My mother in law told me her cornbread recipe was "just a little cornmeal and some egg" last Thanksgiving and I still don't know the actual measurements.

She laughed when I asked for exact cups and said it was all about feel, but then her cornbread came out perfect while mine turned into a dry brick, has anyone else dealt with a family member who refuses to write down their recipes?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly.daniel18d ago

Understand the frustration but honestly I side with your mother in law here. Cooking by feel is a SKILL and some recipes genuinely can't be written down because the right amount changes depending on your ingredients and the weather. Your brick cornbread probably just needs more buttermilk or less egg, not a second cup measurement.

hugo_jones18d ago

Whoa, hold on. Is this really that deep? I mean yeah, cooking by feel is a thing, but it's not like she was trying to bake some Michelin star souffle. It's cornbread. A simple box recipe or even a basic one from a cookbook should work without needing advanced chemistry. Feels like some people turn this into some mystical art form when really it's just following basic steps. Either she's a secret baking guru or she just doesn't want to share the real recipe.