It is my non-professional opinion as a professional writer that you can't copyright a single recipe (in most cases). Similarly excerpting a single recipe doesn't infringe the copyright of the whole work which is how a cookbook generally qualifies for copyright.
U.S. Copyright Office - Recipes Quote:
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Mere listings of ingredients as in recipes, formulas, compounds or prescriptions are not subject to copyright protection. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a combination of recipes, as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection.
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However, while I believe what I wrote above there are extenuating circumstances that make Nicko's policy a good one.
Nicko runs a website on a shoestring budget. He is liable for the content of this site. In the case of a claim of copyright violation, both HE and the POSTER become liable for LARGE fines for EACH instance. Besides which defending of those claims and winning is an equally large liability on both the poster and Nicko.
So it's a no-win proposition for him to allow the posting of other's work.
And it protects us too.
Now, I think giving a list of ingredients
without quantities from a source and a SHORT summary in YOUR OWN words would be sufficient insulation from the creative literary work of the original to be allowed under copyright.
As noted in the government's site on copyright, a mere listing of ingredients is not protected speech. While that probably includes quantities, it's probably best ethics to not list quantities.
Anyway, that's my opinion and worth every cent of what you all paid to read it.
Phil