. My child doesn't like hot pepper, my husband does. I know I can add pepper to DH's dish so I don't put it in even though the recipe calls for it. I also add more nuts then the recipe calls for.


What do others do? Am I the only person who cooks this way?

 

[Twinsplus1]

I also was taught to cook like this. My mother is gone too and my sister who is 7 years younger than I am, laughs at me when she asks for a family favorite from me. I always guesstomate on the amounts when I tell her how to make something. My brother cooks the same way too, that's just how it was done in our house.

I got tickled when you said that you just glance at the recipe because that's usually what I do too. I have a favorite chicken salad recipe (Ginger-Lime) that I love to put almonds in but my DH does not like them so I set his aside before adding them.

 

[piratesmate]

I had to chuckle at this one. I thought EVERYONE cooked this way until after I got married & visited friends who used recipes.

I recently came across a small spiral bound tablet with "recipes" for her favorite cookies. Only a couple had measurements - and those were crossed out & things like "more" or "less" written beside them. Most of them are just a list of ingredients. Whenever she taught me a "recipe" it was "just add flour until it looks right."

My son is getting married in June & he asked me to write down all of his favorites - so I've been trying really hard to come up with measurements for him. The only problem is that every time I make something, the recipe changes - depending on what I have (or don't have) in the house! It's been a challenge!

P.S. TwinsPlus1 - can you share the "recipe" for the ginger lime chicken salad? Sounds great!

 

[Twinsplus1]

This is one of my most requested "recipes", I hope you like it! It would make a tiny amount so I always have to at least double it,
usually quadruple.

Lime Dressing:
Mix together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 TBSP Fresh lime juice, 2 tsp. sugar, 1/2 tsp powdered ginger.

Definately use only fresh lime juice the other kind makes it too bitter, I also usually add a bit more ginger, I like it a tad more spicy.

2 cups cooked chicken, chilled
1/2 cup finely chopped celery ( I use less)
1 cup green seedless grapes (I use red seedless or mix the 2)

The celery has to be fine or it will over power the flavor plus it is important to not add other seasonings at all, the wonderful thing about this flavor is it's simplicity. I usually just eyeball the grapes and also cut them in half.

Cut cooked chicken into small chunks. Mix together with all of the other ingredients. You can also add the blanched almond slices, not the slivers, they have a bit too much flavor. This is so good served on croisants or on cantalope wedges.

 

[doxdogy]

Most of the dishes I cook, I don't measure. Except for baking. I go mainly by smell and taste. Drives my daughter crazy when she asks for a recipe and I just give her the ingredients.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

My mom never even owned a cookbook and though she cooks, she really does it out of necessity, not because she loves to. There really are no family recipes on that side, though my gram likes to cook and a few years ago for Christmas she gave me a recipe booklet in which she wrote her favorite recipes down. Funny thing is that they weren't MY favorite things she makes, so soon I think I will have her update the cards and include MY favorites that she makes.

Now my IL's have LOTS of family recipes and they are all written. It's really a good thing to have and I plan to 'scrap' those too, lol.