Cookbook Author Marge Perry’s Recipe Writing Tips

Marge took time between media appearances and store demonstrations to teach a two-hour seminar on recipe writing to students at ICE’s Los Angeles campus. We asked what her top tips and biggest pitfall are when it comes to writing recipes.

What should writers keep top of mind when authoring a recipe?

The most important thing to keep in mind when writing a recipe is that your goal or mission is to ensure the reader’s success. No matter what your style or voice: write clearly, follow the rules of the trade, and proof several times by reading aloud (it is best to do this in private to avoid looking like a crazy person).

What are the rules of the trade when it comes to adapting recipes?

I recommend following more than just the legal guidelines, which are too lax. Your moral compass tells you whether you are using someone’s recipe with just minor tweaks to make it your own, which is basically a form of theft. If you see a recipe for boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked by a certain method and seasoned with rosemary and lemon, and you change it to thyme using the same method — well, then you have really (albeit perhaps legally) stolen someone’s method and technique. If you have used a recipe as a reference source — as in, how much baking soda do I need for 2 cups of flour; how many cups flour do I need to make a cake for an 8-inch pan — but then made the cake yours, that’s okay.

Can you give us an example?

The best example is pound cake. Pound cake is generally made with the same proportions of sugar, butter and flour. So what makes your pound cake different? Did you go into the kitchen with just those proportions and create a recipe based on that? Did you do anything new or different or write the instructions while testing, based solely on the procedure you followed? Do you recommend vigorous beating or stirring until just combined? Or did you walk in to the kitchen with a recipe, follow those instructions and then simply rewrite them in your own words — in which case, you have plagiarized morally but not legally. It’s not a black-and-white issue, which is why I say, you should use your own moral compass.

What are some of the common snags even the most well-trained recipe writer falls prey to?

NOT PROOFREADING!!!

Here's a sneak peek inside "Hero Dinners: Complete One-Pan Meals That Save the Day."

Recipe

Peruvian Chicken with Ají Verde

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 2 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (4 to 6 thighs)
• 12 ounces baby purple potatoes, halved lengthwise
• 12 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth

Ají Verde

• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F.
2. Combine the soy sauce, sugar, garlic powder, chipotle powder, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a small bowl to form a paste. Rub the mixture all over the chicken to coat.
3. Combine the potatoes, Brussels sprouts and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large bowl. Toss with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
4. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook until well browned, about 4 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and add the potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Place the chicken, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and pour in the broth; cook for 2 minutes. Transfer to the oven and roast until the vegetables are tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the largest piece of chicken registers 170 F, 23 to 25 minutes.
5. While the chicken roasts, make the ají verde: Puree the cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, sour cream, mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, and salt in a blender.

Learn more about food media in Marge’s upcoming classes at ICE or catch the next guest lecture in LA.