Recipe author dodging every second problem (3,6)
I believe the answer is:
hot potato
'problem' is the definition.
(hot potato can mean a controversial issue)
'recipe author dodging every second' is the wordplay.
'recipe' becomes 'hotpot' (type of meal).
'dodging every second' means one should take alternating letters (every second letter is removed).
The alternating letters of 'author' are 'ato'.
'hotpot'+'ato'='HOT POTATO'
(Other definitions for hot potato that I've seen before include "troublesome affair" , "often being seen in a jacket" , "Awkward matter" , "taken with pinch of salt?" , "Difficult matter" .)