How come recipes are sometimes a success, and other times a failure? Here’s what it said in a hundred-year-old magazine.
Ten percent of every culinary success is common sense and a good recipe. The other ninety — ah, there is the mystery!
American Cookery (March, 1922)
A Hundred Years Ago 
Ha ha good one and right 👍
It’s nice to hear that you enjoyed this post.
I think I’d probably reverse the proportions, but the mystery is always there!
I think that I agree with you, and might also reverse the proportions.
That’s hysterical.
There’re some fun quotes in hundred-year-old magazines.
That is funny. I found practice makes perfect and once you understand some science of cooking there are more successes.
I’ve also found that my cooking has improved with practice. Once I understood the basics, and some of the science, then I had more success tweaking recipes.
The mystery today is: what is that lovely dessert? A jello-o mold, angel food cake? : )
It’s a picture of Strawberry Bavarian Cream. I made it several years ago. When I was preparing this post, I was looking through old photos for something to illustrate it with, and thought this one might work.
TY! I have printed it in anticipation of upcoming Strawberry Season! We have more ice forecast for our area in PA this week, so I need happy thoughts! ; )
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that there isn’t much ice, and that spring arrives soon.
I copied that quote and texted it to grandson Nathaniel, a university senior majoring in breads and pastry. He will get a kick out of it.
Thanks for sharing. It’s fun to hear that he enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed reading about Nathaniel and his cooking when I’ve visited your blog over the years.
Love the quote! I have written it down in my commonplace book.
I’m glad you liked it.
Hmm. I’d have thought more fifty-fifty. What do you reckon?
I think that you may be right. that 50-50 is more appropriate. 10% good recipe and common sense, and 90% mystery seems really lop-sided.
It makes me feel a little better about the times my recipes really “break”
How true – sometimes a recipe really “breaks.” Occasionally a recipe just doesn’t turn out right.
I do not know about the 10-90 ratio, but I do know that is a mighty pretty dessert you showcase. Strawberry cream?
Wow, good guess. You got it. It’s a Strawberrry Bavarian Cream I made it several years ago.
Oh I like that! 🙂 that photo is not a picture of a failure.😋
I tried to find a picture of a sucess. 🙂
Very interesting, and what is the recipe in the photo?
It’s Strawberry Bararian Cream. It was a hundred-year-old recipe I made several years ago. I really like the way it looked (and it was very tasty), so decided to use it to illustrate this post.
Looks wonderful, Sheryl; thanks for the link!
Sounds a lot like publishing a book!!
LOL. I’ve never published a book. I think that mystery part got me.
My mother was born in March of 1922. I like to think of my grandmother finding this quotation and being reassured about her cooking flops.
It’s fun to think about our ancestors reading the same words we are reading.
I have a lot of my grandmother’s and mother’s books, sometimes even with their notes. I agree it is fun.
Very scientific.
🙂