Is it just me, or do many of you find recipes -even ones from reputable sources-coming up short in understandability?
I was writing about PIES of SUMMER, for my monthly newspaper column and stumbled across a seeming lovely recipe for a No-Bake Strawberry Pie.
Side Note: this Strawberry Pie was created in a 9” springform pan- which created a delectable dessert but was not what most folks would consider a PIE. See my article
“A Pie By Any Other Name, Would Be As Sweet” https://jmarr2nd.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/169525299?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fhome
This was on a well known website with years of experience, reliability, and resources. I printed off the recipe, read it over and assembled the ingredients I needed.
I then started doing what I seem to do more and more of these days…rewriting the directions. Sometimes its a simple clarification for myself, (remember to divide the sugar-tho it wasn't mentioned in the ingredient list), other times its realizing the Eggs listed in the ingredient are nowhere to be found in the assembly directions.
I have been cooking all my life- yes, since I was a little kid, cooking pancakes in a cast iron skillet on the back yard Hibachi (remember those?), after a night of camping out.
My Mom was the kinda gal to call you to the kitchen to "see how I do this-so when I leave you a note to start dinner- you know what to do".
As kids, great fun for us was being allowed to bake cookies or make Stone Soup (potatoes as the stones) as something to do on a rainy weekend.
I have cooked for many and for the few in my 20+ year career as a caterer, and taught newbies and ole pros, as a cooking teacher. I feel good about my recipe writing abilities and so I am speaking as an educator when I say we can do better.
When I write for my cooking classes or the newspaper, not only do I prepare each recipe, I go over the ingredient list and directions multiple times, ensuring they are understandable and as uncomplicated as possible, giving readers the best chance for success and a happy experience.
My goal as culinaraian is to simply GET MORE FOLKS COOKING! :)
I think most of us would agree, a well-written recipe is more than just instructions; it’s an invitation. When a recipe is clear and comes across as thoughtfully structured, it builds trust.
That trust is the basis of accumulating positive experiences, building positive experiences leads to growing confidence and when the result is good (or maybe great!) They’ll want to do it again.. and that momentum-as many of us know- can carry us far into the culinary universe.
I think…this is how people fall in love with cooking—not through pressure or perfection, but through positive results. A peak into the chemistry of it all-fats, sugars, leaveners and more. A good recipe creates a cycle: Read, Cook and cook some more!
I’d love to hear your comments, your experiences and any helpful thoughts on the matter you may have to share. Thank you for reading, and Bon Appetit ya all!