There are plants that don’t photosynthesize, though most do. Check out ghost pipes if you want to see one of the exceptions. They’re pretty cool

For others, in my accent drawer rhymes with door and or. All spelled differently to get the same sound. None of the three are spelled phonetically by the ‘rules’ of English. They should be drore, dore, and ore.

I think the best bet would be following recipes. That means finding recipes that minimize ‘to taste’ instructions. A lot can be done by look and texture, so you can be decent enough for anyone who’s not a snob. Also, err on the side of too little salt and put some on the table.