Read the Reviews

I have been cooking regularly now for about 3 years. I have some simple recipes mastered, but week after week, they become monotonous and I often turn to the internet to "spice things up" if you will.

I remember a cookie recipe I used from allrecipes.com (excellent site) and after the cookies were done my roommates were more than willing to test out my new treats. With one bite they all looked at each other and made a face that I have come to know quite well. It was the face of "this-is-disgusting-but-who-is-going-to-tell-the-cook." People make this face while deciding exactly that, while they try to choke down whatever the offending food is. Well, the recipe I used was mis-typed and called for 3 TABLESPOONS of vanilla. Being an inexperienced cook, I didn't really notice.

Later, once I had thrown away all my hard work and ingredients, I discovered something on the website meant to help people like me. They are called "reviews," and are posted by people who have used the recipe. It is like trying it out without having to do all the work. There, in plain black and white, were more than 30 people yelling to anyone who would listen, that the recipe required 3 TEASPOONS of vanilla. Had I read the reviews before attempting the recipe, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache and wasted time.

I have remembered that lesson well and every time I try a new recipe, I make sure to read the reviews for hints and tips from other cooks.

Tonight was an exception however, the recipe received rave reviews and apparently everyone loved it....but us. I made chicken curry and rice. I followed the recipe to a T and it looked pretty good. Well, long story short, Matt just returned with take-out Chinese food.

New lesson: read the reviews, but everyone has very different tastes.