Devils Advocate Enhancements

Why would you experiment in a kitchen?

            The phrase “nothing changes, if nothing changes” is parallel to following instructions. If you are looking for an absolute end result in the kitchen, one must follow a recipe. A kitchen should be treasured and respected. It is most certainly not a place where rapid change occurs and sporadic events arise. Contrary to the belief of countless millennials, recipes are set in stone for a reason. One doesn’t put on their helmet, or wait at a red light just because they felt like it that day. We all respect rules enough to abide by them. Recipes are not road maps. There are not alternative routes that we can take to obtain the exact same end result. Being creative pays no mind in the kitchen. Rather than being artsy and inventive, why not be obedient and precise?

            We live in a day and age where it feels as though allergies are at an all-time high. Wouldn’t it cause you agita worrying that adding an unnecessary ingredient might trigger someone? Think about how much easier it would be to simply follow a recipe, rather than trying to play mad scientist. On the flip side, if your audience’s allergies interrupt a recipe, save your time and choose another! For example, if a recipe requires milk and individuals are lactose intolerant, why would you waste money on soy milk? Yes, it may be a substitute, but then you have to worry about the possibility of an alternative taste!

            Another area of baking that one must be conscious of is food sensitivity. Removing and/or adding an ingredient can make a horrible impact. For example, if someone who is sensitive to salt is going to eat a pretzel, they anticipate a level of saltiness. Now if you intend on baking a pretzel, and decide to deduct nearly all salt from the recipe, you could ruin the treat for someone. Quit trying to beat the original, and follow instructions!