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Even if you have a recipe memorized by heart or had it jotted onto a notecard and passed down by your grandma from years before you were born, you can make a recipe even more meaningful by writing it as clearly as possible for others’ execution.
Short of an actual style guide, it’s difficult to capture all of the recipe step–writing rules in one place, since recipes can vary so much. If the person you care about is going to San Francisco, then mention San Fran in your handwritten message. Consider a cookbook gift that includes a collection of cookbook recipes revolving around San Francisco. For example, I’d highly recommend the classic San Francisco Chronicle cookbook (Volume One) (1997) or Volume Two, or Williams-Sonoma San Francisco (2004). Handy kitchen references to help you with measurement equivalents, substitution suggestions, temperature conversionDon’t underestimate the importance of a good title: It’s the first impression your readers will have of the recipe, and it’s likely what will determine whether or not they continue reading. But no matter what type of recipe you’re writing, there are a few things you should always keep in mind: Shortening Ingredient Names Why are you gifting this cookbook? Is it because it was on a gift registry, or was it something the person asked for? Is the book part of an inside joke, or are you gifting a recipe book because you love the food writer, celebrity chef, or subject matter and want to share it with others? No matter what the reason, let the receiver know. For example, if you are instructing the reader to make a sauce for lasagna, making the sauce should be its own step—the instructions for layering the lasagna should be a different step. If something is used twice in the recipe, it should be listed where it’s first used, followed by the word “divided” to give the reader a heads up. (Make sure to then indicate the amount used each time the divided ingredient appears in the recipe steps.)
Serving suggestions are good headnote fodder, too: If that beef stew is great with bread or egg noodles, say so. Putting this information in the headnote keeps your ingredient list and recipe steps clean and concise. 3. Ingredient List You could also write that you love Chrissy Teigen or Samin Nosrat books. “Turn your kitchen into a test kitchen with a new way to cook from your favorite chef (or food writer) x. If you need help with recipe testing, I’m here for it.”
Lastly, when listing items, always lean towards using their collective term, not the brand name, unless it is vital to the dish. Directions I’ve shared this image before of a handful of cookbooks I own with a message inside. I love discovering a gift message. Those stories are what make your recipe different from anyone else’s—and what will draw your readers in.
Don’t worry—clarity doesn’t preclude creativity. There are plenty of ways to showcase your style and personality in your recipes, as long as, at the end of the day, the language is clear and concise. Does the person or couple want an ice cream maker? Include an ice cream cookbook. I’d recommend The Perfect Scoop, Revised and Updated: 200 Recipes for Ice Creams, Sorbets, Gelatos, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments (2018) by David Lebovitz and bundle it with the small appliance. Add ice cream bowls from their gift registry and include an assortment of sprinkles, jimmies, and ice cream toppings. Are you tired of pinning, printing and bookmarking a recipe only to have a hard time finding it later when you need it? Gift a colossal compendium of modern recipes with The Essential New York Times Cookbook: The Recipes of Record (2021) by Amanda Hesser or the classic The New York Restaurant Cookbook: Recipes from the City’s Best Chefs (2009) by Florence Fabricant (New York Times Dining contributor) for a mix of interesting restaurant history and good restaurant recipes. When writing a cookbook, consistency is key. The best way to ensure this is to write yourself a style guide, which should include info on how to call for certain ingredients, whether your recipe steps should include articles (e.g. a or the), appropriate abbreviations, etc.A few carefully selected adjectives can give your recipe extra appeal, especially if they have a personal bent; think “Nana’s Famous Lemony Rice Pudding” or “Fluffy Dinner Rolls.” But be judicious: Adding too many adjectives can make your title long and cumbersome.
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