1. How to read a recipe

2. Power Strawberry Smoothie Makes 2 servings 1 Cup milk 1 Tablespoon honey 1 1/2 Cups raspberries fresh or if frozen, thawed 1 1/2 Cups sliced bananas about 2 bananas 1 Cup raspberry yogurt Fresh raspberries for topping, if desired Pour milk, honey and yogurt into blender. Then add in raspberries and bananas. Blend several minutes until smooth. Top each glass with a fresh berry, if desired. Approximate Prep time is 10 minutes. Always read a recipe completely through before starting to prepare and cook. If you know how to read a recipe it will make your cooking experience easier. Make sure you have everything on hand and available. Reading through your recipe will also give you a chance to understand each step. Some times recipes can be confusing and trying to understand what to do in the middle of preparing may be difficult.

3. Title The recipe begins with a title.
This can be an explanation of the recipe you are making or a title that is just for fun.
For example, Monkey drink could be the name of this recipe but it doesn't explain anything about the recipe except that it is a drink.

4. Servings Sometimes recipes include a serving size.
This will help in making a recipe to know how many people the recipe will serve or for baked goods, like cookies, it will help you know how many dozen the recipe should make.
This is a guideline and is not always accurate. Some recipes don't include this information.
In this recipe it tells you it Makes 2 servings

5. Ingredients 1 Cup milk 1 Tablespoon honey
1 1/2 Cups raspberries fresh or if frozen, thawed
1 1/2 Cups sliced bananas about 2 bananas
1 Cup raspberry yogurt
Fresh raspberries for topping, if desired

6. There are some key factors you need to know about how to read a recipe in regards to the list of ingredients.
Ingredients are listed in the order at which they will be used in the recipe – this is the rule
A list of ingredients is usually included at the beginning of a recipe but sometimes ingredients are listed within the recipe itself.

7. Sometimes directions are included within the list of ingredients.
For example; 1 onion, chopped, would mean you would need to chop the onion before adding it to the recipe. In this recipe example, 1 1/2 cups raspberries fresh or if frozen, thawed, means you will need to make sure your raspberries are thawed before adding them into the recipe. 1 1/2 cups sliced bananas, means make sure you slice the bananas before adding them to the smoothie.

8. Another thing to look for in the list of ingredients is the word optional.
Recipes sometimes include ingredients such as raisins or nuts that are not essential for the recipe but can be added in if desired.
So, it will say 1 Cup raisins, optional. In this recipe example you will see fresh raspberries for topping, if desired. If desired or optional mean the same thing.

9. Some recipes will only have a "C" or a "T" or a "t" which would stand for cup, tablespoon, and teaspoon.
So, if a recipe called for 1 C sugar and 1/2 t of salt, then you would know that it's calling for 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

10. Directions
This will give you a step by step explanation of what needs to be done in the recipe.
Read these carefully and follow accurately. Pour milk, honey and yogurt into blender.
Then add in raspberries and bananas. Blend several minutes until smooth.
Top each glass with a fresh berry, if desired.

11. Time There are two times included in a recipe.
Prep time, that is how much time is estimated the recipe will take to prepare.
Again this is just an estimate and may take a longer or shorter time depending on the chef's experience.
The other time included in a recipe is baking time. This is more accurate and should be followed.
In this recipe, Approximate Prep time is 10 minutes.
There is no cooking time as the recipe doesn't require baking.
Baking time and cooking time are the same thing, it just depends on how the recipe is cooked.

12. Pointers Read your list of ingredients.
Make sure you have all the items in your house before you start following the recipe.
You don't want to get half way through the recipe and find you are missing a key ingredient.

13. Measuring
When measuring for the ingredients, you need to make sure you are using the proper utensil.
Measuring cups vs. measuring cups
Leveling the item being measured

14. Assignment Find a partner
Choose a recipe from your cookbook and tell me the:
Title
Servings
Ingredients
Directions
Time (each one listed)
Three ways you can change this recipe into something different?