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RECIPES ARE GUIDES, NOT RULES DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO STICK TO IT.
Often times, people feel limited or restrained by a recipe. This simply should not be the case. Recipes are creative guidelines meant to help you create something delicious. The truth about cooking is that it is subjective and everyone has different tastes, so it’s up to you to find out what you like. If a recipe has ingredients you don’t have or don’t like, feel free to release the chains of the recipe and substitute it for something you like. Use similar style items. You might not like tofu, if that’s the case, don’t use it (or find a preparation that you do like and pat yourself on the back). You could substitute mushrooms, potatoes, or squash in its place. Try to use ingredients that have the same weight in the dish (meaning same texture and importance for flavor in the dish). Recipes shouldn’t cause you to not make something, rather, they should encourage you to try something new and to venture out on your own when you feel ready.