Do you follow the recipe?

I am wondering, when you're cooking do you always follow the recipe exactly ?

I don't if it needs something and I don't have it, I don't always run (euh drive) to the store to get it.
I see if I have something else in the house that can replace it, or I just leave it out.

Like with the Pioneerwoman's Curried Chicken-Pasta ... ok, I didn't leave out the pasta or the chicken and the curry was in too, but no celery (too big bunches to buy for just one salad) ...

Or substitute onions and shallots, spring onion and chives, ...
If I don't really like one of the ingredients, I don't always up it in or less of it.

How about you ?

for me it depends cassy my bff when i first try a new recipe i always do it as it is first and if we remake the same recipe if we like it the first time then we change a few things(because my mom and me tys new recipe every day lol

Generally yes, but that is because I'm a bad cook and always screw it up if I try myself :P

Great question, Cassy!
I hardly EVER follow a recipe 100%.
Usually, I take poetic license, leaving out things I don't like (rosemary or thyme, for example) and adding more of what I do like (more cheese, please ).
I may substitute things, like you do, too (eg I don't normally keep marjoram in the house, so I may use basil instead).

How did I miss this!?!?!?

Good question Cass, I was a chef for two years so I always had to follow the recipe, now I just cook at home I make it up as I go along!
Prob as I hated having to follow things exactly now I will happily subsitue, knock things out and make a good mess, much more fun in my opinion.

It depends what I am making Cassy, if it is a savoury dish like pasta or a casserole, I don't follow the recipe to closely, just use it as a guideline, however for sweet bakery stuff I follow the recipe the first time and then adjust to my tastes.