18 Comments
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Betty Williams's avatar

What a thorough breakdown of what makes a great recipe! This really helps both the recipe writer and recipe user. And those cookies sound amazing!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

So happy you liked it. Corn cookies are really great—one of the best surprises!

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Ellen Kornmehl MD's avatar

I like the idea of combining cornmeal finer and medium grinds for texture- these look nice

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Yes, these have a really nice texture. Wanted them to have a resemblance to cornbread, but still feel (and taste) like cookies.

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Shell Plant's avatar

A fabulous guide Kerry. I almost read it like a check list, 'oh yes I include that. I always write that too! Oh, I should do that some more...' Also, those cookies sound delish!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

So glad you found it helpful! I definitely use that mental checklist when I’m writing recipes—and also to help me distinguish good recipes from less good ones!

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Katie's avatar

I LOVE this! As someone who reads lots of recipes and cookbooks, I couldn't agree more with this list. Although I have to say, there's something beautiful about going through my family's handwritten recipe cards with just ingredients and minimal steps—it leaves a lot to your own cooking intutition, but not in a bad way. Oh and definitely adding these corn cookies to my list!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Totally agree that sometimes having freedom within a recipe can be a welcome change! And if you do try the cookies, let me know what you think!

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Eventual Genius's avatar

These look delicious!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Thanks! Corn cookies have become a new favorite 😊

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bibliothekla's avatar

Great guide. I've been (ever-so-slowly) trying to transcribe family recipes from notecards/clippings/scribbles/memories into "real" recipes like you've described, and it really does take a lot more careful arrangement and thorough consideration of all the bits and pieces to get to a good, consistently reproducible product than I used to imagine. But a good recipe is so satisfying, so it's all worth it!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

So fun that you’re doing that, and so glad you found the guide to be helpful! :) It’s been on my to-do list to transcribe a few old family recipes too—and maybe to even update them a bit with all the now readily available spices etc. Definitely a fun and worthwhile project.

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Giovanna S.'s avatar

Nice! I love that you included grams too. And this would be the perfect post to turn into a checklist for easy editing and proofreading. Thanks for sharing!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Glad it’s helpful! 😊 I use it all the time myself.

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Harrison's avatar

yum!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Thanks! 😊

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Robynne, PhD's avatar

They look AMAZING!

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Thanks! They’re a new favorite! 😊

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