No Chains. Break Free and Start Cooking Without a Recipe

I have lost track of how many chain emails I have received lately asking me to forward recipes. Thank you for thinking of me, my dear friends, who know me as a constant cook.

The truth is that I haven’t done recipes in years. They often spark our creativity and send us in the right direction, but I don’t feel I can be bound to them anymore. So, this blog is not about recipes. It’s about sharing ideas on cooking healthy, delicious meals and adapting to changing circumstances. Yes, you too can learn to cook without a recipe!

Cooking Without a Recipe: My Story

Following a back injury four years ago, I was unable to do much of anything, let alone grocery shopping. So my loving husband volunteered to take over that responsibility. At first I sent him to the store with a list, but this led to repeated calls from the market and he being unable to locate certain items. Once, thinking I was being especially helpful, I drew him a picture of a kabocha squash that I was requesting for a particular recipe. Apparently there was not a kabocha to be found, so I prepared a different dish than the one I had in mind.

After that, my only instructions were to buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and any proteins he desired. See what looks fresh and what’s on sale. I would find a way to prepare whatever he brought home. And that worked. It worked so well that I’ve never gone back to the old way of planning a weekly menu and a shopping list.

Adapting to Change

I remember looking at empty produce shelves a number of weeks ago and felt sorry for the less popular vegetables left over like the ones last to be picked for a middle school sports team. Apparently, our culture has become obsessed with kale, so it was nowhere to be found. But there were plenty of collard greens. They are delicious, by the way. There weren’t any carrots, but there were plenty of turnips. No zucchini, but lots of eggplant. So, I bought what was available and we enjoyed eating them. The key is to prepare everything in a way that your family will enjoy. I firmly believe that if there is a vegetable you think you don’t like, you just haven’t yet had it prepared in an appealing way.

In these changing times, we are seeing shortages of basics that we may be accustomed to buying. So I suggest that we shop with an open mind and experiment with new items. Adaptability and creativity, along with a well-stocked pantry, will serve us well. Looking forward to exchanging ideas with you!

To better understand my philosophy, please read “Keep It Fresh” next.