Easy Peas Recipes

You probably have at least ten recipes that you just know how to cook without looking at instructions. I don’t mean toast & butter or PB&J. You have meals in your back pocket that your family loves and you can make on the fly. You may have some special recipes memorized, or like our mothers and grandmothers, you just “cook as the spirit moves you.” But, what about other recipes – new ones, multi-step ones, or ones you’ve had in your recipe box for years but never attempted? When you look at a new recipe, do you ask yourself – “Do I really need to follow the recipe to the letter?” That depends. Let’s explore some common recipe situations that address this question.

Situation 1 – Bakery items: Yes, follow the recipe.
Bread, croissants, cakes, pies, they’re delicious! They are also finicky. There are good reasons why it is important to follow the recipe when baking these treats. Firstly, baked goods are the result of science; chemical and physical changes occur from the beginning of assembly to the final result. In order for this to happen, measurements of ingredients, temperature of yeast mixtures, timing of fermentation (what we call “rise”) and length of the kneading process must be strictly followed.

Even the environment of your kitchen and possibly the weather outside can effect your baking results. For this reason, many bakers weigh their ingredients rather than measure their volume. This weighing method ensures that factors like humidity don’t skew the actual measurement of the ingredients. Proper measurement is integral for achieving the optimal result and avoiding disappointment.

Secondly, the order of steps in a baking recipe is important. When baking specific items, the order that ingredients are incorporated matters. Skipping steps or reversing the order of the process can cause unexpected results.

Thirdly, taste and texture are compromised when you swap out ingredients. Gluten-free bread is a great example of a baked good that usually does not perfectly imitate wheat-flour based bread. When swapping out flours and milks in a recipe, be aware that taste and texture will most likely not be like what you expect. That is not a bad thing, but be prepared for that possibility. Gluten-free bakers these days use a variety of unique ingredient additions and techniques to give their baked items excellent taste, satisfying and chewy crusts, and a light, airy texture. If you’re planning to bake gluten-free, egg-free or dairy-free breads and cakes, do some research and plan on experimenting before you find a recipe that you and your family love.

Situation 2 – Recipes with newly-discovered ingredients: Yes, follow the recipe.
When I started researching Japanese and Korean recipes, I found a number of unfamiliar ingredients in the lists. At the time, I had difficulty finding some of them in my local supermarket. So, I substituted chardonnay for mirin, soy sauce for oyster sauce, Louisiana hot sauce for gochujang – and got ho-hum results. Not understanding the reason for using a particular ingredient in a recipe led me to substituting ingredients, which greatly compromised the flavor and texture of the dish.

Start by following the ingredient list of a recipe exactly until you are experienced enough with the ingredients that you are confident you can cook with them freely or make a swap for another one. After all, it’s hard to imagine how a dish might taste if you’re not familiar with how the ingredients taste. Try the recipe out, as is, first.

As a side note about new ingredients: If you aren’t planning on cooking a lot of meals with a new ingredient, try to find a smaller size of product so you aren’t stuck with a large amount in your fridge or cupboard that expires before it’s used up. If you have a friend who shares your cooking interests, consider splitting up an ingredient between the two of you so it is less likely to go to waste.

Situation 3: Special techniques: Yes, follow the recipe.

Using the right preparation and cooking technique is important in order to accurately recreate a recipe. A good recipe will include helpful hints and things to watch out for as you cook. Some recipes may also provide step-by-step instructions on the entire process. Special techniques that you don’t use often (or may have never used before) may be necessary for the recipe to turn out well. Pay attention to these and don’t skip them! A good example of a special technique is the making of Italian meringue. It is a straightforward recipe that uses simple ingredients (sugar, water, egg whites), but the technique is very specific.

Know your skill level in the kitchen. If you are trying out a technique for the first time, know that it may take a little longer to prepare your recipe than the recipe states. Sometimes, the magic technique is patience. Some recipes require time to complete and some require periods of waiting between steps. Be sure to read through a recipe thoroughly so you know how much total time is involved. If it does take longer, that may not be the fault of the recipe. Before you decide to attempt a recipe, make sure you have plenty of time to cook, and practice The Three P’s to ensure your success.

So, when is it okay to *not* follow the recipe?

When you want to change a recipe, take into account whether or not the ingredients and techniques are integral to:
1. the texture and taste of the dish
2. the authenticity of the dish (ie. an ethnic recipe)
3. your expectations of the final dish

Substituting ingredients or leaving out ingredients you can’t eat, don’t like or don’t have is a normal part of cooking. But first, understand how those changes will effect the final product. If a recipe introduces new techniques, terms and tools (see Glossaries), sit down with a cup of tea and do some research. Don’t jump into a new recipe without fully understanding what is involved. As you grow in cooking confidence, you will be more able to “cook as the spirit moves you.”