Pet peeve: "I made this recipe EXACTLY ... EXCEPT"

[nadine_mn]

Then, no, dumbass...you didn't make the recipe exactly. Sorry, but I was just scrolling through some online recipes, reading reviews (which often contain helpful hints) and almost every review includes the "I followed the directions exactly but..." crap.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for tweaking, but why can't people just say they made changes? Why do they have to start their reviews with "I followed the directions exactly" . All it does is tell me you don't know the meaning of the word "exactly".

Sorry, just a rant...I am hungry and it's the middle of the night and I am trying not to snack. Looking at recipes didn't help the snack urge.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. When in doubt, put in 1/3 to 1/2 as much chocolate as it says to.

recipes now put way too much chocolate in them, to the point that they are bitter.

World's best fudge:

Use the Kraft Marshmallow cream jar.
Put 1/2 as much chocolat and 2 times as much walnuts.

Perfect!!!

[hlthe2b]

2. Once one changes a recipe, how is it fair to "review" it? I see that on recipe sites all the time

Like the ones that unabashedly state, "it called for chicken, but I didn't have any, so I substituted shrimp (but I cooked it for the same time) and it was awful. The shrimp were rubbery and tasteless... really bad recipe."

[nadine_mn]

9. sometimes by the time you factor in all the substitutions - its an entirely different recipe

I read one where the review changed every single ingredient!

Then of course bragged how much better it tasted... I think that was when I started ranting.

[Warpy]

3. "Well, I used y instead of x and I can't understand why it

didn't come out just like yours! You must have left something out!"

This is why I rarely share recipes and when I do, it's with the caveat that every cook is going to produce something subtly different, even when the instructions are followed to the letter.

I don't mind it when people substitute stuff, in fact I encourage it. I do mind when they blame me if it doesn't come out the way mine does.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. The ones that irritate me are the ones where they made a lot of changes and

subbed ingredients and then complain that it didn't turn out right and they'll never make the recipe again.

[EFerrari]

5. My peeve is recipes that call for prepared food for no reason.

If I'm looking for a baked beans recipe, don't ask me to buy baked beans for your recipe. I can buy canned baked beans all by myself if that's what I want. lol

[NJCher]

6. yeah, that is my pet peeve, too

Yes, I suppose I could make my own 14.5 oz serving of beans....

As soon as I see prepared foods as part of a recipe, I'm off to look for another recipe.


Cher

[Phentex]

7. I think I might be guilty of this!...

I can't recall using the word "exactly" but I know I start with a recipe and then change it up all the time. I do feel like I have to post the original recipe when it's something I found online. I *think* I usually say something like I based my recipe on this one.

I read the reviews when I find recipes online and I've seen the ones that nearly completely change the recipe and then whine about it. But I also like the ones where people have subbed and reported good results.

[nadine_mn]

8. It's not the tweaking or changing of the recipe, it's the reviews

that start with that phrase "I followed the recipe exactly...except" - it drives me insane!!

I read reviews and find them often helpful - they can sometimes make the recipe better!