I disagree with you about baked goods being based on things that will mix happily in all proportions. Doubling the flour leads to terrible cookies. I've found that soup is much more accepting of different proportions.
I'd say that goes for chile, too, and cinnamon, and cilantro, and... It ALL depends on what you like and who you're feeding. But recipe writers only do the cop-out for this one particular ingredient!
Recipes almost always seem to have ground pepper "to taste." And salt is sometimes "to taste," and sometimes "1/2 teaspoon" is listed in the recipe and "correct seasoning" at the end. (Occasionally "1/4 teaspoon salt, or more to taste."
Some of my cookbooks have what you call "the cop-out" for many different ingredients. I don't think it's a cop-out. I think it's a valuable acknowledgement of where the recipe is flexible. (Or where the writer knows it's flexible.) "If you prefer this soup only slightly spicy, reduce the cayenne to a few dashes." "1.5 tbsp caraway seeds (optional)" "2-4 cloves garlic, finely minced." "Stir in a little more broth if it is too thick." (Especially after giving very exact amounts of everything else.) "Add nutmeg to taste."
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I'd say that goes for chile, too, and cinnamon, and cilantro, and... It ALL depends on what you like and who you're feeding. But recipe writers only do the cop-out for this one particular ingredient!
Recipes almost always seem to have ground pepper "to taste." And salt is sometimes "to taste," and sometimes "1/2 teaspoon" is listed in the recipe and "correct seasoning" at the end. (Occasionally "1/4 teaspoon salt, or more to taste."
Some of my cookbooks have what you call "the cop-out" for many different ingredients. I don't think it's a cop-out. I think it's a valuable acknowledgement of where the recipe is flexible. (Or where the writer knows it's flexible.)
"If you prefer this soup only slightly spicy, reduce the cayenne to a few dashes."
"1.5 tbsp caraway seeds (optional)"
"2-4 cloves garlic, finely minced."
"Stir in a little more broth if it is too thick." (Especially after giving very exact amounts of everything else.)
"Add nutmeg to taste."