A Redditor shared their journey of transforming their diet by ditching lettuce in salads [1524↑]. They realized they could replace lettuce with other ingredients like cucumber, zucchini, avocado, cabbage, beans, legumes, pasta, or even double the protein.

This simple change led to a significant increase in vegetable consumption, resulting in more energy, clearer skin, and improved blood results. One user shared that they made caesar salad with charred broccoli as base [1251↑].

Another Reddit user mentioned their similar experience of disliking raw carrots, but the realization that they didn't need to include them in their salads was a game-changer [362↑]. They were suffering through salads with carrots because that was the only way they knew how to make salad.

One user humorously framed this as a "full-scale revolt against the culinary establishment's cruel joke" that salads must include lettuce [340↑]. They congratulated OP for unlocking the truth that any edible item can become a salad if you reject lettuce's cultural tyranny.

A Redditor inquired about the purpose of a specific step in a banana bread recipe [865↑]. The step involves microwaving bananas, draining the liquid, boiling it down, and then adding it back to the mixture.

Several users pointed out that this method is similar to the one used in America's Test Kitchen's "Ultimate Banana Bread" recipe [1549↑]. The purpose is to intensify the banana flavor without adding too much moisture.

One user stated, that cooking liquid removes extra water but preserves original flavor [169↑]. Another commenter vouched for the method, saying that they have used it for years and found it worth the extra steps [443↑].

Another user said that the recipe makes banana bread too intensely flavored [155↑].

A Redditor questioned why recipes sometimes call for small amounts of a spice when making dishes with large quantities of other ingredients, such as adding only 1 teaspoon of cumin to a pozole with 3 pounds of pork and 6 pounds of hominy [609↑].

Some users suggested using recipes as a guideline for ratios and adjusting ingredients to personal preferences [299↑]. One user mentioned they usually follow the recipe closely the first time they make something new.

One commenter shared an anecdote about a Julia Child recipe that called for a pinch of cayenne and nutmeg in a large batch of béchamel sauce. They were surprised how much of a difference it made, even though you couldn’t really taste the spices individually, they added depth and complexity [673↑].

Another user joked that they measure with their heart unless a spice is particularly potent [1294↑].