I've given out my recipes for years. I've always taken special care to write down every ingredient, every process, every direction, very specifically. In fact, I'm in the process of writing a cookbook to give to our 3 daughters as they venture forth into the real world wherein they will have to cook and bake for themselves.
But everyone always says, "I followed your recipe but it just didn't taste like YOURS!" Well, what can I say?
We all add a special spark to what we make. I NEVER leave out an ingredient in a recipe that I share with others. But it never fails -- people claim they can't re-create it to taste like mine.
But there ARE two recipes I will never reveal --
One is my daughter's fudge. She has had people offer her $100 for the recipe. She refuses, though it's so simple and easy it's almost laughable.
The other is my grandmother's hot fudge sauce. Also laughably easy. But you'll never pry it from my lips 
I don't have any secrets either.I give them out whnever any one asks. Partly because I want people to do the same for me if I run into something yummy and partly because I know that most of them won't deal with the hassle of making it. Most things I make are either complicated or time consuming and I just don't see most families taking the time to make yummy things.
My MIL was just saying on Saturday when I was making the pinstripes on my cake that she would never make a cake like that. She says that she just likes things to taste good and look good, but only if they are easy.
I About DIED when she told me she THREW AWAY her grandmother's recipes for two reasons - one they were written in German (and she doesn't know german) and they were too complicated for her. I mean, EVERYONE tells stories about how WONDERFUL Maka cooked and she THREW THEM AWAY!!!!
There is one book left of recipes that her mother wrote down and a lot of them are the grandmother's recipes, but they are written in Cyrilic. I can't read it, and DH has problems reading it as it's handwritten. I asked MIL to translate them and she doesn't want to do it. I mean, she complains about having nothing to do and yet she won't rewrite these recipes that are 50-100 years old from Croatia/Serbia/Bosnia. It has nothing to do with keepign it a secret as she did translate one for me. She tried to make it and it didn't work. I made it, and it did (I think she rushed through the recipe). Hmmm... maybe when she asks me what I want for Christmas and b-day I tell her those recipes translated???? She's the one who always wants to carry on traditions, but if she doesn't pass them on, then how can I? She's 72 years old too and DH is her only child, so...
On the other hand, she notoriously rewrites recipes incorrectly. One time she wrote for herself a recipe and instead of 20 dL of water, she added 200 dL!!! She forgot an ingredient in a recipe she wrote for me too - forgot the wet ingredient so it was obvious! LOL
Melissa
No secrets here, if someone think something I've made tastes good enough to ask for the recipe I am flattered. I also have a strong belief that in a world as big as ours someone has probably come up with the same recipe somewhere, so it really isn't all that secret.
I share any recipes I have....I have said this in other threads but my Mom wears herself out baking cinn rolls every christmas (as gifts) for tons of people who want those rolls....and she gladly gives them the recipe (as she is tired of making so darn many) but people dont want to take the time to make them.....or if they do...they dont turn out the same (I still havent made her rolls as good as hers).....but my Mom just doesnt do good cookies....for whatever reason she gets muffin tops instead of a nice flat cookie...she even has had me go to her house, use her ingredients and her stove and I got nice flat cookies! Makes her so mad!
My point is that we all have talents and specialties....I am flattered when someone asks me how I did something or for the recipe!
Melissa why dont you get the recipes translate by a free translation web site. I as for me I don't have any recipes
Won't work - these are handwritten. So, first it would have to be scanneda nd then deciphered. If it were typed or even written in a legible way, but it looks like a cyrillic Declaration of Indenpence (all old fashioned writing). MIL can read it as it's her Mom's writing and she's comfortable with the writng.
I have suggested we sit down together and she read it and I write it. It would require her to translate Croatian to English, but I understand the language, so I could probably figure a lot of it out if she SPOKE it. Reading it would be near impossible.
Melissa
I share anything I have. But it's true, most people won't want to take the time to make it themself and when they do they try to cut corners or try to rush it. Plus we all know the many things that can go wrong/right and so giving a recipe to someone is not really a threat to me.
DD has my sister's Signature BC recipe that she developed 25 yrs ago. My sister swore her to secrecy. The only other person who knows it is DD Beau, and thats because he makes her icing for her whenever she needs him to.
The only thing I don't share is my Grandpas recipe for Southern Fried Chicken. I keep it to myself more because I love the way everyone MMMMM's when they eat it. It's a feeling I know my Grandpa had to have had everytime he made it. Whenever I miss him really bad I make his recipe, and then it's just Grandpa & me in the kitchen.
Team morningglories 
Whenever I miss him really bad I make his recipe, and then it's just Grandpa & me in the kitchen.
Oh, way to make me get all teary!! When I miss Gramma I bake her famous rye bread. When I was nine months pregnant I was baking it like crazy (living in her old house... think she possessed me or something!) People used to laugh and say they didn't have to strength do it normally, how was I doing it so pregnant! I put my whole body into it! It was a real workout!!
Zmama... you do realize that everyone from Clinton is like, completely insane? That would explain the 'ex' part! Teasing! My brother has a shop there, some weekend when you're there you should stop at Shoe Hospital on 5th Avenue South!! Then make Mike call me and I will give you the recipe of your choice... even my *gasp* pasta sauce!!! *NO!! Tell me I didn't say that!!!* 
I have no "secret" recipes. I also do not have a business that I use my recipes for. If you are making money off a recipe, then you obviously don't want to give it away and hurt your business.
If anyone reads the recipe reviews on epicurious, you will understand why most people cannot get a recipe to turn out. A lot of them say things like this recipe didn't work-will not make it again. Then they go on to say, I didn't have this ingredient so I used something else. I don't like peanut butter(and it's peanut butter cookies LOL!!!!!).
Baking is hard to replicate-I may cream my butter and sugar a little longer than someone else. If it's a chocolate cake, the quality of the chocolate or cocoa can make a difference. I only use high quality butter in my baking, etc. Measuring flour can make a difference(unless you are measuring by weight).
Sandra
Melvira, get that sauce recipe ready!
I usually go as far as Dubuque, but go to Clinton when needed and for visits with friends and family. I agree, everyone is insane from that SMELL! Ugh! I went to school in Fulton, across the river.
Your brother's shop is on the second block from the river, well, the second business block after the railroad tracks by Happy Joes. On the south side of the 300 block. Am I right? Near Dollar Store. Or is that the old shoe repair shop I am thinking of?
Have you ever been to Riverside Restaurant or Remingtons? I worked at both of those, started my degree at Ashford (old Mount Saint Clare).
I was so glad to move out of Clinton! Of course, I do miss their Walmart - it was soooo much better than this one, and I still shop there when I go back!
How funny, I was just talking about this with my mother... she has a holiday fruit cake recipe that I'm the only person with whom she shared the recipe with and she made me swear that I would never ever share it with no one, unless I'm about to die and my daughter wants it!! I don't even have a daughter yet! 
So I guess that is the one I can't share! My aunts have been black mailing me for years to see if would share the secret! 
It's been a mistery!! 
I still get possessive but end up sharing my recipes anyway. I don't worry so much any more that someone may make my signature item. Every year our church gives out a recipe and asks people to help make the item. And every single one of them tastes, looks, feels different even though they all used the same recipe!
Yes Zmama, my bro bought out the old shoe repair when he wanted to retire. That was like... 10 years ago or something like that. And yes, it's the smell that gets to you! Ergh! I can't stand driving through it, but you are right about the WalMart... it's the only place within 100 miles or more that I've found my raspberry filled chocolate chips that I use to make some decadent desserts!!
Alright Melvira,
Did you really say RASPBERRY FILLED CHOCOLATE CHIPS???? Would you mind telling me the brand name? My husband would die for a cookie with these! And, wow, can you imagine a Raspberry Chocolate Chip Brownie Biscotti? Talk about to die for! Please, pretty please, getting on my knees and begging, pretty please?
Kathi
I will gladly share my recipes, but some of my "decorating" secrets...I don't know if I will ever give them all away.
I value my experience and knowledge and I hold them dear ...like precious babies.
A lot of my secrets are things that I have come up with after many trial and errors and I feel that EVERYONE has the same degree of stick to itness and can come up with the same tricks.
But, if I"m teaching a class, specifically ...then I guess I have no other choice..lol
I am on the horns of a delima as I have been asked to teach a class in the type of cakes that I do, not the more extreeme ones but I am still tossing the idea back and forth..
Yes
no
Don't know.
LOL
i guess it is the moment of true??????? well like somebody else said here
im planing to open a bakery somehow
and i spend a lot of time mastering my cake recipe...it is made of scratch and melts in your mouth! that it is how soft and moist it is...
plus the filling i add makes terrific combination!
it is a special 3milk kind of flavor like a custard kind of
but uhmmm yummy yummy!
it is my cake! 
the sugarcow! ole!
okay......I don't have any secrets....I'm a big mouth and I love to help people and I love to see people happy over a recipe or something I've given them....one thing........I hope you guys that are holding on to your secrets put then in writing and keep them somewhere (even a safe deposit box if they're THAT secret lol) so that when you pass away your family can keep your recipes and a part of you alive. My grandmother was a fabulous cook (my mom says) and she always wanted a grand daughter (my mom says) and I'm her only granddaughter but she passed away 3 months before I was born so I never knew her....however I'm the same height as her and we have the same size shoes (size 11) I know I know but I'm tall what do you want? lol Anyhow I would have LOVED to cook some of the same things she did....being that she loved to cook, bake, etc. and so do I...my mom said her mother never wrote anything down...had it all in her head and just kinda winged it as she went.....but because of that I can't recreate anything she made...which I would have LOVED to do for My mom!! So in any case........make sure you guys leave them behind for someone when you don't need them anymore.
okay......I don't have any secrets....I'm a big mouth and I love to help people and I love to see people happy over a recipe or something I've given them....one thing........I hope you guys that are holding on to your secrets put then in writing and keep them somewhere (even a safe deposit box if they're THAT secret lol) so that when you pass away your family can keep your recipes and a part of you alive. My grandmother was a fabulous cook (my mom says) and she always wanted a grand daughter (my mom says) and I'm her only granddaughter but she passed away 3 months before I was born so I never knew her....however I'm the same height as her and we have the same size shoes (size 11) I know I know but I'm tall what do you want? lol Anyhow I would have LOVED to cook some of the same things she did....being that she loved to cook, bake, etc. and so do I...my mom said her mother never wrote anything down...had it all in her head and just kinda winged it as she went.....but because of that I can't recreate anything she made...which I would have LOVED to do for My mom!! So in any case........make sure you guys leave them behind for someone when you don't need them anymore.
oh!
that it is sad im sorry
my grandmom past away 3 years ago...and i was far away from her anyway....but she cooked so much good and different stuff 
i wish i was near her....
....but i tought about that....recently... i tough i have to start taking pictures and write everything down just in case i cant make it to the bakery.....or something else happens to me ..so my kids could do it.. they all artists i can see in the things they do....i have 4! so i have a lot of chances one or 2 will do it.. 
I also have recipes from my mom when she was in Culinary school in the DARK AGES..lol
and I cannot figure out the portions..
some recipes call for
A CAN OF WATER?????
Like ..what size? 8 ounce can...10 ounce can?
and they are in Spanish so it's frustrating because I can understand them, but I can't do them and she doesn't remember and now she has Alzhimers.
But I still treasure them.
I'm not sure I understand WHY recipes are kept secret. As someone has already pointed out, there have more than likely been folks already make it somewhere in this vast world. Once the person who knows the "secret" is dead and gone, what have they gained by keeping the "secret"? BUT, if the recipe is shared, then wonderful memories can be re-lived when family and friends make the recipe and remember all the good times with that person. In my humble opinion, I think is is much more noble to share than to horde. (Not to offend anyone who does keep their recipe a secret, just another viewpoint).
Happy holidays and happy baking with family and friends!!
The only thing I don't share is my HONEY!!! Everything else is up for grabs. Food like life and love only get better when shared. No matter who I give my recipes to they will never come out the same as mine there are so many variables and everybody always adds their own touches to fit their needs and likes.
Hey Risque,
You have nothing to worry about. I'm sure you could tell the world every little tip you know and most people couldn't come close to the beautiful work you do.
As we all know seeing and being told how to decorate a great cake is not what makes one a great decorator. It takes time, talent and love to be as good as you.
I say share away. Teach that class and be proud of how you taught someone a new craft.
Joanne
I am one of those insufferable people who has never written a recipe in my life. I also never follow recipes to a "t". I always just throw stuff in and let my senses guide me on when enough is enough.
I never cooked as a kid, and my mom raised us all on microwaveable food. However, when I moved to Europe at the age of 19, and realized that they did not have a lot of my favorite foods available ready-made, it was time for me to learn how to cook.
My Gma of course was no help... she just told to to add a dash of this, a couple of scoops of that... it was enfuriating... but that was how I had to learn.
Now I have a few dishes that people swear I make better than anyone else, but I don't think I could honestly tell them how to make it.
My Tiramisu has been lauded to be the best in the world. There's a reason for that. An old Italian lady that lived next door to me showed me how to make it from a recipe that was probably as old as Italy itself. It's a lot creamier than Tiramisu normally is, and the cake is softer, and it basically melts on your tongue. But she didn't speak English when she taught me how to make it and I don't speak Italian, so I just followed her lead and tweaked it a bit here and there, and VOILA!
That's the basic story behind a lot of my favorite dishes, so if any of you would like a hands-on tutorial, that's about the only way my recipes CAN be handed down...
I don't regard any of them as "secret" but I don't think I even own a measuring cup if that tells you anything...
[quote="jinxy543210"]I am one of those insufferable people who has never written a recipe in my life. I also never follow recipes to a "t". I always just throw stuff in and let my senses guide me on when enough is enough.
LOL, some of my best desserts are made the day before payday and have to scrounge in the pantry for whatever is there . Throw 'em in a pan with butter and brown sugar. flavoring on hand and viola something good to eat!
Ok my friends, a picture is worth a thousand words, so this should give you all the information you need aside from where to get them. Unfortunately I looked all over the bistate area and have only found them at Wal-Mart in Clinton, Iowa. They are amazing. If you want an incredible recipe for cookies made with these let me know... but trick or treating just started so I can't post it this second!!
Edited to add... Why didn't the picture post the first time? Let me try again. Sorry!
I have a wicked ginger snap recipe that was actually DH's great grandmother's, they are so soft and chewy!! (My own mother's gingersnap recipe may as well involve concrete mix...) I don't give this recipe to anyone (some of the other familly members have it) they're the only cookies DH REALLY likes so I like to keep this recipe on the down low. I'll bake them for anyone who wants them, but the recipe stays with me...
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