Here you’ll find answers to the questions we’re asked most often about our recipes, ingredients, and how we work. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to send us a message or leave a comment on a specific recipe.
Recipe Questions
These are general questions about how our recipes are developed and presented. If you have a question about a specific recipe, the best place to ask is in the comments section of that post and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE SERVING SIZES?
Most of our recipes are written to serve four people, based on standard USDA portion guidelines. That said, serving sizes are always subjective. You know your household best so feel free to scale quantities up or down depending on appetite, activity level, and what else you’re serving.
WHAT ABOUT INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS?
If we call for something that might be a bit hard to find, we’ll often suggest a more accessible alternative – but only if it won’t compromise the flavor or texture of the dish. We rarely recommend substitutes for fresh items like citrus, garlic, or herbs.
HOW ACCURATE IS THE NUTRITION INFORMATION ON YOUR RECIPES?
We include basic nutrition info on most recipes, but we can’t guarantee precision. Factors like serving size, ingredient brand, or instructions like “season to taste” all introduce variation. Consider the numbers a general guideline, especially if you have dietary concerns or restrictions.
DO YOU OFFER RECIPES FOR SPECIFIC DIETARY NEEDS (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, etc.)?
We don’t specialize in recipes for restricted diets, since we don’t have firsthand experience in those areas. That said, we aim to make thoughtful ingredient choices and create balanced meals you can feel good about serving.
WHY DO I HAVE TO ENTER MY EMAIL TO PRINT A RECIPE?
We use a feature called Print Pass that helps us grow our email list by asking for your email before showing the printable recipe. This is part of how we offset the decline in ad revenue caused by AI-driven search changes.
Once you enter your email and click submit, the print version loads right away. You’ll also be added to our mailing list, where we send out seasonal recipes, helpful cooking tips, and updates from the site. You can unsubscribe at any time. We know it’s an extra step, and we truly appreciate your support. It helps us continue sharing reliable, well-tested recipes free of charge.
THE RECIPE DIDN’T TURN OUT RIGHT. WHAT WENT WRONG?
We test every recipe multiple times in two separate kitchens before publishing. Even so, things can go off course. Whether it’s a substitution, oven calibration, high altitude, or just a difference in taste, if a dish didn’t turn out the way you expected, we’d be happy to help troubleshoot. Just leave a detailed comment on the recipe, and we’ll do our best to figure it out.
Website Questions
These are answers to common questions about how we run MyGourmetConnection and the policies we’ve established.
WHY ARE YOUR POSTS SO LONG? I JUST WANT THE RECIPE.
We include helpful context in each post – things like ingredient tips, substitution advice, serving ideas, and related recipes. Most of our readers appreciate having this information up front, but if you’re just here for the recipe, we’ve got you covered. Click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of every post to go straight to the printable version.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ADS?
Our site is free to use, and advertising revenue lets us keep it that way. Ads cover the costs of recipe development, testing, photography, web hosting, maintenance, and of course, our time. We work hard to balance the quality of your experience with the need to earn a living doing what we love. And that’s sharing reliable, flavor-forward recipes for you to enjoy.
I LEFT A COMMENT, BUT I DON’T SEE IT – WHY?
To keep our comment section helpful and respectful, all comments go through manual moderation. We do our best to review and publish them within 24 hours, but occasionally it may take a little longer. We prioritize recipe-related questions, so if you asked something that needs a reply, check back after a day or so. We welcome suggestions and constructive feedback, but we don’t publish comments that contain profanity, spam links, or content unrelated to the recipe.
CAN I PUBLISH ONE OF YOUR RECIPES OR PHOTOS ON MY WEBSITE?
We put a lot of work into creating the content you see here, and our recipes and photos are protected by copyright. If you’d like to share something from MyGourmetConnection, please contact us first. We’re usually happy to grant permission as long as proper credit is given and a direct, do-follow link to our original post is included. We take copyright seriously and actively address unauthorized use through DMCA and Google takedown processes.
