I would also like to point out that recipes/cookbooks are VERY forgiving when it comes to how much of any one ingredient you are using (think of it more like a guideline, less like an exact formula). That being said if you enjoy following along exactly that is Okay too!

I can pick up a programming manual and read it just fine, see what a function does, its inputs and outputs and use cases.

Might I suggest baking to you. It sound right up your alley!