XML newbie question

I'm just learning XML and this may be a really stupid question, but i'm not finding the answer.

I'm working on a recipe search in XML. The XML file is being created from a sybase db using cfm. Some of the recipes have notes while others do not. Information I'm finding about empty tags seems to be talking about something something else. Will having tags with nothing in them be a problem? Is there a suggestion anyone has of handling something like this? An example recipe is below.

Thanks!

<recipe>
<recipe_name>
TRICOLOR CASSEROLE
</recipe_name>
<yield>
4 servings
</yield>
<note>
</note>
<component>
<ctitle>
NULL
</ctitle>
<ingredients>
<item>
<name>
Turkey or chicken meat, cooked and ground
</name>
<weight>
1 lb.
</weight>
<measure>
-
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Milk
</name>
<weight>
-
</weight>
<measure>
1/2 cup
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Egg, slightly beaten
</name>
<weight>
-
</weight>
<measure>
1
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Oil, divided
</name>
<weight>
-
</weight>
<measure>
2 Tbsp.
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Salt, divided
</name>
<weight>
-
</weight>
<measure>
1/2 tsp.
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Broccoli, frozen, chopped, steamed, and drained
</name>
<weight>
10 oz.
</weight>
<measure>
1 pkg.
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Canned yams in syrup, drained and syrup reserved
</name>
<weight>
1 lb.
</weight>
<measure>
1 can
</measure>
</item>
<item>
<name>
Cinnamon, ground
</name>
<weight>
-
</weight>
<measure>
1/2 tsp.
</measure>
</item>
</ingredients>
</component>
<directions>
<step>
In medium bowl mix turkey, milk, egg, 1 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt. Spread 1/2 cup of mixture evenly over bottom of four 12 oz. greased oval ramekins.
</step>
<step>
In container of electric blender purée broccoli with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 Tbsp. oil. Spoon 1/3 cup broccoli mixture evenly over turkey mixture.
</step>
<step>
Beat yams with 1/3 cup reserved syrup, cinnamon until smooth; spread evenly over broccoli mixture. Sprinkle each ramekin with additional cinnamon.
</step>
<step>
Bake ramekins in a 350°F. oven 40 minutes or until bubbly and top is partially browned.
</step>
</directions>
</recipe>

i figured that i could remove the tags altogether when not used and specify zero or more instances in the dtd. If anyone has any other plans for things like this, i'm all ears.

Thanks!

Empty tags should be fine. Don't worry about it.