“To be nobody But yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”
-e.e. cummings
That’s a very strong quote to explain why recipes are merely a suggestion, but hear me out! If cooking is a metaphor for life – why you wanna be like everybody else?? I can go to McDonald’s if I want predictable food, but where’s the fun in that?
I have a pretty cerebral day job, so cooking has become my creative outlet. I read cookbooks like some people read novels. Here’s the rub though – I dislike being constrained by rules. Guess what? I have discovered that you can still make tasty food even if you don’t exactly follow a recipe. All it requires is an interest in cooking, a willingness to improvise and a little faith in yourself.
What I have to offer you here are anti-recipe recipes that are purposely vague. And short (I’m going for post length equivalent to a Ramones song vs those miles long recipe missives on other sites). I want to encourage you to begin seeing recipes as suggestions, not rules that must be strictly followed. My intention is to inspire you to go ahead, get in the kitchen, try something new. Switch up these ingredients, use what YOU like instead; crank up the heat, use balsamic if you have no sherry vinegar, substitute basil for cilantro, whatever. I give you permission to NOT follow the recipe! Have fun and be you, in all things.
KC Shomler
