Why I Added Levels
- Save time choosing. You’ll know right away if a recipe is quick and simple or more of a project.
- Build confidence. Start with easy wins and work your way up.
- Cook for the moment. Tired weeknight? Easy. Extra time on a Sunday? Intermediate. Want to impress your guests? Advanced.
Easy
What it means: Simple, stress-free, and reliable.
- Ingredients: 8–10 or fewer, mostly pantry staples.
- Techniques: Basic skills (sauté, boil, bake, stir). No special equipment beyond a skillet, sheet pan, or slow cooker.
- Time: 30 minutes or less active cooking, or “dump and go” like a crockpot or air fryer.
Examples of Easy Recipes
Intermediate
What it means: Confidence building. Something you can tackle when you have a little extra time.
- Ingredients: 10–15, may include a special seasoning or sauce (like hoisin or fish sauce).
- Techniques: Multi-step cooking (like searing then baking, thickening sauces, kneading dough). Might require a food processor, stand mixer, or thermometer.
- Time: 45–90 minutes.
Examples of Intermediate Recipes
Advanced
What it means: A more time consuming recipe for people who love the process as much as the result.
- Ingredients: 15+, often specialty items or fresh herbs.
- Techniques: advanced methods like roux, laminated dough, tempering eggs. Often requires timing awareness and multiple pots/pans going at once.
- Time: 2+ hours, sometimes overnight.
Examples of Advanced Recipes
How to Level Up
Start where you are and choose recipes that fit your time and energy that day. You’ll still get delicious meals no matter what the level. Once you’ve nailed an Easy recipe, you’ll start to notice patterns and pick up techniques you can carry into Intermediate dishes. And when those start feeling second nature, you’ll be ready to take on Advanced recipes with confidence! I can’t wait for you to start cooking!
FAQs
- Do I have to stick to my level? Not at all. If you’re new but want to try croissants, go for it! Just give yourself time and read through the steps first.
- Can I filter recipes by level? Yes! Use the buttons above or check the Recipe Index.
- Why did I add this? Because cooking should fit your life. This system makes it easier to choose the right recipe at the right time.
- Why it matters? I did this to make cooking easier for you. Wherever you see these labels, on the website, in an email, or on Instagram, you’ll know at a glance what type of recipe it is and how much effort it takes.
