the thinking approach versus the feeling approach

[erratio]

My friend Alison and I are planning to hold a Chrismukkah party at some point. To this end I watched my mother making potato latkes this evening so that I will be able to do the same for Chrismukkah. And wow is my mother not the scientific type at all.

My mum approaches cooking as an art. A pinch of this, a bit of that, do it the same way you've always done it if that way worked, the recipe makes as many latkes as it does. Cooking has to be done with love and care.

And then there's my approach. Observe. Ask for precise numbers. Speculate out loud about whether there's a more efficient way to do parts of it. Try to come up with a clear description of how to know when to stop adding flour. Speculate some more about the logistics/efficiency of alternative methods.

She threatened to hit me when I mentioned the words 'scientific method' :D

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/joshuatree_/]

"She threatened to hit me when I mentioned the words 'scientific method' :D"
i dont blame her...

[axl12.livejournal.com]

I agree that cooking is more of an art.
But doesn't really matter, as long as it tastes good :)

'scientific method'

[(Anonymous)]

the meaning of life..... or close to it!

cheers,

alex

ps, so so so bored at work

Re: 'scientific method'

[(Anonymous)]

I think I'd be a bit like jen: get some fairly formal description of how to do something, implement it, then check that it has worked. See the result and from there go and make small changes if it needs a bit of work. I guess from this point on you can start ditching the formal method cause you can do more of it from memory and add your own knowledge into the equation (such as the fact that sugar is awesome and all recipes should have the maximum amount of sugar possible).

- danny (omg im posting on LJ :o)

ps, so so so bored at home (hooray for waking up at 6:30am for no apparent reason)