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I actually kind of agree with the "Recipe Following is Overrated" sentiment, especially when you're aiming for creative cooking. Recipes are great for learning techniques and understanding basic flavor pairings, but they can also be a real creativity killer. If you're always chained to a specific list of ingredients and instructions, you're less likely to experiment and discover your own unique style.
I've had some of my best culinary creations come from just looking in the fridge and thinking, "What can I make with this?" It forces you to be resourceful and come up with something new. Sure, sometimes it's a complete disaster, but those failures are often just as valuable as the successes, because you learn what doesn't work. Plus, who knows, you might stumble upon the next amazing flavor combination by accident.
What's everyone's experiance with recipe dependence vs. free-styling in the kitchen? Do you think constantly tweaking recipes is still "following" them? I'm curious to hear different perspectives.