General Question Regarding A Post I Made It

General Question Regarding a Post

otterpond 15 years ago

Invariably, when I make someone's recipe I fiddle it. Sometimes more sometimes less. How much fiddling before it is no longer the original recipe? Is it still valid to post it here if it isn't exact to the cooks instruction?

I ask this before I get serious about adding the Spinach Soup that I made today. Linked. I fiddled it.

Flag
momto5 15 years ago said:

Usually when I do that Ijust add it to the alterations section at the bottom of the recipe and also say what I did in the reveiw. I would think though if you changed at least three ingredients in the recipe that it could be considered a new recipe. If you wanted to post your version I would probaly just PM the person who submitted the origanal and make sure the wouldn't mind.

Flag
lilliancooks 15 years ago said:

Sure Otter! You can post it here and tell us about it no matter how much you changed the recipe! Thats all the more reason to talk about it...so we can all hear your ideas about the recipe!

So as long as you tried the recipe, you can post it to this group!

Thanks Otter!:)

Flag
pointsevenout 15 years ago said:

Research cornbread recipes. You shall find the answer you seek among the hundreds of recipes.

Flag
otterpond 15 years ago said:

Thanks guys. That seems a good guideline to me. Most of the time I am sustituting for lower cal alternatives or using fresh ingredients. I don't really thing that changing an ingredient from frozen spinach to fresh spinach is really an ingredient change per se so I wouldn't count that as 1 for 3.

Flag
jimrug1 15 years ago said:

Great question Otter. I have noticed some reviews that say, I added this, took away that, baked instead of fried... ect.... but I loved it... LOL

I kind of agree and dissagree with what has been said. To me, the whole idea is to see if the recipe you are trying "works" as written. How can one give and honest review of a posted recipe unless it is made as it is posted. If you change ingredients or methods from the start, no one would know if the original recipe works or not.

I am not talkiing about adding a little more or less of the ingredients that are posted. For example adding more or less garlic, salt, pepper ect. Everyone's taste buds are a little different in that respect.

I would rather see a recipe made and reviewed. Then, if you feel it needs help, tell us what you would do to improve it. Just my opinion.... ;-)~~

Flag
otterpond 15 years ago said:

Yes that was also my thought Jim. But I think the guildline of changing 3 key ingredients makes it different certainly is fair. But still I agree with your point.

Do you think changing 1 tsp of white flour for 1 tsp of chickpea flour a significant change to the recipe? Perhaps, it could change the consistency. It is a quandary as I am usually making those changes because I ran out of something. or Fresh instead of Dried herbs. That actually can change the recipe quite a bit because the bite of the herbs changes so much from fresh to dried.

Hmm...

Flag
jimrug1 15 years ago said:

Hi Otter,

Well, like I said... its only my opinion.... ;-)~ I quess what you are asking about the flour and herbs is exactly my point. I would say if a recipe calls specifically for dry herbs then yes fresh can make a big difference.

A case in point. When making Lebanese minted yogurt, we always use dried mint because fresh mint will get a little "slimey" after a while.

Will changing thickeners in those amounts matter? No but in larger amounts, it may have an influence on the taste and texture. A bad influence... Maybe not but different.

I still say 3 ingredients are too many to call it the original recipe. I can change an Italian tomato sauce into and Indian curry by changing three ingredients....

I can change a Lebanese Lentil soup into a Greek style by changing one ingredient.. And turn it into and Egyptian Lentil soup by changing the color of the lentils and one herb.

Like I said, maybe I am being to anal about it... I think it all boils down to your reason for trying the recipe in the first place.

Flag