Why Do Food Blogs Make Me Feel Dumb?

Have you ever read a food blog and felt like you were treated like a first grader? Do we really need pictures for every single step? What happened to common sense? Am I the only one who feels this way?

Why do food blogs make me feel dumb? Why do I end up questioning all of my cooking abilities after looking up and reading a recipe from a food blogger? Whatever happened to recipe cards where the ingredients and steps were only needed along with some common sense? Does a recipe absolutely need the 14 million possible outcomes like the movie Avengers: Infinity War? Last I checked we weren’t being invaded by aliens.

I’m sorry, but I can’t write as if you have no common sense. I’ve taught my kids how to cook since they were two years old and I don’t think I spoke to them in the same tone or language the food blog gods expect me to write for any audience. When did we accept being treated dumb as ok? I refuse to accept it and you should too.

I’m going to write as if I’m talking to another human being - with respect, with sass, and most likely with some humor. I’ll be honest with you, I am not a professional chef and I don’t have to go on some silly food show and make something out of fruit cereal and filet mignon to show you I’m a confident cook. After all, I’ve been cooking since I was a child. I’ve had masters of the kitchen teach me everything they know. Who were those masters? They were my grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles. Hence, the name The Genetic Chef - cooking is in the genes. 

I get angry and embarrassed when I read some food blogs that have to post questions in big font about the obvious. An example, “What if I don’t have the ingredients to make xxx?” Here's a good one for you, a recipe for frosting with questions on how to use frosting. Really? Ask a five year old what frosting is used for and I bet you'll get the correct answer.

Do you really need videos showing you each ingredient and dumping them in a bowl to mix? You can’t do that on your own? My brownie recipe is as easy as a box mix and food bloggers are downright being forced to show you every single step in pictures. I don’t know of anyone that needs pictures to make box brownies so why do you need it to make mine?

I have hundreds of cookbooks (literally) and most of them are old. Recipes in those books explain what to do and you simply followed along and did it. There wasn’t a long list of “what ifs” and most have no pictures.

What happened that made us need picture books like some toddler in preschool? I get it, it’s nice to have a picture of what the dish should look like and maybe some pictures if something can be a little confusing. But do I have to see your hands greasy as a result from mixing something in a bowl? Or fifty pictures of the same damn cupcake in different settings?

Well I’m not doing that to get views. Nope. If I lose rankings or don’t rank at all, then so be it. 

I’m grateful for you taking the time out of your day to visit my site. I hope I’ve inspired you to make whatever it is you’re looking at on the screen. So here’s my point and my declaration to all of you:

1. I will write to you as if you are a smart, competent person who just wants to know how to make a recipe.
2. I will do my best to explain it clearly, but know I will answer any questions you have if I can.
3. I won’t show you fifty pictures of the same thing.
4. I will be myself when I write, which means you should expect some obnoxious humor or attitude. I’m going to be me and not someone who portrays themselves as that perfect, happy person with exclamation points after every sentence.
5. I will only post recipes that I’ll make for my family. Some you may like, some you may not like. If you don’t like it don’t make it. 
6. I will write “how to” posts that explain everything I’ve learned that may help cooks of all levels. They’re meant to inform and hopefully answer questions.
7. I won’t concentrate on simply “easy” or “fast” recipes. My concentration will solely be on great food whether it takes 10 minutes to prepare or 10 hours.

Okay? We good?

I love food. I mean I really love it, but it has to be good. I want you to also love it and to enjoy the journey associated with making and eating a final dish. This is my goal. I know that I  won’t make everyone happy and that’s ok.

Here’s to building a relationship of respect and sharing ideas and recipes that I hope you and yours will enjoy. Thank you for your time and I hope you continue to visit me at thegeneticchef.com.

-X

Natalie