While not every recipe is written the same way, nor are there any formal rules that govern recipe-writing, there are several text components that are frequently seen with most recipes. The first element is the introduction. The introduction is typically written to familiarize the writer with what they are about to prepare. This may include content such as the flavors of the dish, the best times to eat the dish, the origins of the dish, the authors experiences cooking the dish, etc. One example of a recipe with a good introduction is the Gong Bao chicken recipe by Fuchsia Dunlop. This introduction gives the reader a background regarding the origins and name of the dish. It also includes a written description of what the dish looks and tastes like.  The next part of the recipe is the ingredients list.  The ingredients are typically listed in the order in which they are used and are accompanies by their measuring units and numerical quantities (whole numbers and fractions). Sometimes the serving size is also included under or above the list. Next comes the list cooking instructions themselves. They are listed in the order that the author intends for the reader to prepare them in. The steps give specific detail about what to do with each individual ingredient and how to use each one in creating the final product. I thought that this recipe for beef tips and gravy from Uncle Jerry’s Kitchen does an excellent job of going into great deal on all of the steps and offering tips/things to look out for while you are cooking the dish. Finally, the end of the recipe may include some variations or ways of altering the dish. In my opinion a high-quality recipe would include all of these things, listing the steps in great detail while providing some person insight from the author in the introduction. I think a high-quality recipe should also include pictures of the dish. A picture catches the reader’s attention and can incentivize him or her to prepare it. Brown’s “Eat Well for $4/day: Good and Cheap” includes vivid pictures for each recipe, and just the pictures alone made me want to prepare several of the dishes myself.  A low-quality recipe may leave out small details in the that contribute to the overall value of the dish. For example, if you were frying something, a low-quality dish leave our small tips how much oil to use in the frying pan; these details may not be essential, but including them would lead to a smoother preparing and possibly a better tasting product. In addition, a low-quality recipe wouldn’t provide any special background or insight about the dish.

When searching for a recipe, one might find that recipes are often sorted and categorized by certain topics or themes. These can include foods to prepare during certain seasons, foods that are prepared for certain events, foods that are all based upon a central ingredient, etc. For example, in a cookbook it is common for all of the desserts to be grouped together. I also visited a webpage on AllRecipes.com that had recipes that were all made using bananas.

In terms of purpose, an author may have any number of motives for writing a recipe. An author may choose his/her audience based on culture, taste preferences, access to resources, financial statues, age, etc. An author may simply write a recipe for the simple reason of wanting to share something delicious with other people. Just like books that you would read for fun, recipes and cooking is considered an art by many. Just as a painter likes to share a portrait with the world, a cook wants to share his/her recipe.  Another reason might be to help a certain demographic. For example, for those people with limited amounts of money, an author may write a recipe that is made from cheap ingredients so that less-wealthy people have meals that they can make. Or, say there is only a limited amount of ingredient resources in a certain part of the world. An author may write a recipe for people who have no idea what to make with limited ingredients. Recipes may also serve as a means for an author to share his/her own with culture with the rest of the world, giving others a way to experience their customs in a such a way that is available to all.