diff --git a/client/src/main/java/client/scenes/recipe/IngredientListCell.java b/client/src/main/java/client/scenes/recipe/IngredientListCell.java
index bdd60ab..7ecc9a7 100644
--- a/client/src/main/java/client/scenes/recipe/IngredientListCell.java
+++ b/client/src/main/java/client/scenes/recipe/IngredientListCell.java
@@ -64,18 +64,21 @@ public class IngredientListCell extends OrderedEditableListCell<RecipeIngredient
 
         Optional<Double> templateAmount = Optional.empty();
         Optional<Unit> unit = Optional.empty();
-
+        TextField amountInput;
         // Initialize the input fields with some initial data if we get a formal ingredient
         if (ingredient.getClass().equals(FormalIngredient.class)) {
             FormalIngredient formal = (FormalIngredient) ingredient;
             templateAmount = Optional.of(formal.getAmount());
             unit = Optional.of(Unit.fromString(formal.getUnitSuffix()).orElseThrow(
                     () -> new RuntimeException("FormalIngredient whereas invalid unit")));
+            amountInput = new TextField(templateAmount.map(Object::toString).orElse(null));
+        } else {
+            assert ingredient instanceof VagueIngredient;
+            amountInput = new TextField(((VagueIngredient) ingredient).getDescription());
         }
-        // TODO initialize some other data in the case of vague ingredient
 
         // Initialize the input boxes
-        TextField amountInput = new TextField(templateAmount.map(Object::toString).orElse(null));
+
         ChoiceBox<Unit> unitChoice = new ChoiceBox<>();
 
         // initialize the current unit if it is present
@@ -115,7 +118,6 @@ public class IngredientListCell extends OrderedEditableListCell<RecipeIngredient
             menu.setText(getLocaleString("app.prompt.new-ingredient")); // otherwise the text label on menu refuses to update
             selectedIngredient.setValue(null); // indicate null to signal a new ingredient creation
             logger.info("Making new ingredient");
-            // TODO printError() integration
             TextField newIngredientNameInput = makeNewIngredientNameField(selectedIngredient::set);
             container.getChildren().add(newIngredientNameInput);
         });
@@ -135,7 +137,9 @@ public class IngredientListCell extends OrderedEditableListCell<RecipeIngredient
         }
     }
     private HBox makeInputLine(RecipeIngredient ingredient, TextField amountInput, ChoiceBox<Unit> unitChoice) {
-        MenuButton ingredientSelect = new MenuButton(getLocaleString("app.prompt.select-ingredient"));
+        selectedIngredient.setValue(ingredient.getIngredient());
+        MenuButton ingredientSelect = new MenuButton(selectedIngredient.get() == null ?
+                getLocaleString("app.prompt.select-ingredient") : selectedIngredient.get().getName());
         HBox container = new HBox(amountInput, unitChoice, ingredientSelect);
         try {
             makeMenuItems(ingredientSelect, server.getIngredients(), Ingredient::getName, i -> {