Recipe Collection Meme

I was tagged by Kalyn's Kitchen for this recipe collection meme. It's fascinating to see how other people get to the end product that appreas on their blogs. Some rely heavily on cookbooks, others browse the web exclusively...I gather that most are somewhere in the middle. I used to be a compulsive cookbook purchaser but in recent years I've been reformed by the bounty of the web.

I buy quite a few cooking magazines and look through them for pictures of stuff that makes me drool. I also do a lot of my recipe research online - both through recipe websites bt also through restaurant menus available online. I guess I use the photos and one-line menu descriptions as a base for what I'm going to cook and then work out from there how I'm going to do it.

Where do you obtain the recipes you prepare?

They really are a sort of mish mash. I find photos or menus descriptions I like, work out how I'm going to make it and then google around to see if I can find something similar as a starting point. Sometimes I just pull an idea out of the air and go for it. A great recent example is the prawn agnolotti I made. I had a few ingredients in my cupboard I wanted to use so I just pulled the recipe out of my head. Other than the pasta dough. Which, If I've got access to the French Laundry's basic pasta dough recipe...well I'm not going to argue with that.

How often do you cook a new recipe?

I make three or four new recipes a week, usually at the weekend, because during the week, I've got very little time to cook - we generally eat out or eat leftovers or something simple like spaghetti bolognese.

Where do you store your favourite recipes?

On my blog. In my head. In my "recipe box" on Epicurious. In Word. On pieces of paper that look like this...

How large is your recipe pile? Is it organized? How?

It's kind of hard to organise so many different sources, so I don't. Luckily I have a shocking good memory. Lists on sticky notes, lists in Word Pad.

What is the oldest recipe in your to try pile?

I don't really have a to try pile. I just make whatever I feel like at the time. OOOOhh wait. I've been meaning to make Molly's chocolate scones for bloody ever!

Are you really ever going to make all those recipes in your to try pile?
See above.

Do you follow a recipe exactly or modify as you go?

Always modify. Sometime I'd really like to trey a recipe as written just so I can say I have.

What is one new recipe that you're scared to try?

Puff pastry. Sounds like way too much work. I have the attention span of a gnat.

Tag at least one new food blogger for this meme ("new" as in only blogging a few months)

Hooked On Heat's been around for just about 6 months now, but In my books that's still fairly new. I love Indian food, so if you do too, head on over.

Tag at least one food blogger you visit regularly but never interacted with:

I'm pretty sure every site I visit regularly I comment on. I'm not really the lurking type.

Tag at least one food blogger you constantly visit and leave comments:

Stephanie at Dispensing Happiness. She constantly dispenses happiness to me. Also Bea at La Tartine Gourmand, because I love everything about her blog...it's absolutely compelling - top notch photos, great food choices, gorgeous sounding recipes.

Tag anyone else you want:

Clare at Eat Stuff

Rachel at Fresh Appraoch Cooking

Moira at Who Wants Seconds

Beacuse I really dig these three sweet, sweet girls and haven't been good at dropping by their blogs lately because I am a slack tart, and I miss them & their blogs. And I'd really love to know more about them and so would you!

Comments

[Stephanie]

Once I survive this week, I'll do it. Zarah and her boyfriend are stopping by Easter Sunday and staying a couple of days, so we're in high-gear with the cleaning and cooking around here!

After that, I'm all yours.

[Chokky]

Hi.
I found your food Blog and have enjoyed reading it.
I am an Aussie from Melbourne living in Edmonton 15 years now.
Saw your picture of cookbooks and noticed the Nigella Lawson books...I am very fond of her and have her books.
An Aussie in Melbourne is cooking her way through the entire How To Eat...she is nearly finished...she did it all in the past year and her blog is at:
http://sarah-discovers-how-to-eat.blogspot.com/
Thought you might like to check it out.
Keep up the good work and great cooking.
Chokky

[Bea at La Tartine Gourmande]

Hi,
Thanks so much for your nice mention and the tag. Very sweet of you! I however just posted this Meme a few days ago as both Rob from Hungry in Hogtown and Catherine from Albioncooks had tagged me for it! Too bad!
DOn't be scared of puff pastry. It is like anything else. You just have to take the jump. You will see, it is easy!

[Zarah Maria]

Lyn, you've GOT to try Molly's scones - I've tried them and they're fantastic!

[Lyn]

Stephanie,
How fantastic. I love company. And exotic foreign lovely sweet food bloggy company sounds even fantasticker. Of course you're busy. I hope you and Zarah have a heap of fun. I am a bit jealous.

Bea,
That's what happens when I start a post and let it sit as a draft for a week before I post it! When I wrote the darn thing there was nothing up on your site yet!

Chokky,
Have you ever been to the Downunder club drinks nite? Come on out. It's pretty good fun.

Zarah,
Okay. You've convinced me. Have fun at Stephanies.

[Rachael]

Thanks for tagging me! This ought to help me jump start my blogging...I have been quite the slacker of late!