I’m not too fond of measuring. I call my type of cooking “Freestyle Cooking.” Hahaha! Does the recipe call for a cup of chopped tomatoes? I just grab four to five pieces and chop away. What about a teaspoon of black pepper? I just sprinkle some on the center of my palm and if it looks like a teaspoon, then in the pepper goes into the pot. I used to be a stickler for measurements but found it more liberating to go about my own gut feel when I cook.
I have a weird habit though. Yeah, go ahead and laugh after this, it’s okay — my officemate did after I shared this story with her. When I really like a recipe, I print it out on a piece of bond paper. Then I carry it with me everywhere I go. I read it while walking from the office to the mall, in the taxi from home to somewhere else, I read it over and over.
Why do I do this? I like seeing a movie play in my head. I imagine myself cooking according to the recipe directions. The “film” is hazy at first but after about three to five readings, the film is perfect. I can already see myself doing the recipe at performance level in my kitchen!
Weird, right? Yes, I have my own cooking show with me as the star in my head. The great thing is when I’m actually there in my kitchen I feel more comfortable with the recipe! I feel like “This is gonna be good ’cause I’ve done this before” when in fact the-done-this-before part was all in my head.
How do YOU go about learning a recipe? This is my weird but effective way. The movie in my head and the no measurements way. I guess you could call it The Freestyle Cooking Show In Toni’s Head way. Works for me!
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.