What is the best way to handle compliments for a meal whose recipe you didn’t make?

thebassistsgirlfriend: What is the best way to handle compliments for a meal whose recipe you didn’t make?
I am always getting compliments from friends and family on my cooking, but usually everything is made from recipes I find in books or on websites. Whenever someone compliments my cooking, I always say, “Oh, thanks, but it’s not my recipe”. My husband says I should just accept the compliments without saying anything because I actually cooked the recipe well, but that feels like getting credit for someone else’s work. I’m probably worrying about this too much. What should I say in the future when this happens?

Answers and Views:

Answer by lillllbit
Yeah, you’re worrying too much. Just say thank you.

Answer by Baloneyus_Monk
It doesn’t matter that it’s not your recipe!!

I follow my Mom’s recipes but it NEVER tastes as good as hers!

So, my dear, if you cook for me, my hhapy compliment is “YUM! It tastes like I didn’t have to cook it!”

Smile:)

Answer by There Are No Accidents
Unless you’re a trained five-star chef with your own restaurant…no recipe hasn’t come from another source. And trust me…a LOT of people can follow a recipe to the letter and still not turn out a good meal. People aren’t complimenting you on devising your own recipe…they’re simply letting you know it turned out well. They’re also complimenting you on the time and effort you put into making a tasty meal. Just say thank you.

Answer by Auntie P
You may not have invented the recipe, but you prepared it. There are many possible results of following a recipe and clearly, yours are very good.

Accept the compliments and say you are so pleased that they enjoyed the food.

Don’t worry about it – your husband is right.

Answer by Jennifer
The recipe is only part of it. The rest is how you cook the food. I’m sure that people know you aren’t making stuff from scratch. I mean, even spaghetti sauce and sugar cookies started somewhere and have basic components. Cooking is an art, and it sounds like you’ve got it! Accept the compliments, and don’t humble yourself so much. If they want the recipe, they’ll ask.

Answer by Sparrow
Your husband is right! A lot of people actually cook meals using recipes. If everyone devised their own recipes there would be no need for cookbooks. Cookbooks are very popular which indicates that most of us use other peoples recipes. Just say thank you given you went to all the effort of preparing the lovely meal your guests enjoyed.

Answer by Cissie
Most folk make things from recipes from the internet, from a cookbook, or one that has been handed down from mother or other family member.

All those recipe books out there are written for us to use. I have given (and received) lots as gifts.

When I get a compliment I just say “Thank you, I used a recipe in (whatever recipe book) it is a great book, you should get a copy.

Or “Oh I got it from this recipe site on-line, I can get you the web address for it if you want.”

Believe me. The person who wrote the recipe you used would be delighted to know you had used it, and used it well. That is why they wrote it.

If you cook a good meal, you deserve the compliment, regardless of where you got the recipe.

Cissie