Cookbooks for Tech Writers

As a tech writer (one who writes documentation/instructions for programmers), I am supposed to be alert to variations in the process and present those to the reader. "If such and such is true, then do the following."

So, when I was cooking breakfast and both eggs I cracked had two yolks, my tech writer brain filled the time by considering how cookbooks should be repaired. Should there be "if/then" steps for situations like this? I know a great hollandaise sauce recipe that calls for three yolks and no whites. Is it three visual yolks, or is it whatever yolks happen to fall out of three egg shells?