Last Thanksgiving I almost broke Alexa’s brain by requesting Ina Garten’s Spinach Gratin recipe. No matter how carefully I articulated, it kept saying “Here are some recipes for Garden Spinach!” So I had to dig a printed copy out of one a half-dozen ring binders shoved full of internet recipes. I was glad I did though, because it included my scrawled note to swap out the nutmeg (not a fan) for crushed garlic.

You cook the way my mother taught me. Following recipes exactly is to cooking as paint-by-numbers is to painting.