Here you will find frequently asked questions from my readers! If you have a question about a specific recipe, please leave a comment on that recipe post. It may help other readers who have a similar question.
Recipe questions
Can I substitute x ingredient with y?
If you don't have all the ingredients needed for a recipe, I can give you some ideas for how to substitute in the 'ingredients and substitutions' section that can be found on every single recipe on the site.
You can also leave a comment on the recipe and I'll get back to you. If you need to make the recipe right away, I recommend searching online for recipes that use the ingredients you have on hand. That will help make sure the recipe turns out as you expect and nothing goes to waste.
How do I make this recipe gluten-free/sugar-free/vegan?
I do not specialize in recipes for specific dietary needs. If you have needs that don't work with the recipe as written, I suggest looking for recipes online that are developed specifically for those needs. I don't recommend making substitutions that haven't been tested because this can potentially waste ingredients if the recipe doesn't turn out.
Millions of recipe websites exist, many of which are written with specific diets in mind. I encourage you to find recipes that can be made as written without substitutions.
I made your recipe and it didn't turn out! What happened?
Cooking can be frustrating when meals don't turn out as expected. If this happens, feel free to leave a comment and I'd be glad to troubleshoot with you or provide recommendations for next time.
Common reasons a recipe doesn't turn out are ingredient substitution, measuring errors (like with flour in baked goods), wrong-sized/type of pans, or trying to follow the recipe exactly not matter what.
Keep in mind that ovens and stove tops vary in temperature too and can affect your cooking. If your pan looks too hot, turn it down; if your chicken breasts are big, they might need a few extra minutes.
All these take time and common sense to understand - I've been there! With more experience, your cooking will improve. I test all recipes multiple times and all photos are of my own creations.
I suggest reading everything through once or twice before starting to ensure it goes smoothly. If any instructions are unclear, don't hesitate to let me know - I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing.
Website questions
Why are the posts so long? I just want the recipe!
Blog posts tend to be long for a few reasons. Google needs information about the recipe to know when to show it to people. So, I add a description, ingredients/substitutions, flavors, and what it's good for (meals, holidays, events). Beginner cooks also like to see photos of the ingredients and cooking process.
I never add personal stories or unrelated content to any of my recipes or pages, so there's no "junk" to scroll through to get to the recipe. Everything on the page exists to help you make the recipe perfectly every time.
Experienced cooks can use the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top, so they don't have to scroll down the page themselves.
Why are there ads?
This website doesn't cost anything to view. You can access all the recipes without paying for anything. To help cover my costs for creating the recipes, taking pictures, making videos, and writing about them, I show ads.