Summary
When you first start playingPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, you might expect that the only way to obtain recovery items, like hearts and flowers, is through random drops and shop purchases. For the most part, you would be right about that - however, once you are able to get a contact lens for Zess T., your entire world will change.
She may not adore you, like so many other characters seem to, but she’s still entirely willing to cook for you. Some of the recipes that Zess makes are even better than what you may get in the shop - so don’t overlook her.
Cake Mix
Fire Flower or Hotsauce
If you want to get your hands on a bunch of Fire Pops, you’re better off forgoing the Hot Sauce unless you already have access to the seller. Otherwise, you should turn your attention to getting some cake mix, which you should be able to purchase from the Pianta Parlor.
Combine the Cake Mix with a Fire Flower, and you’ll have your fair share of spicy candy. Upon consumption, whether in battle or outside of it, you’ll restore 20 FP, which makes this a handy treat to have on hand.
Coconut
Fire Flower
The Coconut Bomb is a fairly straightforward recipe, though you will need access to Keelhaul Key, at least. Once you’ve gotten your hands on some coconuts, you can combine them with the high-utility Fire Flower. Unlike many other recipes, this one isn’t a restorative recipe but is, instead, a quite cheap way to damage your enemies.
If you drop a Coconut Bomb in battle, you can deal seven damage to an enemy of your choice. Whether you’re in the early game or later stages, this is a pretty significant chunk of damage that will turn the tides of your battles.
Turtley Leaf
Golden Leaf or Horsetail
One of the most compelling factors about the Healing Salad is that it is basically a free way to restore 15 FP. You don’t have to pay a single dime to get the ingredients, and even if Coin really isn’t that much of a problem, your money is better saved for other things.
The Turtley Leaf is easily obtained from the bushes in front of Mayor Kroop’s house inPetalburg, and because it’s the best area, you can also get the Horsetails in the Petal Meadows, just before Petalburg. If you’d rather aim for the Golden Leaf, you’ll need to head to the Creepy Steeple.
Ultra Shroom
Fresh Pasta, Fire Flower, Gradual Syrup, or Horsetail
It might be hard to part with one of your Ultra Shrooms, but for the Zess Special, it’ll be worth it. Combine your Ultra Shroom with one of the ingredients listed above, and you’ll have a meal that will replenish 20 HP and 20 FP.
If you want to make the dish for cheap, you should opt for the Horsetails from the Petal Meadows. If you’d like to make it easy to get your hands on, then you should aim to cook with the Fire Flowers.
Ingredients
Hot Sauce
Fresh Juice, Koopa Tea, Shroom Broth, Turtley Leaf, Zess Tea, or Tasty Tonic
If you want to get your hands on some Inky Sauce, one of the first things that you’re going to need to do is complete the Security Code Trouble, available only after you have completed Chapter 6. The reward for this quest is the needed Hot Sauce, which, once combined with any variety of drinks, will provide you with some sauce.
Of course, you could use this on its own, replenishing 30 FP upon consumption, or you could hold off for a moment. After all, Inky Sauce is probably better served as an ingredient rather than a dish.
Inky Sauce
Fresh Pasta, Koopasta, Spaghetti, or Spicy Pasta
Assuming that you have decided to save the Inky Sauce to be used as an ingredient, rather than consuming it, you should use it to make Ink Pasta. So long as you have any pasta dish or Fresh Pasta, you’re able to make Ink Pasta, which restores 10 HP and 30 FP upon consumption.
It’s not a massive step up from the Inky Sauce, but it’s definitely worth the little bit of extra effort. If you want to utilize Fresh Pasta, you’ll need to buy it from Poshley Heights - so this is definitely a mid-to-late game dish.
Whacka Bump or Shroom Steak
Golden Leaf or Healthy Salad
Yess, the Zess Deluxe is going to require a lot more effort and time on your part, given that you have to make two to three other meals to create this dish. However, given that this dish restores 40 HP and 40 FP, it’ll be absolutely worth the time and effort.
If you want to cut down a little bit on the cost of this dish, you’re able to opt to use a Golden Leaf as your second ingredient, readily available at the Creepy Steeple. It’ll take a bit of extra time to get there, but hey,at least you’re saving some coin for other great itemsin the game.
Jammin' Jelly
One of the great things about the Jelly Candy is that its recipe is fairly straightforward and simple. One of the downsides, however, is that you’re probably going to have to buy all of the ingredients. For this recipe, you will need Jammin’ Jelly and Cake Mix.
If you don’t know where to find some Jammin’ Jelly, you should be able to buy it in the Rogueport Underground or you can have Zess T. cook some for you. Once your ingredients are combined, you’ll have a great treat that gives you 64 FP.
Maple Syrup
The Maple Ultra is a fairly straightforward recipe, requiring only one Ultra Shroom and some Maple Syrup. Once cooked, you’ll have a treat that restores 50 HP and 10 FP. If you’re in a bind healthwise but are doing okay on your Flower Power, then this is a great mid-battle snack.
Of course, the hard part is getting your hands on some Maple Syrup, which can be purchased from the Twilight Town store or while you’re on the Excess Express. This late-game item is a must-have in your inventory.
There is literally no reason not to make the best recipe that Zess T. offers. The Jelly Ultra recipe only requires an Ultra Shroom and Jammin’ Jelly, restoring 50 HP and 50 FP. Sure, the ingredients can be a bit costly and take a lot of darting around various regions to get, but in the late game, coins are hardly an issue.
Plus, so long as you haveone of the best companions, Yoshi Kid, in your party, you won’t have to take forever walking back and forth. Stop making excuses and get to cooking.
