The Joy of Cooking is mostly about ignoring recipes.

The result? Suggestive food results at best.

“I need to go find some recipes to ignore for supper tonight,” I said to my friend as I took stock of what was in the fridge, concentrating on those foodstuffs that were on a knife’s edge from going bad and trying to figure out how to pair it together.

Recipes are kind of like getting a general sense of assemblage.

A general direction.

“You’ll be heading …