diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b878d04..8a603fb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,10 +2,18 @@
 A collection of scripts for working with bare metal.
 
 ## Initialization
-This script package requires some initialization to make sure that the system it runs on has the necessary tools to work properly.
-Run `./init.sh` to set up the environment (**You might have to run `chmod +x init.sh` to use it**)
+Ideally, this package should be able to be initialized by running `make alchemy`.
+It may be the case that your system does not support `make` by default,
+in which case you can initialize the environment by running the following:
+`chmod +x recipes/alchemy.sh; recipes/alchemy.sh`
 
-## Commands
+## Recipes
+Recipes are a core component of the Alchemy ecosystem. They are stored
+in the `recipes/` directory and common ones can be sourced via make.
+
+Some common recipes are listed below:
+
+`make autonomy` runs an interactive installer to get AO up and running on the current system
 
 `make acquisition` runs a script that downloads a file (either Raspbian or Manjaro) and confirms it with a sha256 sum.
 
@@ -14,13 +22,32 @@ Run `./init.sh` to set up the environment (**You might have to run `chmod +x ini
 `make preparations` configures some basic settings for use on a fresh RPi installation (SSH, hostname)
 
 `make aesthetic` is meant to be run on a freshly installed operating system.
-It installs some utilities that I rely on for maximum developmental efficiency and generally makes the terminal nicer to look at.
-
-`make autonomy` runs an interactive installer to get AO up and running on the current system
+It installs some utilities that I rely on for maximum developmental
+efficiency and generally makes the terminal nicer to look at.
 
 `make manifest` Installs and configures Wordpress on the system
 
-### A Note on "resources" vs. "images"
+## Ingredients
+Another core component of the Alchemy ecosystem are ingredients, which
+are groups of shell commands that can be sourced for use in recipes.
+These ingredients loosely follow themes which are outlined in greater
+detail within the ingredient files iteself. Brief summaries:
+
+`lead` is the base component for recipes and other ingredients as well.
+It provides infrastructure that makes development in Alchemy more accessible.
+
+`tin` corresponds to hardware and interaction with physical systems.
+
+`iron` forms the core of web development in the ecosystem.
+
+`copper` corresponds to connectivity to other systems on the network.
+
+`silver` is an ethical system of currency that is aimed to support the trade
+of goods and services within a smaller community. **WIP**
+
+`gold` corresponds to the Bitcoin/Lightning ecosystem.
+
+### Other folders
 the `images/` folder is where alchemy scripts will store files meant to be written to hard drives, generally operating systems.
 Due to the nature of images being both bulky and platform-dependent, they are not included by default in this ecosystems.
 
diff --git a/ingredients/copper b/ingredients/copper
index 4287743..3ab2071 100644
--- a/ingredients/copper
+++ b/ingredients/copper
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ get_external_ip() {
     esac
 
     EXTERNAL_IP=$(dig @resolver4.opendns.com myip.opendns.com +short)
-    echo "Your external IP is $EXTERNAL_IP"
+    echo "Your external IP is ${BLUE}$EXTERNAL_IP${RESET}"
     remember "EXTERNAL_IP=$EXTERNAL_IP"
 }
 
diff --git a/ingredients/lead b/ingredients/lead
index fc23171..e6ba4c8 100644
--- a/ingredients/lead
+++ b/ingredients/lead
@@ -104,9 +104,33 @@ install_if_needed() {
 # It takes values and stores them away in the env for later reference
 remember() {
     KEY=$(echo ${1} | cut -d'=' -f 1)
-    if [[ ${1} =~ ^[A-Z_]+\=[A-Za-z0-9/._]*$ ]] && [[ -z $(env | grep ${KEY}) ]]; then
-        echo "${1}" >> .env
-        export ${1}
+    VALUE=$(echo ${1} | cut -d'=' -f 2)
+
+    if [[ ! $KEY =~ ^[A-Z_]+$ ]]; then
+        echo "Keys must consist only of capital letters and underscores"
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ! $VALUE =~ ^[A-Za-z0-9/_.]+$ ]]; then
+        echo "Valid characters for env values: letters, numbers, \".\",\"/\",\"_\""
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ${1} =~ ^[A-Z_]+\=[A-Za-z0-9/._]*$ ]]; then
+        if [[ -n $(env | grep ${KEY}) ]]; then
+            echo -e "${BLUE}${KEY}${RESET} has already been defined in the env!"
+            echo -n "would you like to overwrite it? ${BLUE}(y/n)${RESET} "
+            read overwrite
+            case $overwrite in
+                "y" | "Y")
+                    unset ${KEY}
+                    sed -i "/^${KEY}.*$/d" .env
+                    echo "${1}" >> .env
+                    export ${1}
+                    ;;
+            esac
+        else
+            echo "${1}" >> .env
+            export ${1}
+        fi
     fi
 }