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I drew a line with my cousin over her 'secret ingredient' in my stocks... now it's awkward.
Every time we cook together, she adds a splash of soy sauce to my simmering stocks... says it adds depth. I've worked hard on my broth base for years, and this changes the whole flavor profile. On one side, I want to respect her input and keep the peace, since cooking is how we connect. On the other, it feels like she's not trusting my methods, and the result isn't what I planned. I gently asked her to hold off last week, and she hasn't offered to help since. Where do you all stand on this? Should you let family tweak your recipes to avoid friction, or stand firm on your craft? I'm really unsure how to handle it...
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jana_burns3d ago
Yeah, I get that. My buddy always added cumin to my chili, even after I tweaked the recipe for months. I finally asked if we could taste my version first, then he could mix extra into his own bowl. He liked that because his idea was still used, just not in the whole pot. We still cook together all the time. Maybe you could suggest splitting the stock before she adds her soy sauce.
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blairm933d ago
Last Christmas, my brother kept adding bourbon to our family eggnog and I almost lost it. But you know what, everyone ended up loving the new flavor more than the old one. @jana_burns had a good fix with splitting the stock, but that feels like making a separate pot just to keep peace. If cooking together is how you connect, why not let her soy sauce idea shine for one whole batch and see if it actually improves your base? Are you more interested in perfect broth or keeping your cousin in the kitchen with you?
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