Mark Bittman. Do you like him?

[Natasha]

I like what he promotes, which seems to be trying to get people to be more relaxed about cooking. I have his How to Cook Everything recipe book, and the app, and I just borrowed How to Cook Everything Fast from the library. His recipes aren't mind-blowing but they are good basics.

I wish the books did a better job of training me to wing it without a recipe, though. I used to be very comfortable with throwing stuff together, and I've lost that after cooking for picky kids. I'd like to relearn those habits.

[diablita]

I think you'll like Pam Anderson's (not THAT Pam Anderson) "How to Cook Without a Book" for that purpose.  It's really quite good.

And I agree with your take on MB.  The couple of things I've made from the How to Cook Everything app have been good, though.  I made the lamb with mushrooms for Passover and everything raved, for instance.

[Run Amok]

This is a good winging it list. I cook like this a lot. His recipes tend to be solid, easy, classics/basics. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/dining/18mini.html?pagewanted=all&referrer=

[caribougrrl]

what do you find uncomfortable about winging it?  technique? flavour?

[merigayle]

I like a lot of his ideas and measures that he is trying to spread and his focus on meatless meals. I like recipes. DH never uses a recipe, but for me, I find a strong need to use one (atleast the first time i make something).

[Natasha]

what do you find uncomfortable about winging it?  technique? flavour?

Cooking for other people. I'm less confident that others will like what I like.

[merigayle]

Cooking for other people. I'm less confident that others will like what I like.

I generally do not care if others like it

[Natasha]

I think you'll like Pam Anderson's (not THAT Pam Anderson) "How to Cook Without a Book" for that purpose.  It's really quite good.

And I agree with your take on MB.  The couple of things I've made from the How to Cook Everything app have been good, though.  I made the lamb with mushrooms for Passover and everything raved, for instance.

I'll give it a try, thanks.

Part of it is just being out of practice. I don't cook as much as I used to, and nowadays I find a recipe while at home that sounds good, and make my shopping list from that. I'd rather be able to do that the other way around... be able to buy what looks good at the store, and decide what to make out of it.

[radial]

I'd rather be able to do that the other way around... be able to buy what looks good at the store, and decide what to make out of it.

This is generally how I do it.  Not always, but generally.  I guess this is why I love the food shows where they are given a set of ingredients and have to assemble them into some delicious result.  This is my everyday. 

[Run Amok]

Some of that is just cooking a loT and remembering remarkable dishes featuring a particular ingredient.

[rocketgirl]

Honestly, I am all "I have this" or "I want to eat that" and I go look shit up on the Internet until I find something that suits my skills and ingredients list sort of, and then find another recipe that fills in the blanks, and then I mash them.  This seems to work well for me.

Also the "let's make quiche with whatever the heck we have on hand" approach.

[merigayle]

He will be on NPR today, but alas, I am in the office, maybe I can catch a replay.

[onawhim]

Yes.  Savoury oatmeal!

[Cool Foot Luke]

Ribs' ladyfriend has a great blog that focuses on helping people to cook without recipes and the like. It is interesting. www.whiteapronchef.com