There is a style that writes recipes as a list of steps and lists ingredients for each; AFAIK it's a common format in Germany and it's also used in the original

There is a style that writes recipes as a list of steps and lists ingredients for each; AFAIK it's a common format in Germany and it's also used in the original "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" book. Otherwise recipes came from handwritten notes. Quite often the general process is known by heart, described elsewhere, or deducible, but the exact formula have to be written down. It's also convenient to have the list of products (and maybe equipment) in one place so you can make a shopping list. And the paper medium can only have a single representation, so it has to be a compromise :) But electronic recipes should be more fluid.