gistfile1.java

import java.util.*;

public class CookingHelper
{

    // this variable belongs inside the method
    // private static String ingredients = "Couldn't find this recipe.";

    /*
     * the cookbook on the other hand remains the same during each method call,
     * so this bit should be defined outside the method. Oh and since you only
     * have 2 cookbook entries you should keep the cookBook array to that same
     * size
     */
    static String[] cookBook     = new String[2];
    static String[] cookBookName = new String[2];

    // this is a Static Initialization Block, usefull for populating the field
    // of static variables
    static {
        String riceName = "rice";
        String rice = "1 cup water, 1 cup rice, 1 pinch salt, 1 pinch pepper";
        String spagettiName = "spagetti";
        String spagetti = "spagetti, tomato sauce";

        cookBook[0] = rice;
        cookBookName[0] = riceName;
        cookBook[1] = spagetti;
        cookBookName[1] = spagettiName;
    }

    public static String cookingDecision(String food)
    {

        // using a for loop like this you can walk over all the cookBook entries
        // and you don't have to worry about changing the value of the cookBook
        // length in 2 places when you add new cookBook entries
        for (int count = 0; count < cookBook.length; count++) {
            if (cookBookName[count].contains(food))
            {
                //if a recipe contains the entry food return the recipe
                return cookBook[count];
            }
        }

        /*
         * the default return value. You could also define this outside of the
         * method, but then you would want a constant value which you don not
         * edit (i.e. public static final String NO_INGREDIENT_FOUND =
         * "Couldnt find this recipe")
         */
        return "Couldnt find this recipe";
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.println("What do you want to cook today?");
        String food = input.nextLine();
        String recipe = cookingDecision(food);

        System.out.println(recipe);

    }
}