The column today will tackle a very sensitive issue among people who cook and bake and the people they are very close to. For the past few months, I have received several questions some written, mostly, some during conversation on how to treat relatives and friends who ask for recipes…..da…..da…so now you are reading. I’ve been wanting to write about this since it has bugged a lot of people who have worked so hard, tested days and nights to get that perfect butter cake, chocolate brownie or that heavenly raspberry mousse. When one day, a close friend ask for it, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. They don’t even understand why you don’t want to give it…..here are samples of questions I got……with of course fictional names of real people.
Theodora: My sister in law, my worst nightmare just asked me for the recipe of mom’s apple pie since brother always compared hers to mom’s, Jun Jun, I don’t want to give it to her because I know that in a week she will be selling it and bragging to everyone that it is her recipe, what do I do?
Celina: I just brought my melts in your mouth mamon to my daughter’s mommy get together, which I think was I wrong idea, everyone now wants a copy of the recipe with matching baking demonstration, how do I do that?
And the last question,
Brenda: Whenever, Melissa ask for recipes I give it to her, now that I ask for her coffee swirl brownies, she gives me one and it’s not the right one since it’s hard as a rock, taste so funny, I will never speak to her again…
Can you just imagine what a simple recipe can actually do….it get break long time friendship, cost sleepless nights, bad tempers, insults and yes, it brings out the worst in anyone.
This has been an eternal problem for me too since I started my culinary profession. I had plenty of advice from all my mentors which all of you my readers can learn from.
1. Deadma to death. Say yes but never do it. After some time, they will take the hint. Actually if you are a professional culinarian, they shouldn’t ask you for the recipe since they know that this is how you make a living. Recipes are your life which you may use for a project or to serve in a restaurant or a catering event. In baking, it’s a little more difficult than that since it actually takes a lot of testing and tasting before the final product is approved by the baker. Actually, just changing the particular brand of an ingredient will give you a different outcome when it is baked. My sister, Cynthia tested our banana cake recipe for 3 years before we finally agreed that this will be our banana cake. So Theodora, don’t worry, your brother will notice later on, tell your wicked sister-in-law to stop asking for it or else your mom will rise from her grave or he’ll just admit that her apple pie is good enough.
2. Tell them that you will just cook or bake it for them. This statement usually means a lot of things. If you can read between the lines it really states " I don’t want to share my recipe, puede lang" It has that naughty niceness to it. I’ve used this statement a couple of times and my friends are still my friends, better yet, I have some for their money with me.
3. When it’s a cooked dish, tell them it’s something that you just mixed together and you never measured the ingredients. When it’s a baked item, tell them you got it from a cookbook, or a magazine. Be kind enough to state the name of the cookbook or magazine even it’s not the one where you got it from. Just make sure that it is an existing recipe and not something you just created out of the blue.
4. Admit to the person asking that you don’t give away recipes, since it is something very personal. When they hear personal, they won’t even say anything after…it’s like borrowing your sister’s clothes but don’t you do all the time.
5. Usually those people who are brave enough to ask are those who know how to cook or bake but can’t seem to decipher want special technique was done or what special spice was used since they still lack taste bud skills and ingredient exposure. So if you do give the recipe, make your procedure as general as possible. Then shut up.
6. Tell them that you got the recipe from a cooking or baking class that you attended and refer them to that school. This is good because you are actually doing good marketing for you and the school.
There are more reasons you can give but these are the ones that I have used and worked with all these years.
A final note, remember only people close to usually ask for recipes and it is still your choice at end whether you want to give it or not, for whatever purpose they have it will always be a risk. If it is for home consumption and will never be used for business which you will never be sure of then go ahead and share it. If later on it will be a form of helping a friend who is in need and will put food in their table, then please give it. For the right people, your God and my God will truly be grateful, this I believe is the true meaning of Christmas……A Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you…
VERSION RECIPE
Pineapple Bavarian
BY JUNJUN DE GUZMAN AND ADOREE UY½ cup fresh milk
1 egg
1/3-1/2 cup sugar
½ cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1-2 tbsp. white rum
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup all-purpose cream, whipped
Procedure:
1. In a saucepan, heat up milk. Meanwhile, combine eggs and sugar in a bowl. Beat the mixture until it lightens in color. Pour about half of the hot milk into the egg mixture and continue to mix. Pour this back into the remaining milk in the saucepan and cook for another minute or until the mixture thickens a little.
2. Combine the pineapple juice and rum. Soak the gelatin in this mixture. Heat this in the microwave until the gelatin is dissolved. Add into the milk mixture. Put over ice bath to cool slightly. Lastly, fold in whipped cream.
3. Arrange pineapple slices at the bottom of about 6 ramekins. Pour in the mixture. Chill until set. To serve, garnish the top with more whipped cream.
