It was. I'll probably upload pics at a later time. Quite interesting though, I'm not sure I prefer it over grilling but the flavor was definitely captured. Thanks again.

So this site is dishes you make without any recipe?

Can others post topics/pics/recipes or just you?

Right now it's just me. The idea behind it is to (hopefully) inspire people to get away from recipes and to experiment more in their own kitchens.

Freestyle cooking? That could be very difficult for anyone especially without looking at a recipe or looking up common ingredients.


I love to cook, but I can't just go into my kitchen and whip up a Risotto or Steak Diane without getting an idea first. You could have an edge if you took culinary classes, I don't see how anyone has common knowledge of Risotto or steak diane or any other dish for that matter.

Should incorporate humor. Pics of you stuffing your face, etc.

Always enjoyed your food takes on here will check it out.

My problem with getting away from recipes could ruin lots of food.

If anything I would tweak a recipe a little.

I'm still finding my way with this, and the end result may be more of a "here's a basic idea with some general guidelines, but no recipe per se." While I know what you're saying and can agree to an extent, this feedback is good. Thanks. :thumb:

I generally start with a recipe, but that's the starting point for me. So many people use recipes and nothing else, and I think that's a mistake. Recipes are made to give consistent results, but you rarely get a truly outstanding dish by blindly following a recipe.

I dunno, I had a great recipe for sweet potato casserole, I lost it but found many similar. Haven't found one as good as the one I lost though, lo these many years.

It depends on the setting. Baking is much more a recipe intensive process [in the case of SPC, I consider this a baked side, as it sets up like a cake]. Things like spice mixes or salads [chicken, tuna, egg], are much better suited for experimentation.

FMB! doesn't bake. Mrs. FMB! bakes. :)

But yes, you're correct. Gotta follow the recipes for baked goods like cakes, cookies, etc. Variances in moisture, sugar, flour, etc. can cause dramatic differences in the finished product.

ROFL

I'm actually working on an ice cream bread post!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/12/9yqagura.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/12/jeby9y4e.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/12/3unapa5u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/12/6abu9uqe.jpg

Here's some simple shit I made and plated. Taste and presentation is key to a great dish.

I have only recently learned to cook, and this was my fear for a while, but I actually broke myself of it starting with experimenting on soups. Soups are very easy to work with and even if you go a bit wrong it is pretty easy to recover.

Then because I have no time for long classes and learning to cook on equipment I don't own with pans I will never have, I hired a personal chef for four nights to come to my house and cook with my available things and teach me about cooking in a way I could actually put into practice. It was awesome. Each night we made 4 or 5 meals and he never used a recipe for anything. Asked me questions about what I like then adjusted his plan accordingly so I ended up with a weeks meals ready to reheat of well made food that I loved. One night a week for four weeks, and I was the one cooking by the end.

I learned not just to cook, but that I really like sweet and spicy mixed together so pairing things like honey with red pepper, or brown sugar with cayenne pepper work really well for me and that can be in a soup, on vegetables, or meat.

I love where FMB is going with this blog and I will follow it! It is just my kind of food blog. Good luck!

Thanks for the kind words, underEJ. I appreciate it.

I also think your idea of hiring the personal chef for a few days was a really good idea! If I can ask, what did something like that run you? I don't imagine many people could do that, but "if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

This is why my wife can't cook worth a damn but bakes well. I can't bake for shit but am, at times, a pretty decent cook.

I just can't make the same meal twice, that's all.