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This is Words Make Food. This is a hobby, a hobby that I hope can be helpful to you. In this website you will find some recipes, some tips for beginners, and way more of my personal opinions and philosophies than you might want. I am a big fan of people knowing how to cook for themselves and for others. According to multiple websites, Anthony Bourdain once said something that basically sums up my feelings on the matter:
“Basic cooking skills are a virtue… the ability to feed yourself and a few others with proficiency should be taught to every young man and woman as a fundamental skill. [It’s] as vital to growing up as learning to wipe one’s own ass, cross the street by oneself, or be trusted with money.”
I couldn’t agree more. There are so many amazing things you can do in your kitchen with the right tools, the right knowledge, and the right words to get you through. Just remember that you know your palette best, you know your needs best, and you know your kitchen best. I hope this website helps.
Here is some clarification on the menu options above:
Beginners: Here you’ll find some suggestions on things like what to keep in your pantry, useful kitchen tools, tips and tricks, and some recipes that are suitable for those just starting out.
Drinks: Anything related to the beverage side of making a great meal. Or just having beverages.
Essentials: In here I’ve put together somethings that everyone should know how to do, or at least make cooking that much better. Things like stocks or dressings live here.
Mains: Pretty much everything else that isn’t covered by the other categories. For now, they aren’t broken up into breakfast, lunch, or dinner because who am I to tell you that you can’t have breakfast for dinner?
Sides: Things that are meant to accompany a meal. Things that you can feel good about bringing to a potluck.
Small Plates: Some people call them appetizers. I don’t. These blur the lines of sides sometimes, so maybe think of them as smaller sides?
On Recipes:
Here are some thoughts on recipes. First, I’ll let Jacques Pépin explain it better than I ever could:
Chef Pépin has it so right in this video: A recipe is merely a jumping off point, a guide, and a list of things you need to have on hand. I write down recipes in much the same way on Words Make Food, as guides. You know your kitchen and your palate best of all so please be prepared to make adjustments that work for you and yours. A great example of this is from a package of broccolini packaged at my local grocery store, because apparently people can’t just buy it as a bunch. Savages.
“Place pan over medium heat and add oil. Wait until oil is hot and add package ingredients. Saute for 10 to 15 minutes, season to taste and serve.”
Brilliant. The best recipes just give approximate cook times and encourages you to season it how YOU like it. I suggest with salt, pepper, and red chili flakes.
On Food Photography:
If you spend any amount of time looking through the recipes on this site, you’ll probably notice one thing: I don’t have a lot of elegant, well-lit pictures of plates of food. I thought I would explain why, considering that most of the advice for new food bloggers starts out with making sure you have AMAZING pictures of food.
First, I don’t have time for that shit. Seriously. I just don’t have the time to spend fussing over the small details of fine photography for this hobby website. If you want food porn, there’s plenty elsewhere.
Secondly, I don’t like the idea of visual expectations when it comes to food that you make to be eaten. I abhor the thought of some novice in the kitchen thinking that they’ve failed at some recipe on some base level because it doesn’t look as bright, or well put together, or their cutlery isn’t as nice, or they didn’t line three spoons full of spices next to each other, or whatever. While I do feel that presentation can make a meal all that much better, I guarantee you that I’m not fussing over presentation when I’m trying to get the family together for a meal that will be over in less than 15 minutes while my toddler is screaming at me about something about poop.
Lastly, and most importantly, food photography, more often than not, is wasteful. It’s some real first world bullshit that we make mountains of food just to take pictures of it. I buy all of the food that’s shown on this website, so you bet your ass I want it to taste good and not get cold because I spent 30 minutes trying to find the right light and composition.
Food is for eating.