Lacking recipe (ingredients, beef, best, cook)

[peacecrusader888]

What if you lack something in a recipe, will you continue with the recipe?

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by peacecrusader888

What if you lack something in a recipe, will you continue with the recipe?

improvisation is a cooks best friend

[peacecrusader888]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

improvisation is a cooks best friend

So you improvized.

[Bayarea4]

In theory, when I'm trying a recipe for the first time I want to follow the instructions exactly. Later, if I think I can improve it, I give myself permission to improvise and add my own personal touch. But if I really, really want to try a new recipe and it's not possible to procure the missing ingredient, I might omit or substitute as best I can, cross my fingers and hope for the best.

[Medtran49]

Depends on how important it is to the taste of the dish. Bouef bourguignon wouldn't be the same without beef. Shrimp scampi wouldn't be without the shrimp.

[gentlearts]

I make a honey cornbread recipe regularly. One time, I realized I had no eggs, and the recipe calls for 2. The corn bread turned out even better without the eggs. Go figure.

[Dogboa]

In several cuisines that I'm familiar with, I know what can be subbed for other ingredients. New to me cuisines, not so much. Although we make an Indian dish now and then, we are just delving into that cuisine.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by peacecrusader888

What if you lack something in a recipe, will you continue with the recipe?

Too vague to answer. Do you have any particular example or question?

[phonelady61]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

improvisation is a cooks best friend

I always heard "improvisation is an actors best friend " but I guess you could say the same about a cook .

[don6170]

Originally Posted by Bayarea4

when I'm trying a recipe for the first time I want to follow the instructions exactly.

This is my method now.
Before, I would say "I don't have that ingredient, or I don't like that, so I will substitute/omit/etc ...."
and then wonder why the results didn't taste great.