Cooking with someone is a great way to understand how they think. The beginner tends to rely heavily on the recipe. They search for the most upvoted recipe on the Internet, carefully reading comments to anticipate potential problems. They conscientiously purchase every single ingredient needed and measure everything precisely.

On the other hand, you have the experienced cook who knows exactly which is the best recipe among many. They can even combine different recipes and easily replace missing ingredients with alternatives. They taste the recipe and adjust things along the way.

Understanding your level of experience helps manage the frustration of a failed recipe. Remember, the joy of cooking lies not only in the final dish but also in the process of learning and experimentation.