Home > Feeding Frenzy > Archives > 2009 > February > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAre you tempted by 5-star recipes?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I admit it. I am addicted to daily email updates from some of my favorite food websites. I don’t usually actually make most of the recipes, but I do file them away somewhere in the back of my brain with all that other non-essential information.
Recently I got an update from Cooking Light with the heading “Five-Star Slow Cooker Recipes.” I am always looking for tried and true crockpot recipes. Using a crockpot can be so convenient on busy days, but I have to say, a lot of times the food comes out pretty icky and overcooked. So, I definitely want something highly recommended before investing the money and time. I tried a recipe for Char Siu Pork Roast which was tasty but ultimately, not five- star. It used a trimmed Boston Butt, but still didn’t address the fact that the sauce included all the fat rendered during cooking, especially strange since it was part of a Cooking Light update (although the recipe was linked into myrecipe.com, another favorite site. On the plus side, the marinade was definitely one I would use for ribs or other pork dishes.
Does having a rating influence your decision to make a recipe? What does it take for you to try something?
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By R
February 11, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this
A high user rating gets a little more attention but doesn’t make the difference. I do look at the number of reviews and content - makes a lot more difference if 87 readers gave it 5 stars and included specifics about what they liked, as opposed to 1 reader with no specifics. But my first take is based on gut instinct - does the recipe sound interesting to me; if using fresh ingredients, are they in season; does it require any kitchen hardware I don’t own; will those I’m cooking it for probably enjoy it too? One of my favorites is foodandwine.com - I almost always find a couple of recipes in the weekly e-mail that I make soon after, and I’m usually happy enough with the results to keep the recipe with a few modifications.
By Stacey
February 12, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this
Like R, I want to know why the respondants gave a recipe a lower rating before I decide whether or not to try it. For instance, you might give a recipe 3 stars because it was too garlicky but since my family loves garlic, I might want to give it 6 out of 5 stars. Also, I hate sugar in my savory food so something that I would rank as 1 a lot of people might rank 5 (and for the very same reason).
I am a very visual person so I am 5 times more likely to try a recipe for the first time if it is accompanied by a color picture. It doesn’t matter if my final product looks NOTHING like the picture; the picture succeeded in making me try the dish.
By dawgdan
February 13, 2009 7:58 AM | Link to this
Jeannie, use a trimmed pork loin roast instead. It will be a bit drier, but it has way less fat. Local stores always have sales for less than $2/lb. A pork butt is very high in fat - making it fantastic in terms of taste, but not fantastic for your blood pressure.
By JJ
February 13, 2009 3:02 PM | Link to this
Everything I cook IS 5 Star!!!! I’m just that good of a cook. :)