My Kitchen Quirk

What kind of a cook are you? I've asked myself this question many times in recent years and the answer is always the same. I'm a self-described haphazard cook.

What do I mean by haphazard cook? I don't follow recipes. Most of the time.

I do follow recipes, especially if it's the first time I've made something, but my staples (spaghetti sauce, meatballs/meatloaf, chili, etc.) are all cooked without me looking at a recipe for more than an idea of what spices I should use. (I've never followed a recipe for making pasty, lasagna, or stew.) Even when following a recipe, I will often measure things out in pinches, palms, or "That looks about right" instead of tablespoons or teaspoons. It's happened where I've started making one thing only to stop halfway through and turn it into something else. Prime example-I was making chicken pot pie recently but the filling came too runny so I left it as a thin gravy and served it over biscuits instead. The next night, I thinned down the gravy with milk, added a cup of cheese, and voila, I had cheesy chicken soup. I've even tried combining random leftovers that sound like they might be good in hopes that something yummy is created. (example:diced leftover round steak, leftover navy beans, a can of diced tomatoes, and leftover chicken stock made a really tasty soup.)

Cooking like this guarantees I will never make the same dish taste the same twice but I like not knowing how things will turn out. That uncertainty makes it fun in a way. There is one thing, though, that L would like if I could cook it the right way every time. He's not a fan of VERY well-done steaks and that, unfortunately for him, is about the only way I seem to make them.