Starting with what you have

 

In 1996, librarian turned restaurateur Stephanie Alexander published a new type of recipe book.

Rather than simply a collection of recipes, The Cook’s Companion let you build a dish around an ingredient. It started with the constraint.

Have a turnip? Here’s what you can make with it.

Wilting broccoli? Here’s what to do.

Unremarkable now that we have internet search, but at its time a revelation because it was designed around the user. 

When it comes to your work, there are times when people will want a recipe. They’ll want a fresh perspective and ideas they haven’t heard before.

But there are other times when they’ll just want to know what to do with what they have.

There’s a big difference between “this is what I want to tell you” and “this is what I hear you need”.

My recipe for behaviour change.

My ingredients for behaviour change.