To think there is a MORAL OBLIGATION to share recipes if asked?

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Look, it's just a pickle recipe. Your daughter gave me a jar, it tasted delicious and I asked for the recipe when I'd finished the jar because we'd all fought over the last spoonful.

You live 200 miles away and you have refused to give out the recipe.

It's an outrage.

Hassled - great minds think alike...!

Odd unless you run a business and you're worried about competition.

But Piper, don't you want to spread the Welsh cake love?

YABU, nobody will ever get my rocky road recipe I like that people look forward to me giving it as presents or bringing it to an event

You're assuming there is a recipe. She's probably embarrassed to say that what she does is chuck in whatever she has to hand, sprinkle a random amount of spices in, and cook it until it looks about the right consistency.

She probably bought it.

I like that people look forward to me giving it as presents or bringing it to an event. That's why for me, if they could make it themselves they wouldn't appreciate it as much. Not to brag, but it is good, I had a woman come up in a supermarket and ask my mother where she got it, she wanted some for a family event, she didn't know I'd made it. I was mega chuffed.

She definitely didn't buy it. The reason I got a jar was because I'd admired a previous batch her daughter had. That was about a year before, so, definitely different batches. Which makes me conclude, from consistency, that she is following a recipe.

A recipe she isn't sharing .

Ooh, I googled "dry brinjal pickle" and the third result down (blogspot one) sounded good but it has a massive notice above the recipe saying it's not to be shared!! Is this your friend's recipe, OP? Maybe the pickle police will hunt her down if your friend shares it?!

I do kind of 'get' this. I have just devised a Caramelised Onion & Red Pepper chutney that is raved about. It will make lovely presents or surprise gifts so I don't want people running about making shitloads of it for themselves do I? :)

Its quite weird. I don't get why people wouldn't give out recipes either... why not share a family recipe?!

I once mentioned how much I'd loved a garlic, cream, mushroom, port and stilton starter in passing at the end of the meal at a restaurant. The chef came out at the end of the night, sat down with us while we all had another round of drinks and talked me through how she did it - including top tips on preparing mushrooms that I use to this day! She even suggested ways to add bacon and pasta for a main (read cheap!) tea.

I still use the recipe to this day and always remember the restaurant - we were on holiday at the time, but to a regular place so every time we're back in the area we always pop in for a meal. Doubt she's still there but it makes me feel loyal

YANBU refusing to share recipes is twattish - and the only time I refuse is when I've bought it (no, I'm not talking about the canned veggie soup from Aldi that everyone loved, honest!)

No I don't want to give out the recipe. Some fucker may take it to dragons den.

Bigfoot - it's on the internet but "not to be shared"?

Someone doesn't know how blogs work...

My mum gave out her raved about pavlova recipe to a neighbour. Neighbour started up a catering business with people raving about the pavlovas. No credit to my mum who was most miffed.

Yup - tis you do now need to share :)

YANBU. This is a pet hate of mine. If Waiting gets hit by a bus tomorrow we all lose out on potential pastry knowledge and that is a smear on the reputation of good pastry

There are one or two recipes which have been handed down in our family. One was given to my grandmother by a famous (in his day) chef on the condition she kept it a secret. It went to my mum, and eventually to me. I won't give anyone those recipes, except maybe dd one day.

I think some family recipes are nice kept in the family.

I don't share all of mine.

I have basic methods that I add to; they are a bit different every time. In fact MIL thinks I use dolmio in chili cos that's how I showed her how I made it. She wants it on the table in 20 mins and won't add garlic, herbs, paprika etc. I cook it for many hours and brown the meat.

For those who think we are keenly anticipating your closely guarded family recipe at A gathering.sorry to let you down but we are not.
Your drearly repeated recipe which you will not share is dull and tiresome and probably came from a cookbook anyway.

Not sharing recipes is pathetic as it is unlikely you are the next nigella,,jamie etc.

Strangely I do remember the times I asked for a recipe and never got a response or an outright refusal. For some reason, there is now a stain against how I feel about that person, like I have been snubbed.

Maybe there IS a moral obligation to share recipes because it adds to the store of world happiness.