Making it up as I go along...

[Luckybustert]

I threw the yummiest dinner together tonight! I had four leftover sausage links, so I cut that in slices and put it in a skillet with 1/2 sliced onion and cooked it until the onion started to caramelize. Then I added a can of Rotel, a spoonful of salsa seasoning, and a bag of frozen green beans. I let that cook a few minutes until the green beans were done and that's was it. Hubby loved it and so did I!

What's the best cheap and fast meal you've made up as you go along?

[mamamia]

That does sound good Lucky! I cook like that so much. I believe the "proper" word for it is "Creative Cooking". There's just one problem with it, that is at least for me...I can never remember the next time just what I added to make the dish. My family loves my cooking, and truth be told, we eat alot of chicken, but it's probably never been made the same way twice ! (with a couple of exceptions, of course) Good for you that you paid attention. I keep swearing that I'm gonna do just that, but it just never happens!

Theresa

[Grainlady]

I create, as well as re-make existing recipes, and I have a sheet of paper I designed and made copies of, to use during the developing stage so I can track things I've done, and changes I need to make. I keep these sheets in a 3-ring notebook divided by category (cookies, breads, casseroles, mixes, etc.). I started doing this when I was developing recipes using agave nectar, instead of using sugar.

When I developed cookie recipes using sorghum flour for a sorghum mill outside of town, I developed a base cookie recipe FIRST, which took several tries, then I developed all kinds of cookie types from that one recipe, so I have a whole notebook on this subject. Without this method for tracking, it would have been too confusing.

How the sheet works... It's divided down the middle with a left and right side.

On the left side of the sheet I'll write the date, and the original recipe. If I'm using an existing recipe as a guideline I'll make a photo copy and paste/tape it into this space, or I'll write the previous generation of a created recipe I'd like to make changes on. It may be the third or fourth generation of the original recipe, when I am developing recipes from scratch, and I'll note that on this side of the page. If developing a recipe, it may or may not have a "name". It may be a general idea - chocolate chip cookies using sorghum flour, rather than a "name".

On the right side I have a place to list:

Ingredient changes:
This can be using 1/4. cup of agave nectar instead of 1 cup of sugar, using wholegrain flour or flour/s other than wheat flour, using high-maize resistant starch for a portion of the flour, tomato powder instead of canned tomato products, or using other powdered ingredients (powdered peanut butter, powdered butter, powdered eggs, etc.).

Results: This is where I note the results. As a Foods Judge at Fairs, I have learned a lot of cooking/baking science and how foods are affected by ingredients, methods used in making things, etc. I may note I need to reduce the amount of egg whites, since they are drying, or all wholegrain flour made the recipe "heavy". Oat flour made it crumbly and sticky... Reduce the temperature 25°F when using honey or agave nectar. Added 1 T. flour because of the liquid sweetener.

Next Time: I'll note changes that may improve the recipe, or options I'd like to try.... Instead of fresh/frozen blueberries, perhaps dried blueberries will work better, OR, reduce the carbohydrates by using some whey protein powder in the recipe for some of the flour. Increase the fiber by adding high-maize resistant starch or flaxmeal, etc.... Increase the protein - add 1/3 c. white bean flour.

Notes: A place for some general notes, such as possible names for the recipe, hubby's reactions, did the neighbors like it....

[Luckybustert]

That does sound good Lucky! I cook like that so much. I believe the "proper" word for it is "Creative Cooking". There's just one problem with it, that is at least for me...I can never remember the next time just what I added to make the dish. My family loves my cooking, and truth be told, we eat alot of chicken, but it's probably never been made the same way twice ! (with a couple of exceptions, of course) Good for you that you paid attention. I keep swearing that I'm gonna do just that, but it just never happens!

Theresa

Thanks Theresa! If I don't write it down right away I forget so I'm trying to get better about documenting the ones I want to have again

[Luckybustert]

I create, as well as re-make existing recipes, and I have a sheet of paper I designed and made copies of, to use during the developing stage so I can track things I've done, and changes I need to make. I keep these sheets in a 3-ring notebook divided by category (cookies, breads, casseroles, mixes, etc.). I started doing this when I was developing recipes using agave nectar, instead of using sugar.

I like the way you track this, Grainlady! I think it would work very well for me - it's detailed enough that all the important info is captured but would not require much effort to maintain, so I'd be more willing to stick with it. Thanks very much for sharing!

[happymomof4]

That does sound good Lucky! I cook like that so much. I believe the "proper" word for it is "Creative Cooking". There's just one problem with it, that is at least for me...I can never remember the next time just what I added to make the dish. My family loves my cooking, and truth be told, we eat alot of chicken, but it's probably never been made the same way twice ! (with a couple of exceptions, of course) Good for you that you paid attention. I keep swearing that I'm gonna do just that, but it just never happens!

Theresa

I have the same problem with making stuff up as I go.