| It should be the simplest thing in the world, right? | | | | in the dumper. What was formerly easy to trust now |
| You get a recipe, follow it and come out with | | | | must be regarded with a jaded eye attached to a |
| something delicious (or at least edible) at the end. | | | | brain that doesn't want to blow a wad of dough on |
| Unfortunately, cooking recipes can be a frustrating | | | | expensive ingredients only to end up with garbage. |
| process to rookie cooks unable to recognize when | | | | Even if you're not a highly trained or experienced |
| the recipe they're using is destined to fail before they | | | | cook, you can avoid some of the most common |
| heat up their first pan. | | | | recipe problems. The first thing to do is analyze the |
| The secret is in the recipes themselves. Or, rather, | | | | ingredients list. Are there any exotic ingredients on |
| the danger is in the recipes themselves. | | | | there (such as durian) with which you're not familiar? |
| It is natural to assume that any recipe you find | | | | Do the measurements make sense? Does every |
| printed has been thoroughly tested and all the | | | | ingredient on the list appear in the directions? |
| potential land mines removed. The ingredients are | | | | That last is the source of more heartache than you |
| properly measured, the oven and burner settings are | | | | might imagine. And, especially in baking recipes, it can |
| all correct and the cooking process is laid out well and | | | | be disastrous. |
| includes every step necessary to produce a good | | | | Second, look at the recipe procedure. Are you |
| finished product. | | | | familiar with all the cooking terms mentioned? Have |
| In years past, when cookbooks were far and away | | | | you allowed sufficient time? Are there any long |
| the biggest source of recipes that could, with the | | | | procedures, like an overnight marinade? |
| exception of some small, local-press cookbooks, be | | | | With a little cautious checking, you can make sure |
| your philosophy. But the advent and incredible growth | | | | that any recipe you choose has a better than |
| of recipe content on the Internet has thrown all that | | | | average chance of success. |