Cooking was not my mother's long suit, which is probably why I have hundreds of cookbooks and I search the internet for new recipes almost daily. I follow a recipe once and after that I make changes to them. I live with my mother, I do the cooking and she does the dishes. This was her idea.
Over the years there are dishes I just do not use a recipe to make. I also have recipes I will not share with anyone. I still love using "Joy of Cooking" and an Eastern Star Cookbook my grandmother gave me for a shower gift back in 1967 (my favorite -- I had to find a replacement on eBay).