When does a recipe become yours?

A

andreaindc

Well-known member
I thought this was an interesting column by Anne Mahle.

When does a recipe become yours? Do you have to create your own, alter someone else's recipe, or just make it a whole bunch? I don't know that I have many recipes that I consider mine, because I'm always so aware of the source. But I was curious what other people thought.

I've attached the link to the original article because I think according to swap rules it violates copyright to post the text here.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=167427&ac=Food

 
I do the same when sharing a recipe - I try to give it verbatim, then I'll add how I changed it.

I always think that the recipient should have the choice of making it as it was written, or with my shortcuts.

I think it becomes yours as soon as it becomes your "signature" dish, the ones your friends and family know you for. But I'd still give credit to the source - if I pass on the recipe, I'll still call it Andrea's Lemon Poppy Seed bread.

Especially if I pass it around to friends here!

smileys/smile.gif

 
I was just asked for a couple of recipes recently, They are ones I have made for several years in

situations where ingredients were subed or deleted because of what was on hand or to tweak it to client's tastes.
Well I thought maybe I should look up the original and pass them along, along with my tweaks. Some of them were almost a different recipe.
I do try to make a recipe as written the first time! But then, the free for all begins.
But I do feel it's important to credit the source.
Thanks for article, interesting.
Nan

 
According to The Recipe Writer's Handbook, "The general rule of thumb is that three major changes

are required to make a recipe 'yours.' However, even if you make such changes, it is a professional courtesy to acknowledge the source of or inspiration for the recipe." (The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Expanded, Barbara Gibbs Ostmann and Jane L. Baker; Wiley, 2001)

"Major" is, of course, very subjective.

 
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