I really need to pay attention to things when I make stuff up when cooking:  the totally kick-ass cranberry sauce I made with star anise, crystallized ginger, and chipotle powder has just been pronounced by the Resident Shrink to be the "best cranberry sauce ever."  I made it an hour ago, but I can't remember how much of each of the three ingredients above I used.  (I also substituted orange juice for half the water in the recipe.)

Too much star anise?  Not really a problem.  Too much crystallized ginger, if there can actually be such a thing? Not a problem.  Too much chipotle powder?

Big problem.