What Recipes Tells You

Recipes and package directions are your instructions for preparing food. Though you may have looked at them as you made your shopping list or while you were in the store, you will need to reread them now.

Recipes in cookbooks, magazines and also in the internet can be arranged in several different formats, or ways to prevent information. For example, ingredients may be listed first, or mentioned as you read them. However recipes are written, a good one includes:

• The name of the food.
• The name and exact amount of each ingredient to be used.
• Directions for assembling and cooking the food.
• The oven setting, if necessary.
• The number of servings yielded.

To save space, recipes often use abbreviations, shortened forms of words.Some common abbreviations are:

• teaspoon – t. or tsp.
• tablespoon – T. or Tbsp.
• cup -  c.
• pint – pt.
• quart – qt.
• ounce – oz.
• pound – lb.
• mililliter – ml.
• liter – L
• gram – g
• kilogram – kg.

Reading Package Directions

The package directions on convenience foods such as cake mixes, soups, or pasta are usually simple to understand and to follow. However, check whether you need to add anythong. Some packaged mixes only require water. To others, you may need to add oil, eggs, milk, or some other ingredients.

Also be sure you are reading the directions for your area and cooking method. Baking mixes may include special high-attitude directions. Microwave oven directions differ from conventional oven directions.