[Leeloomina]

In the process of making my christmas cake this morning. A little late this year but with two little ones under two I am proud I managed it. Anyway, the recipe I use is from Nigella Lawson's Feast. She mentioned in a little paragraph prefacing the recipe about it being passed down to her from MIL of her assistant's sister. I thought it is wonderful for a heirloom recipe to be published and shared with so many people.

Then I am reminded of an ex-colleague who refused to give out recipes. She made the loveliest vanilla butter cupcakes for the office and when a few of us asked if she could share the recipe she said sorry can't cos it was her special recipe. I have asked quite a few people to share their recipes over the years. Most did and some promised but eventually forgot (either accidentally or deliberately, not sure).

So do you share your recipes? I do (although I must confessed I still "owed" SIL a Christmas recipe I promised her last year!!) Is it common to not share?

[cstar]

I share my recipes all the time and if I find a great website, I always email my friends who I think might be interested.

[flushthetoilet]

Yes, always. 99% of the time they're from one of my cookbooks. So hardly a secret.

If I didn't like the person who asked, I might leave out a key ingredient or two....

[boatiebabe]

I love sharing but most of the time I don't have time to write down recipes!

Most of what I cook is some of this and a bit of that - added to the fact that I use a thermomix a fair bit so most things I make are not written down.

So if you want to get out a pen I will give you a pretty good approximation of what goes in to a recipe, but mostly I can't be a*sed to write it out.

[her mum]

I share my recipes all the time as I don't see the point in not lol!

However on two occasions previously at work I have taken a particular item in a few times, then been asked for the recipe, only to have the person I gave it to start bringing it in on pot luck days etc.

I don't really care, I don't own the right to make brownies or whatever but it just seems odd to me to ask for the recipe of something I regularly bring in, and then start bringing it in yourself?

[jessie123]

Doesn't bother me to share but then none of my recipes are some secret family recipe handed down.

[PrincessPeach]

Maybe she used a packet mix & didn't want to tell anyone?

I used a white wings packet mix the other week & the cake turned out better than the ones I make from scratch! However I'm more than happy to admit that it came from a packet.

Besides that I share any receipie with anyone who wants it.

[Swahili]

I can't imagine being so mean spirited as to refuse to share a recipe with someone. It's sad and pathetic.

[jai*]

I never make up my own recipes so I have no problem sharing them! They're not mine!

[TheGreenSheep]

Im happy to share. I find a lot on the net or tv.

Reminds me a friend asked me for a cake recipe she wants to serve for Xmas day. I served her the cake. She asked for the recipe. I kept thinking it was 'missing something' but wasn't till the next day I realized I forgot the flour! Whoops. So I better give her the recipe with both options.

Only time I don't share recipes is when a friend C has given me a few, they're 'hers'. Also I have a recipe I've given her and she won't share it with anyone she doesn't like. It makes me laugh. It's just her thing I guess.