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Priya | The Pretend Poet's avatar

100% with you on this one, Brad. That “jump to recipe” feature on some sites is the best thing ever invented. I wish I could write them a personal thank you note.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

At least those sites realise some people just want a recipe 😀

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Sarah Frazer's avatar

Strongly agree— whoever created the “Jump to Recipe” feature deserves an award!

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Yes, it’s a bit of a lifesaver 😃

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Kelly Courtez's avatar

I love how even simple things like a brownie recipe can ignite the creative spark!

You've definitely raised a valid point here though Brad. We DO overcomplicate things and for sure it's got to do with how much we, modern day society, place so much emphasis on showing what we're doing to prove that we're doing it, rather than just doing the bloody thing. We're obsessed with social proof and really it serves no one and nothing but consumerism.

Thanks so much for putting this into words because I've never thought of it like this before. I'm literally enlightened right now 😂

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Brad Davenport's avatar

I'm really pleased you liked it. Honestly, it started as a rant because I was a bit frustrated. But it seems to have resonated with a few people 😀

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Kelly Courtez's avatar

Lol rant away Brad! They're all the best pieces to write

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Word salad (digest, poeisis)'s avatar

Chocolate used to be exotic, now it’s mundane, we gentrified exotic and forgot the value of care, care always has the best taste.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

I agree it's never just about the test 😀

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Word salad (digest, poeisis)'s avatar

Heinz chocolate.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Not sure I’ve heard of Heinz chocolate before 😂

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Brad Davenport's avatar

🤣

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Brad Davenport's avatar

I looked it up. They have a chocolate mayonnaise 🙃

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Word salad (digest, poeisis)'s avatar

Another type of axle grease.

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Marilyn Eakin's avatar

Here you go, @Brad Davenport: https://www.thesweetfeminist.com/recipes/beccas-brownies

(I bake them for 5 extra minutes and I add 1/4 tsp sweet calabrian chili to the cocoa)

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Thank you I will take a look. And thanks for the tips 😀

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Diane Ziomek's avatar

That’s precisely the reason why I prefer to use my tried-and-true cookbooks. They don’t come with a 10 page story before I even get to the recipe.

I understand sometimes the story is necessary, but not for recipes. It’s making me rethink how to go about writing my gardening book series. I want the information there but I’m not interested in adding fluff just for page count.

You’ve given me some food for thought, which I appreciate. Thank you!

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Brad Davenport's avatar

There's a place for that information in a book, because readers also want to know other things. But you have to find the right balance, if it's going to keep them reading

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Melissa Sly's avatar

Ha! I net read whatever it is they put in with the recipes. I go straight for the goods. 💁🏻‍♀️ Sometimes I daydream about a time of simplicity like when my grandparents were born. But I’m sure it all has its own struggles.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Yes, life was tough back then. I grew up with my grandparents so I know firsthand how tough they had it. But I don't know, maybe looking back with rose-tinted glasses, as they say, it did seem happier somehow.

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Melissa Sly's avatar

Or maybe just simpler in ways we can’t comprehend. So the pathway to happiness was more accessible. Simple doesn’t mean easy though. A lot of people won’t put in the effort for a happier existence.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

No that’s for sure

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Scherer's avatar

Before I launch into why I agree with you about all the noise and extraneous information, let me tell you a funny anecdote... Just kidding. ... I have in the past read the entire spiel about the recipe ( or whatever) , but I soon got annoyed with that. I dug out a really old book from my Grandmother and a small selection of cooking book and that's it. No blogs on my electronic devices because even they get bored with the process and turn off.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

I'm with you. Cookbooks are fantastic. No AI recipes back then😀

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Scherer's avatar

What’s more they always turned out well and they used good inexpesive ingredients which are easy to find, unlike modern recipes

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Brad Davenport's avatar

I've watched my grandma cook for hours in her kitchen when I was a kid. I loved being in there with her while she baked. ❤️

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Scherer's avatar

Yes, helping Granny in the kitchen…. Those were good times indeed.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Yep, good memories 😊

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Shellie's avatar

Love this. I’ve felt so much (mostly internal) pressure to optimize every little thing but it’s important to remember it doesn’t have to be that way. And now I want brownies.

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Brad Davenport's avatar

You can't talk about brownies without imagining eating one, can you? 😀

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Shellie's avatar

No. I’m definitely making some this weekend. 😂

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Definitely go for it 😃

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Genevieve Brock's avatar

Omg it’s SO true!!! I feel like I’m scrolling for 7 business days just to get to the recipe instructions 🤨

But don’t recipe bloggers do this on purpose? Isn’t it to keep you on the page as long as possible so every annoying ad pops up? There’s that many ads crammed onto those pages that my browser ends up having a conniption fit and freezes. And all I wanted was the simple recipe for 3-ingredient chocolate mousse 😩

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Brad Davenport's avatar

Yes, that's what it's all about - ad revenue 🙂

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MaryBeth Lathrop's avatar

Oh, bless you Brad. I have been boycotting the noise for some time now. Maybe if people actually understood why it's there and where it comes from they would join us and voila, less noise. But if anyone out there believes it imperative to "see" your food prior to ordering it...most of those pictures are not created with food. 😝

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Brad Davenport's avatar

No, a lot of the newer bloggers are using AI-generated recipe images, and the recipe comes straight from AI. I doubt AI is an accomplished chef, so they must be "borrowing" the information from genuine food bloggers. 😡

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Aug 31
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Brad Davenport's avatar

They can’t because they need you to stay as long as possible. Mostly because they want ad clicks 🙂

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Aug 31
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Brad Davenport's avatar

I think it’s already happening, people are starting to avoid these sites 😊

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