How to Convert a Recipe into an eHow Article

Using a recipe as the outline for an eHow article is a simple and easy process – and a great way to overcome the proverbial writer’s block. And once your recipe has been converted to an eHow article, it’s instantly ready to share with your friends and family – not to mention the entire weHow community. And since the appreciation - and even the preparation - of food can be so, well, personal, when you convert a recipe to an eHow, you're not just spelling out the ingredients and instructions, you're sharing a piece of your world, letting us into your kitchen ... and raising the bar for how to make the very best pickled cumquat stew in the country.

So start writing now!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Great recipes – especially your favorites (the ones that make your impossible mother-in-law sing your praises)
• Horrible recipes for tasteless food - that are now fabulous because of YOU and the brilliant additions and subtractions YOU made to said recipe. We thank the good Lord for peeps like you.

1. If you don’t have any recipes handy, or if you’re not that culinary, fret not. You can steal one. No, you can make one up. No, you can dig deep and access your inner-Martha. We all have one. Even the lazy people.

2. If you can't embrace your inner-domestic goddess, then there's no hope you. No, if you’re still at a loss for recipes, cruise the search engines, type in “recipes” – plus your food group of choice. Or you could maybe find one in a cook book. I understand we still have printing presses?

3. Once you have your recipe, list the ingredients under "what you'll need."

4. Break down the steps. Rap it. Moon dance it. I don't care how you do it -- list each step separately as an instruction in your weHow article.

5. Include pictures when possible. And don't stand on ceremony for us. The more messy your kitchen the better. Believe me, we want your greasy pans. Your morning-after dishes. Your cockroaches. We want it all! We want real people with real insects. And we want proof.
   
   And if you don't believe me, just read the fine text, people. Up there in the far left hand corner.
   
   "Share what you know."
   
   We means it.

6. Use your own words when writing out the instructions. This will (a) save you from breaking copyright laws – always a good thing, and (b) give you a chance to inject your personality into the recipe.

7. Go forth and share!

Tips & Warnings

• If the recipe calls for differences due to altitude (i.e., stove temperature, cooking time, etc.), don't forget to include them!

[melissalewis]

on 6/16/2009 Thanks Melanie! I was wondering about how to handle recipes - especially in terms of copyrights. I've been searching for info about this! Sounds like the ingredients and proportions aren't the issue, but the written instructions must be unique. Do I have that right? I appreciate and recommend!

[Diablo2]

on 6/4/2009 Very interesting read! 5 stars ;)