Are All Recipes Welcome?

[Linda in MO]

I have been wondering about this and just thought I'd do a poll on it. Being one of the biggest "offenders" of posting non-light recipes, I was just wondering if non-light/not-so-healthy recipes were welcome here.

[m4star]

Post away!! We all love a good recipe, light or not.

[Leslie w]

I enjoy reading all recipes, since I don't always cook light (esp. when entertaining). I think there are enough light recipes on this BB to make everyone happy. So post away!

[Natasha]

Hi Linda,

I'd say absolutely - bring 'em on! It's easy enough to skip over recipes one is not interested in. Also, many non-light recipes can be somewhat modified to make them lighter. I have also heard many people on these boards say that they like to indulge in higher-fat foods in moderation, so it's nice to have these recipes available for those occasions.

I also find that people often indicate where a recipe that he or she is posting is not particularly light. Sometimes people specially request that something be light, and then I believe that request is pretty well heeded on that particular thread.

In short, no harm done, IMHO, by having all kinds of recipes on the board. The focus still remains on light cooking, anyway, especially with all the Cooking Light recipe reviews.

Natasha

[ebobbitt]

I love all recipes -- even the ones I never get around to trying!

[lorilei]

Natasha STOLE my answer :)

Definitely post away!! Her point about being able to lighten "not so lite" dishes is absolutely right. And I think it keeps us thinking about creative ways to use food -- which results in making us better cooks!!

[Jewel]

Bring 'em on! I look at most recipes as a guideline only anyway! Often I like to embellish on the written recipe and make it my own if possible, so if it specifies sauteeing the onions in a half stick of butter, chances are I'm going to modify it!

We're smart enough to know that not every recipe can be light, and we're not ignorant enough to believe you always have to EAT light to be happy and healthy. I can handle them all!

I look at high fat recipes as a challenge anyway... ;)

[SandyM]

If I could quote everyone, I would - because y'all stole my answers. :p :D

[aggie94]

Ditto.

[Scout]

I love seeing all and any recipes anybody wants to share. I have gotten so many wonderful recipes from people posting wether they are light or not light.

Keep 'em coming.:)

Anne

[yorkshirepud]

Absolutely. Everyone can make up there own mind whether they'd like to try out the 'not so healthy' recipe if they wish. I'm sure not everyone on the board sticks strictly to 'light' recipes so at least with these recipes floating around everyone is being 'served'.

I always good light, so personally I just skip them, but I still don't mind having them pop up on the board. And like many said, those seasonsed cooks could probably do their magic and lighten them anyway.

[Grace]

I personally don't/won't make any of the non-light recipes, but I just skip over them. It doesn't bother me in the least that someone would post them. I figure if someone is interested in them, and it makes them happy, why should it bother me?

[LaraW]

I don't always make the non-light recipes, but I still enjoy reading them and get ideas from them even if I ultimately end up using something else.

Keep posting!! :D

[emilycat]

I think we would seriously restrict our cooking knowledge and creativity if we always looked past the non-light recipes. Really, how hard is it to lighten a recipe? Most only need a lessening of olive oil or butter, a substitute of a stronger cheese and less of it, some additions of herbs and spices, extra veggies, less starch...
If I limited myself to using only already-light recipes, I think I'd be awfully deprived.

[BlueMoose]

Originally posted by lorilei
Natasha STOLE my answer :)

Definitely post away!! Her point about being able to lighten "not so lite" dishes is absolutely right. And I think it keeps us thinking about creative ways to use food -- which results in making us better cooks!!

Natasha and lorilei STOLE my answer :)


I usually cook light, but I also enjoy modifying recipes if they aren't so light. Also, like lorilei said, a lot of times a recipe, whether or not I actually make it, will inspire me in some way to try something new and different.

[SandyM]

No wait - I like Emily's answer!!

Happy birthday, btw! :D

[lorilei]

Originally posted by BlueMoose


Natasha and lorilei STOLE my answer :)

You do know we work in tandem, don't you? Black masks and everything. And Sandy is our cover.

[lorilei]

Originally posted by emilycat
If I limited myself to using only already-light recipes, I think I'd be awfully deprived.

And we wouldn't want that, would we Emily? :D

[emilycat]

Brat.

:p ;)

[lorilei]

Originally posted by emilycat
Brat.

:p ;)

That's me. Bratty thief :D

[funnybone]

I enjoy all recipes, so go ahead and post them! We're adults, we can pick and choose what we will and won't make. I don't want to live in a world where I can't indulge from time to time in something decadent and fattening. I figure if I don't eat it at times in "this world", I doubt I will be eating it in my "next world".:D

[Natasha]

That's right; Lori and I work in tandem and Sandy, as Lori said, is our cover. She scurries all over Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario to co-ordinate our thieving missions. Is this actually starting to sound realistic, or what? ;) :p

Except for every other Tuesday and Thursday, that is, when she has a prior commitment to stalk Gail...

I like Emily's answer too, actually. Maybe we can all pool answers. :D

Natasha

[Peggy C.]

NO! Got ya! I've always wanted to do that!

Ditto to everyone elses comments!

[AndreaU]

I'll take anything you've got, so post away 'til your fingers fall off!

I think the great thing about this BB is that you CAN post what you want. If I want something light, I'll seek it out. When it doesn't matter if it's light or not, I can still find it. AND... you can always find someone to help you lighten those recipes that aren't light to begin with.

Something for everyone- it's a beautiful thing! :D

[dcornelius]

Post away!

[dcornelius]

The president has been set for sueing those who are responsible for making the public fat!;)

[Shirley Panek]

I'm a reader of all recipes, even if I don't think I'll make them. I've even been known to print out recipes and then (gasp!) not make them! ;)

[Gina O]

Please post non-light recipes!!! Where would we be without the Rolo cookies????? :D Gina

[ccooney]

I'm sort of on the fence. This is a "Cooking Light" bulletin board, but not so light recipes aren't bad in moderation. Also, someone else may have a good idea on how to lighten up a recipe that the post-er may not have considered. And I, too, have been guilty of posting recipes that were far from light, so it's not my place to judge others' submissions.

[crazycook]

It's good to see the results of the poll and also read confirmation that all recipes are considered. I have been trying very hard to move towards a healthier way of eating but have to confess that most of my tried and true recipes don't necessarily fall into the category of "healthy eating". I make the best attempt at substitution when possible, but for some recipes it just doesn't work. You could say to just avoid the recipe but that's not always easy to do either. If it is a family favourite and has a history to go with it; it's not getting put aside. I am inspired by you all here and your attempts at modifying a recipe(not to single one person out, but Jewel you stand out in my mind on this point) and I pay attention to your substitutions so that I can make the same right choices in my attempts.

I've contributed some recipes in the past and they seemed to be ignored (may be my incorrect perception) and I felt it was due to the fact that they were not light. If anyone has felt like a "post killer" it's been me. :o I've refrained from posting any others because I didn't want to offend anyone and I didn't want people here to think that I was a hypocrite for participating in a Cooking Light board and continually posting non-light recipes.

I love reading all types of recipes. I know that this board has taught me so much and has me looking at so many more recipes that I usually turned my nose up at in the past--mainly more vegetarian recipes. I'm a single mom and on my weekends without the kids I've been experimenting with more vegetarian type dishes since my tastebuds are more diverse than my children's. Mom's the guinea pig and if I find that the recipe will work for the kids, I'll introduce them to it through the week. They're learning as well, though.

Thanks for the "listen" fellow BBers and Linda thanks for the opportunity for me to voice what I've been feeling for sometime now.

Anna :)

[claire797]

Thanks for posting this poll. I often feel like I am the evil snake in the Garden of Eden whenever I post a non-lite recipe.

I like to cook both lite and non-lite. The non-lite stuff balances out the lite stuff and everything fits into my diet. No. I am not trying to lose weight right now, but having both lite and non-lite recipes helps me maintain my weight while still eating chocolate chip cookies.

I actually like some non-lite recipes better because in the end, I usually end up lightening them myself and in some cases, my own lightened version of a non-lite recipe is better than some published lite recipe.

So my vote is for everyone to post whatever recipes they like. If they have a tried and true lightened version -- GREAT! But why restrict ourselves? If you don't want to read about non-lite stuff, skip the thread.

[Little Bit]

I think many times I prefer to see the original, non-light recipe so that I can make substitutions that are appropriate for my family and the sorts of grocery stores in my area. The more substitutions someone makes along the way, the harder it is to know what the original was like, and to figure out whether or not the changes I need to make because of lack of availability of a particular ingredient are on or way off the mark.

I wouldn't call most of my cookery 'light' by CL standards, but it's definitely MUCH lighter (and lower in sodium) than it used to be. (Thanks everyone !)

[Varaile]

Please post your recipes, light or not!

A) I believe in the philosophy of "everything in moderation" and sometimes it's okay to have a non-light recipe.

B) I am an adult and capable of making the choice of cooking said recipe.

C) It is soooooomuch fun reading all the comments about how to lighten something! I have learned so much that way!

D) I love the variety this board has to offer! It's one of it's many, many charms!

So! Keep'em coming! ;) :D :cool: :D :)

[Wendy w]

Keep 'em coming. There are times that non light is good and some can be lightened if necessary. This reminds me that I need to make blueberry pudding cake soon!

[Gail]

How polite of you to ask, Linda.

Me, I just post 'em and duck the flying pots and pans tossed my way.

[Kahlico]

I prefer the non-light recipes because I like to fiddle with a recipe to "Emilieize" it (that's a word, I promise). I enjoy the light recipes but it doesn't seem as if there is any work in it for me. The only things I don't mess with are my brownie recipe and my chocolate cookie recipe. That's why I make those maybe once every two months.

[Curleytop]

I enjoy all the recipes,BUT ISN'T THE NAME OF THE GAME "COOKING LIGHT"?

[dulcecoeur]

I think I like seeing both posted - I like having the light recipes for ideas, but then I have no problem fiddling with the non-light recipes if I really want to try it out. Admittedly though, I do not usually make the non-light recipes for myself - but I might make them for someone else:) While I might indulge once in a while (i.e. my birthday or something), I am pretty conscious of the stuff I put in my body. But I also see why many people like to have non-light stuff posted as well, so for me it does not matter, because I can choose not to make it.

[claire797]

Originally posted by Curleytop
I enjoy all the recipes,BUT ISN'T THE NAME OF THE GAME "COOKING LIGHT"?

Yes. Which is why so many of us like taking the full-fat recipes and turning them into light recipes.

[linsleyd]

I like the variety and experimenting with the high fat ones to make them low fat. Bring em all on!!

Love em all, high fat, low fat, medium fat.....:D

[yorkshirepud]

Originally posted by Curleytop
I enjoy all the recipes,BUT ISN'T THE NAME OF THE GAME "COOKING LIGHT"?

True, but I guess you also have to take into consideration that the 'definition' of 'cooking light' is different to everyone. It all depends on your aims when it comes to cooking, what your preferences are, who you're cooking for and many other factors.

YP

[Gail]

I've been watching the poll results rather than the written results, since I find some people prefer to vote silently. And I hope that I speak on behalf of the majority of us here when I make this request of the faction here who finds the posting of unlightened recipes inappropriate:

Please, please, PLEASE if your preference is only for lightened recipes, say so when you're making your request. Since this IS Cooking Light, certainly no one here would take offense to such a request and if anything it'll save unncessary work on the part of the people answering the post.

And if you don't have preferences, or if you like the challenge of lightening full-fat recipes, that's okay, too.

[Susan]

Good point, Gail! I often wonder when someone posts a request if they want light or anything you've got.

I like to read all the recipes posted on the bboard so I voted for the first choice.

~Susan~

[tbear1923]

I posted all recipes welcome. Although I prefer light/healthy recipes if someone has a great recipe to share I don't see a problem with that. Anyways, that just gives everyone an opportunity to experiment and lighten up the recipe to then share those changes with the board! I see no problem with that. I don't think we should exclude or retort nasty comments about someone's favorite/handed-down recipe just because it isn't on the light side- that might hurt people's feelings.

[Robyncz]

Originally posted by Curleytop
I enjoy all the recipes,BUT ISN'T THE NAME OF THE GAME "COOKING LIGHT"?
Sure is. But who's being literal?? I've been incredibly enriched by the ongoing exchange of ideas on this board that has nothing at all to do with cooking be it "heavy" or "light."

I also have to agree with yorkshirepud's point that "light" isn't necessarily an objective adjective. Your "light" might be the highest fat meal I've ever prepared (although I seriously doubt that!!) and vice versa.

Gail makes the most practical suggestion. If you ask for a recipe and you have a strong opinion about whether or not it should be "light" just say so!

By the way, can anyone say "objective adjective" three times fast?? ;)

[Leanne]

I said light or not - doesn't matter. For me, I read recipes for ideas - not to follow exactly. So, I can learn from non-light recipes too - new spices, or combinations of food, etc.

[Kahlico]

Maybe we should change the name to Eating Light. :D

[Linda in MO]

Wow! I didn't expect to see so many responses and votes! I loved reading everyone's opinions and I'm glad to see that the majority of people are open to all recipes. It's just something that I have wondered for a long time and I just wanted to know what others thought. Sounds like others have wondered the same thing, so I'm glad we got this out in the open! :D

[Gracie]

I was happy to see the overwhelming results of the poll! LindainMO, I love your recipes. I lighten them, but I'm darn glad to have them!! I just made those Burst o' Lemon Muffins again !

And the decadent desserts people post are mouthwatering! Even if I won't make them on a regular basis, there always come times when you need them. Then I can't make a choice from all the wonderful recipes I've collected.

Loren

[Linda in MO]

Thanks, Loren! I'm glad you get some use out of the recipes I post. BTW, I also made the lemon muffins again the other day. It's one of my favorite new recipes of the year.

[wallycat]

I love them all, and we can always "fix" stuff to make it lighter if we want...post away!!

Robyncz, I can say it...can anyone say "unique new york" 10 times fast...:p

[BarbaraL]

I also like all recipes. I'm looking for "good" recipes -- ones you guys like so much, you want to share them (a reason I also like reading the recipe reviews). Who wants to spend time and money on recipes that disappoint? While I try to cook/eat healthy most of the time, there are times I don't -- Christmas dinner, for example, or when I'm hosting dinner for people who aren't interested in healthy eating. Or if the whole rest of the meal is light, maybe I'll indulge in one heavier dish. I think of you all as friends, and I'm happy to share in what you "talk" (type?) about, even if it's some incredibly rich, sinful, bad-for-you chocolate dissert. Please don't "edit" yourselves for me!

[carolyn.1]

I too, like the challenge of lightening a recipe if need be. Sometimes all it takes is a little less this and a little less of that. ;)
Carolyn