Serious Eats

11 1/2 Recipe Rules

Posted by Adam Kuban, November 12, 2008

Ever struggle with a recipe? We all have. Pastry chef Shuna Fish Lydon puts things in perspective with 11 1/2 rules on recipes:

Rule #1: Recipes are guides.
Rule #2: A recipe is not out to get you.
Rule #11: A recipe in one state, in one city, on one continent, at one specific altitude, does not, I repeat: does not necessarily work on another that is totally different.
Rule #11 1/2: Recipes change based on many a variable: class, climate, tradition, religion, animal husbandry practices, air quality, altitude, financial choices, wars, famines, economic downturns, thriftiness, shelf-life...

A good reminder next time you're wrestling with a dough that won't rise or cookies that disappoint.

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