The other day I was letting a friend know about RecipeZazz. We were talking about the fun of trying out recipes that other members have made and taking photos of the finished meals and uploading them for others to enjoy. I asked her how come she never posts her own recipes. Her reply was simple: [quote style="boxed"]I am not a professional chef. What if no one likes my recipes? I am certainly not as good as some of the others on the recipe site.[/quote] She has a legitimate concern. We all want to be recognized for what we do well. No one really wants to fail at anything. I just smiled and let her know that I understood her anxiety but that she was crazy! Her cooking really is great. And she makes up some really fantastic recipes. But all the convincing in the world would not make her comfortable with taking the plunge into letting the world know how great her recipes really are. That got me thinking. How does the maker of a recipe really know they are quite good? What makes it good enough to share with others? Recipes are not all about the hundreds of great reviews. There are tons of recipes shared online that are not recognized by lots of people, or anyone for that matter, but truly are gems. They marinate in flavor and hold captive the one who is lucky enough to savor its tastefulness. So, when do you know your recipe is a hit?

• When your family loves it.  You may hear comments like “oh, this really is good!” or “wow. Great!” or your kids are slopping it up without complaint.
• You take your first bite and a smile becomes visible on your face. You know the kind. Your shoulders begin to relax, you savor the moment, and your brain is excited with the sensation of being satisfied.
• You made the right portions for your family, dinner guests or for yourself, and there are no leftovers.

Whatever the response from your family, whatever your own reaction, you know a recipe is a hit when you enjoyed preparing and cooking it and you just know you want to make it again. That is the hallmark of a great recipe. So, get out there and share! We want to know about your first experience of sharing a recipe. What made you know your recipe was ‘good enough’ to share with the world? Please share your comments below!