The form of a recipe is distinct and fairly recognizable when compared to the form of other texts. It consists of ingredients and necessary measurements, followed with step-by-step instructions of how to successfully prepare the dish. Some recipes may also include a tasteful photo if the author is particularly eager to grab the reader’s attention or a brief introduction that gives a background on the recipe’s origin or a story about where the author got his inspiration. The layout of the text may vary depending upon the medium in which the author posts or publishes the recipe. For example, if the recipe is written in someone’s individual cooking notebook it will definitely appear different than a digital recipe posted online.

As far as the theme and purpose of a recipe are concerned, one must first consider the topic an author is attempting to explore. In Leanne Brown’s, Good and Cheap, her whole mantra is eating well on a budget. She emphasizes the idea that food doesn’t have to be crazy expensive just because it’s healthy and argues that, “Kitchen skill, not budget, is the key to great food”. After reading Brown’s intro and philosophy in its entirety, her purpose, to share healthy, easy recipes with the budgeting world (her target audience) is made clear and thus the reader has a better understanding of her theme.

Furthermore, the purpose behind an author’s decision to write a text varies depending on the context of that said text. In regards to a recipe, the author typically writes it for the reader because he or she believes the dish is worthy of others’ time and taste buds. An author may also write a recipe simply for his or her recollection purposes or to tweak the recipe at a later date.

With a few clicks of a computer mouse an individual can have a magnitude of recipes at their fingertips; whether that be a professional blog post, digital cook book, or website where aspiring cooks congregate to share their food favorites with one another. Allrecipes.com is a perfect example of such a site and once an individual creates a profile, he or she is free to post as many recipes as their heart desires. While exploring this site I stumbled upon a recipe titled, Yia Yia’s Baklava Recipe, posted by Jacolyn Dandreano. This title forces one to beg the question, “Who is Yia Yia?” but after reading just the first sentence of Dandreano’s introduction to this recipe we learn that Yia Yia is the originator of this dish and the Baklava has been passed down in her family. Her introduction goes on to share a personal story related to the dish and even suggests certain times of the year that the dish is typically popular. After reviewing the entire post, one might acknowledge that while the author’s purpose was to share her Greek recipe with the public at large, the theme this text portrays is the idea of food bringing families together and the importance of one’s culture.