Yeah Paul's "script" comment is sending me. Scripts are great until the bot hits you with "please state the nature of your emotional emergency" like it's a spaceship computer.

Three onions can flavor a whole week of meals...

Yeah, that's a common trap. I started using pencil for my fancy layout lines and headers. That way I can erase and fix things without wrecking the whole page. I also keep a folded piece of paper tucked in the back as a total messy brain dump page. Lets the main spread stay clean but nothing gets lost. It takes the pressure off making it perfect.

Did you always think harsh cleaners were needed... I did, but this kerosene tip changed my mind.

My from scratch chocolate cake for my dad's birthday last month was so dense it could have been a doorstop. I feel you on the crumbling thing, it's so frustrating when you put in all that work. Box mixes have those stabilizers and precise measurements that just work every time. I don't think it makes you a heretic, it makes you smart for wanting a cake that actually holds up. Plus, you can still add your own touches like extra vanilla or real butter to make it taste more homemade.