The thing is, cookbook authors don't care if you reproduce their recipes for use on blog. Most blogs have very small readership, and more than that, publishers are smart. They recognize that one recipe drives more consumers to buy their content, so it's viral marketing, and they're glad for it.

I take the safe route on my own food blog. If it's a recipe I got from, say, the Food Network's website, I just provide a link and don't reproduce the recipe. I know food authors aren't as crazy as song writers and record companies, but I still want to avoid any legal hassle if I can, lol.