RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Dec 16, 2022 1:38:31 GMT
So we made a monster batch of chocolate chip cookies the other day. I have a really good recipe that started with a Martha Stewart one but I've tinkered with it over time and it's pretty darn good in my opinion. (It probably helps that I've also had the same oven for 20-some years so I know exactly how long to cook them, etc.) Well, apparently DD was taking a bunch of them to school, and has people asking for the recipe. These are good kids, from families I like (of the ones I know), blah blah blah...and I kind of don't want to share. She's going over to her boyfriend's house tomorrow to bake cookies in general, and she wants to take the recipe and ingredients because apparently he became immediately addicted to them and he's not a huge sweets person...and I still kind of don't want to share. I think it's because it's the first time in my life I've ever had anyone knocking down my door for a recipe. I've had the occasional one I've shared with my mom or something, but I've never been "popular," lol. Maybe I'll give it out but omit an ingredient, a la Belle Magic's dead aunt.  No, I won't. I will freely give the accurate recipe out to the people who have honestly asked for it. But I'll begrudge it the whole time. |
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casii
Drama Llama
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Post by casii on Dec 16, 2022 1:40:22 GMT
Just tweak it a tiny bit.  |
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,398
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Post by RosieKat on Dec 16, 2022 1:42:52 GMT
Just tweak it a tiny bit. I'll just change all the teaspoon measurements to tablespoons. No one will notice, right? 1 tablespoon of salt in an average-sized batch of cookies would be just delightful! |
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Post by papersilly on Dec 16, 2022 1:51:39 GMT
I feel the same way about my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I’ve tweaked the ingredients to make it perfect but it’s also the technique and timing.
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 16, 2022 1:54:32 GMT
I will share any recipe except one.
I have a recipe for Poppy Bread that a friend of mine gave me 20+ years ago. It is absolutely amazing. Her friend was a caterer but gave the recipe to her and made her promise not to share it as it was the caterer's signature creation. My friend gave it to me anyway and made me promise not to share it.
I always keep my promises.
I have been asked for that recipe many, many times but I always explain that I gave my word so I have no guilt not sharing….and I have something that everyone looks forward to each year.
There are all kinds of Poppy Bread recipes on the Internet but I have never seen one exactly like mine.
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Post by wallyagain on Dec 16, 2022 2:01:53 GMT
Share the original recipe without the tweaks. It’ll be close but not quite the same.
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Post by hop2 on Dec 16, 2022 2:02:00 GMT
So we made a monster batch of chocolate chip cookies the other day. I have a really good recipe that started with a Martha Stewart one but I've tinkered with it over time and it's pretty darn good in my opinion. (It probably helps that I've also had the same oven for 20-some years so I know exactly how long to cook them, etc.) Well, apparently DD was taking a bunch of them to school, and has people asking for the recipe. These are good kids, from families I like (of the ones I know), blah blah blah...and I kind of don't want to share. She's going over to her boyfriend's house tomorrow to bake cookies in general, and she wants to take the recipe and ingredients because apparently he became immediately addicted to them and he's not a huge sweets person...and I still kind of don't want to share. I think it's because it's the first time in my life I've ever had anyone knocking down my door for a recipe. I've had the occasional one I've shared with my mom or something, but I've never been "popular," lol. Maybe I'll give it out but omit an ingredient, a la Belle Magic's dead aunt. No, I won't. I will freely give the accurate recipe out to the people who have honestly asked for it. But I'll begrudge it the whole time. Just give the original Martha Stewart recipe out. |
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,535
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Post by pinklady on Dec 16, 2022 2:05:35 GMT
I find not sharing a recipe or giving an incorrect recipe so fricking weird. I mean get over yourself.
Signed the person who was given a wrong recipe by a so called friend.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 16, 2022 2:07:54 GMT
Just give the original Martha Stewart recipe out.  . You are not obligated to give out the tweaks that you've made to the MS recipe. Just give them the original. |
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 16, 2022 2:08:35 GMT
I'll just change all the teaspoon measurements to tablespoons. No one will notice, right? 1 tablespoon of salt in an average-sized batch of cookies would be just delightful! This would only fool someone who has NEVER baked anything before, may scar them for life to ever try again and is much more obnoxious that just saying you don't share. Maybe tempting, but don't do it.  I think you should be flattered to be asked. My mom drove me nuts when visiting and eating her chocolate chip oatmeal cookies years ago because they tasted different. I took over making them as soon as I was trusted with the mixmaster so knew the recipe by heart and she swore she wasn't doing anything different. The mystery was solved when she gave me a bottle of Mexican pure vanilla extract. Completely changed the taste of the cookies. |
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anaterra
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Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Dec 16, 2022 2:20:02 GMT
I agree with others just give the martha one.... most people won't really make them anyway
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luckyexwife
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Post by luckyexwife on Dec 16, 2022 2:39:06 GMT
This thread is useless without the actual recipe!!!
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J u l e e
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Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Dec 16, 2022 2:39:08 GMT
I promise, even if you give them your recipe and your exact tweaks, theirs won’t be the same. Quality of ingredients, how you scoop, how warm/cool is your kitchen, how long do you mix/beat/stir, etc.?
(I kind of want your recipe though)
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Post by MichyM on Dec 16, 2022 3:00:52 GMT
I’ll be honest, I have never understood people who are so precious with their recipes. And yes, I’ve tweaked my fair share and always happily share the full recipe. I’m just flattered that they like it enough to want to make it themselves.
It would be different if you were planning on opening a store with them being your flagship cookie, KWIM? 😉
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Just T
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Post by Just T on Dec 16, 2022 3:08:23 GMT
I’ll be honest, I have never understood people who are so precious with their recipes. And yes, I’ve tweaked my fair share and always happily share the full recipe. I’m just flattered that they like it enough to want to make it themselves. It would be different if you were planning on opening a store with them being your flagship cookie, KWIM? 😉 I also do not understand not sharing recipes. It seems silly to me, but if you don’t want to share it, then just be honest and say you don’t share recipes. I think it is crummy to give the wrong recipe or put wrong measurements. |
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Post by papersilly on Dec 16, 2022 3:31:59 GMT
 Is this the Martha Stewart recipe everyone is talking about? |
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Post by librarylady on Dec 16, 2022 3:39:08 GMT
I’ll be honest, I have never understood people who are so precious with their recipes. And yes, I’ve tweaked my fair share and always happily share the full recipe. I’m just flattered that they like it enough to want to make it themselves. It would be different if you were planning on opening a store with them being your flagship cookie, KWIM? 😉 I also do not understand not sharing recipes. It seems silly to me, but if you don’t want to share it, then just be honest and say you don’t share recipes. I think it is crummy to give the wrong recipe or put wrong measurements. It is worse than crummy. If you don't want to share, just say no. It is evil to give wrong recipe, just mean and evil.
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Post by callmenutz on Dec 16, 2022 3:40:25 GMT
Everyone loves my chocolate chip cookies and the recipe is in the Betty Crocker cookbook from 48 years ago. However, I did find that making them in a convection oven changes the texture of them. I like the bumpy and chewy and convection makes them thin and crisp.
Someone once gave me their cheesecake recipe but accidentally left out the sugar. I was a new cook and didn’t realize it. I made a double batch for a family reunion…. My sister tasted it and said it was awful so my husband tossed it out the back door for the birds who didn’t eat it. However, her weiner dog loved it and ate until he threw up! You should have seen…and heard…my sister as she was on her hands and knees scraping cheesecake out of the grass!
More than you asked but your post brought back a fun memory!
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Dec 16, 2022 3:51:14 GMT
I also do not understand not sharing recipes. It seems silly to me, but if you don’t want to share it, then just be honest and say you don’t share recipes. I think it is crummy to give the wrong recipe or put wrong measurements. It is worse than crummy. If you don't want to share, just say no. It is evil to give wrong recipe, just mean and evil.
Especially right now, when the cost of ingredients is so high. Giving someone a recipe that is wrong/will taste bad etc is really mean |
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Post by cmpeter on Dec 16, 2022 4:06:57 GMT
I’d happily share along with all my tweaks and tips.
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seaexplore
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 16, 2022 4:09:25 GMT
Share the original recipe without the tweaks. It’ll be close but not quite the same. Yep. I’d do the same. |
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 16, 2022 4:14:14 GMT
I would share the recipe because even having the exact recipe won’t account for how they actually make it. Tools and brands of ingredients will be different.
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Post by birukitty on Dec 16, 2022 4:20:10 GMT
Share the original recipe without the tweaks. It’ll be close but not quite the same. I'd do this too, and I get while you feel the way you do OP. It's your creation. It's a recipe you've developed using your talent. What about sharing the original Martha Stewart recipe and letting them know that's what it is-that this is the recipe you've based it on with a few secret tweeks you've changed and you'd like to keep it secret. I see nothing wrong with that. You're being totally honest up front without giving away the secrets to your art. And yes I do consider it art. |
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christinec68
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Post by christinec68 on Dec 16, 2022 4:27:36 GMT
I happily share recipes with people but if I was inclined to protect them, I would make exceptions for close family members.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by gina on Dec 16, 2022 4:29:59 GMT
Pretty sure the OP was being silly about giving the wrong ingredients. At least, I hope she was.
Put me in the camp that doesn't understand not sharing recipes. I find that weird.
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used2scrap
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Post by used2scrap on Dec 16, 2022 4:51:48 GMT
My special butter cookie recipe will be printed in my funeral program. I’m ok with that lol.
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used2scrap
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Post by used2scrap on Dec 16, 2022 4:54:13 GMT
I’ll be honest, I have never understood people who are so precious with their recipes. And yes, I’ve tweaked my fair share and always happily share the full recipe. I’m just flattered that they like it enough to want to make it themselves. It would be different if you were planning on opening a store with them being your flagship cookie, KWIM? 😉 Well once my husband’s aunt uninvited us to Thanksgiving…but then called to ask for my cookie recipe so she could make them for Thanksgiving. Yeah no I didn’t share. 🤷♀️ |
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used2scrap
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Post by used2scrap on Dec 16, 2022 4:54:56 GMT
This thread is useless without the actual recipe!!! 😂 |
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Post by sunnyd on Dec 16, 2022 5:11:21 GMT
Even with the recipe, they won't be able to duplicate your years of experience and love that goes into the cookies you make.
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Post by wezee on Dec 16, 2022 5:22:56 GMT
I have a carrot cake recipe that was given to me 40+ years ago. The lady who gave it to me was an older lady with no family to pass it down to. She made me promise I’d never ever share it. Uhm ok. The cake is awesome! I’ve been asked many many times to share it, but I have kept my promise. Even my daughter doesn’t know it. My son in law swears that he is going to have it carved on my tombstone. Lol
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. You are not obligated to give out the tweaks that you've made to the MS recipe. Just give them the original. 
