Because this sorta says it I'm posting my "entrance exam" answer...ok, I confess, my validation post, too. Why change what works?
I just counted my cookbooks the other day and found I have more than 250 if I include ebooks and about 175 hard copy. All these and I almost never follow a recipe exactly.
I cook most of my food from scratch with mostly (99%) organic ingredients.
I grew up in a family of phenomenal cooks, most of whom grew at least some of their own veggies.
I'm constantly fascinated that you can have so many completely different end results using the exact same ingredients by simply changing how they are used in the cooking process.
I won't lie, this 66 year old squeeed a little when I found these forums.
