Or just make it up as you go along?

I've lots of recipe books but mostly use them for ideas and then work out the quantities etc myself. What do other people do and is there an aspie way to  do it or not?

I pretty much do the same thing Fozzie. Especially if I dont have the specific ingredients called for, and need to improvise.

I have a collection of recipes books, but use them mostly for ideas and inspiration - though I will follow them quite closely if I decide to make something I haven't done before - and am always looking for recipes on the web.  

With most simple dishes - that is, the great majority of my cooking - everything is so basic that I can judge the right amounts by eye and the benefit of knowing how it will turn out with my particular stove, pots and pans.

Most of what I do is what's called "English plain cooking" - e.g.  

grilled lamb chops with green peas and boiled potatoes with butter.

Bangers and mash with onion gravy.

Eggs, bacon, mushrooms and tomato, with toast and tea.

Liver and bacon with mashed spuds, carrots and peas.

Pork chop with fried potatoes and cauliflower cheese.

I also like to make soup using stock brewed from bones, chicken carcasses etc - especially now the winter is coming.

Stella

Seldom use recipes--do get ideas from books--I have been accused of being "food challenged" by friends, because I don't like vegetables. I make great quiche and chicken and lasagna, and that's about it.

I do a lot of cooking off the top of my head.  Ex. Omelets

I came up with a three egg omelet a dash of milk in the mix.  Liberal Amounts of grated muenster cheese.  Depending upon my mood, chopped spinach, finely chopped shrimp, chicken, corn, asparagus, broccoli, etc. and then topped with a nice tomato sauce.

You can add any filling you like depending upon preference or whatever.

Omelets are a meal unto themselves and quick and easy to make.

Peace

I agree Ozymandias, Omelettes are an infinitely varied way of cooking you can put almost anything into them and they take almost not time. I especially like putting par-boiled potatos in so that they get fried crisp on the bottom (although I guess this is stricly speaking a fritatta not an omelette...)

I walk in the kitchen, look at the ingredients lying around and make something

I usually use a recipe for guidance, and in case I  don�t have all the ingredients, I find other alternatives that I have lying around in the kitchen to use instead. usually works like a charm. The most important ingredients I ALWAYS use for taste when I cook dinner are onions, curry and spicy herbal mix. ( oregano and basil are my favourites ) and then garlic powder.
I�ve always got compliments for my foods, so I guess I�m not that bad a chef.. :grin:

My parents use recipes sometimes but not always.

I use recipes. Especially when I'm trying to figure out how to make something I've had from a resturant or market place. Like right now, I'm looking up garlic sauce recipes for Falafels. And Gozleme recipes. Although I think the Gozleme one is a special thing that only turkish elders know. Maybe.