One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks (WFMW)

I have at least 2 dozen hardbound cookbooks. I know. Old fashioned.

These days it is so much easier and faster to Google “pancake recipe for one,” “vanilla pudding recipe,” “perfect gravy,” or “What can I do with sweetened condensed milk, coconut and chocolate chips?”

It may be easier and faster, but the results are not always better. At least that’s been my experience with the pancake, gravy, and pudding recipes. I even went to the more well-known sites like allrecipes.com, recipezaar.com, and cooks.com.

My Works-For-Me-Wednesday tip is to read the comments for the recipe. Look for what the trouble spots were. What common problems are in the reader/cooker responses.

Had I done that . . .

• I would have learned that it was 2 teaspoons and NOT 2 tablespoons of baking powder for one of the recipes.
• I would have known to keep on stirring the ingredients until it just reached the boil so as to avoid lumping.
• I would have simply avoided this recipe all together because it did not produce anything like its promised name.

Just because it’s on the computer, it doesn’t mean it is right, better, or even plausible. Even though the site may be well known, it pays to take a few moments to check what the comments say.

Or else, grab one of your hardback cookbooks and follow a recipe that has been tested and loved for over many, many decades.

• What did I do with the coconut? Gave it away.
• The chocolate chips? Ate them from the bag.
• The sweetened condensed milk? Made this luscious iced coffe drink in 5 easy steps.

Go to Works-For-Me-Wednesday for other tips to make your life a little easier. As of 10:09 pm (August 26) there are 78 entries.

Past Food Related WFMW Posts . . .

• 6 Ways to Store Lemons
• Storing Excess Oranges
• 4 Steps to a Great Microwave Potato
• Breaking Noodles in Half Makes Cooking Easier