Recipe & Cookbook Software

Posted on 23 December 2006 under Software

How many of you have computers? Raise your hand … one, two … three … oh, that’s right, you all probably do if you’re reading this blog, right?

So, you have a computer. Is it in the kitchen? Nearby? Blog-reader Ms. Squires has one in the dining area by the kitchen, next to the sliding glass doors, near the deck … and the pool …

A modern-day geek,
with one of the family’s computers,
and her cell phone in-hand

Oh yeah, now there’s a computer that would be an excellent candidate for recipe or cookbook software.

There are some seriously high-end software packages out there for use by professional chefs and caterers alike. But it’s not necessary to use such things. MasterCook is a decent package for about $20 that does a lot more than many other packages that are available. Chef Tad of the Frog Leg Inn in Erie likes it because it allows recipes to be “scaled”. For example, say you have a recipe in MasterCook that you know serves 6 people. You’ve invited 14 people over for dinner, you want to serve that dish but don’t want to deal with leftovers. Tell MasterCook the new serving number, and the recipe itself gets re-calculated using the correct amounts for the new serving number. Adding people at the last minute before starting to cook? No problem … just recalculate again. It takes no time at all.

One thing MasterCook does that other packages have trouble with or don’t do at all is detailed nutritional analysis of what is made with a recipe. No, this isn’t exactly the same as having a serving analyzed to fulfill labeling requirements, and at this point it still doesn’t calculate the new trans-fat listing requirement anyway. But if you’re someone who wants to know these kinds of numbers, MasterCook does a fairly decent job at it.

If you look to the right side of the page (scroll down a bit if you have to) you’ll see ads in a frame titled “ads by Google”. Ok, first of all, be sure to click those. If you purchase something through those links, you’re financially supporting blogsmonroe.com. The links in that frame should change almost every time you come here.

On occasion, ads for cookbook and recipe software will show up in the “ads by Google” frame. For example, I’ve seen an ad there for something called eChef Recipe Software. I followed the ad … and really wasn’t too impressed at what I saw. The site says the software is the “next revolution in recipe software” simply because sites that offer recipes, such as my Michigan Cuisine web site, can have eChef-compatible recipes available for download. However, there’s no nutritional analysis available with eChef (it says “You can easily include notes on the nutritional value”), and it doesn’t mention scalablility at all.

Another ad I saw was for MealMaster. I followed this one as well, and felt a bit more comfortable with what I found. MealMaster’s Cookbook Wizard Recipe Software allows you to dig through your fridge, plug in what leftovers you have available, and the software will suggest a recipe out of the recipes in its database. That in itself is pretty darn cool! MealMaster’s software also allows for import/export in the MasterCook format, making it easy to exchange recipes with people who have that software. If you’d like to start your own cooking web site, or contribute to one, the software will export the recipe in the format, creating complete web pages if you’d like. And finally, exporting recipes and cookbooks to Microsoft Word is something even MasterCook doesn’t do.

Let’s see … MasterCook for the scalability and nutrition info … plus the 10s of thousands of recipes it comes with … add MealMaster’s package for the ability to use MasterCook files, plus the feature about the leftovers, and the ability to talk to Word …

Yup, that right there is the setup to have, along with a decent printer, and friends who like to cook alongside you and share recipes with you.

I wonder if we’ll ever see this kind of software on the computer in the dining area by the kitchen, next to the glass sliding doors … and the deck … and the pool … I guess time will tell, won’t it?

Read Comments

  1. 23 December 2006 @ 9:22 pm Posted by Sandra Squires

    “Let’s see … MasterCook for the scalability and nutrition info … plus the 10s of thousands of recipes it comes with … add MealMaster’s package for the ability to use MasterCook files, plus the feature about the leftovers, and the ability to talk to Word …”

    Now let’s just take a look at the above quote. (sorry I don’t know how to put it in the grey box thing like real bloggers, unless it happens automatically and I will be surprised) There are a few really great tidbits in here. Substitute “Mom” for MasterCook/MealMaster….Make another dish more company is here, Scalability. Eat your vegetables they are good for you, Nutrition Info. The feature about leftovers…if it looks questionable give it to the dog. And the ability to talk to Word. I can yell at that program along with the best of them.

    On another note, I think one thing your quiz from yesterday brought up, is the more then 50 cookbook thing. I have found sometimes you need to have several books open at the same time to find the right combinations and procedures.

    Maybe, the right set up includes a really large monitor so more then one window can be open at a time. No, wait, I know THE BEST set up….Friends that show up and cook with/for you. Priceless.

  2. 23 December 2006 @ 9:43 pm Posted by Dave

    Well, even Mom has her own recipe cards and pieces of paper here and there, and possibly a cardbox to keep recipes in. The software’s just another place for such things … unless, like some, you wimp out and let her be the last generation to keep those things. Scalability … this thing can and does help caterers, people cooking for church groups, etc., but you have to think bigger and some folks can’t do that. Nutrition info? Some people are hooked on those friggin’ labels (I ignore them myself) and do have use for such things. You give questionable food to Star?? I know, I know, you like computers so little I’m **truly** lucky you comment in this thing … ;-) As to having multiple cookbooks open at the same time … there’s a printer in that pic just under the keyboard … and yes, I do enjoy cooking for you!! BTW, I’m almost nervous that young-un’s on her way down here to smack me for posting that pic … :-D

  3. 23 December 2006 @ 10:32 pm Posted by Sandra Squires

    You’re right, the shoe box of recipes is not for wimps! It must live through moving, husbands, children and changing tastes. That box is like a well read Bible. There are many notations, references and pointers. And a well used box will also contain recipes in many other peoples’ handwriting.

    Star’s job is poison control, (Along with herding). She takes her job very seriously.

    As to that modern day geek in the picture, I’m sure she thought looks could kill when you took the picture. Now that you’ve posted it, a smack is the least you can expect from her.

  4. 24 December 2006 @ 12:16 pm Posted by Dave

    Still, some people will like using software. Different methods for different tastes. Nah, Star doesn’t take that seriously … she just plain likes to eat! And slobber … and eat … and slobber some more … and then eat … ;-)

    Notice I said I was almost nervous about the modern-day geek. She’s about as scary to me as that “Hindu Barbie.” :-D

  5. 29 December 2006 @ 1:42 pm Posted by Megan

    Greetings! I was really enjoying this blog until *gasp* I saw my very own software company get slammed on it! Okay, so I still enjoy this blog.

    Anyway, I’m the Founder and CEO of eChef. I left my banking software job and built the company after being very frustrated with the quality and lack of functionality in the other (Windows 95 era) programs’ “bells and whistles”. eChef is built using the newest technologies (.NET 2.0 Framework) and will function in the new Windows Vista world. Hate to say it, but most of your other favorites will die a horrible death when Vista rolls around.

    I understand your frustrations about scalability and nutritional info. So, I just wanted to point out why we did not include these. First… scalability. While it is quite easy to update the ingredients listing, serious problems occur in the directions… too many people reference those amount in the directions themselves, and doubling these amounts in the directions, too (while ignoring other amounts such as times) would be programmatically impossible. So, to save our users from disaster, I decided that this is a “bells and whistles” feature that just plain doesn’t work.

    As far as nutritional information, I suggest going to the grocery store and picking up two different brands of wheat bread. The nutritional facts can vary dramatically. Thus, the nutritional information when you have ingredients such as “wheat bread”, “tomato soup”, etc. would be horribly incorrect. Another “bells and whistles” feature that proves to be of little use.

    Instead, we built customizable categories, with the ability to have Recipe Collections, so that users could decide which recipes might fit under their “low fat” or “low carb” category. We have lots of other cool things, too. We’re working to get our file format available on a large scale, though since we just launched the product in August it is a bit too early to get this done.

    I am flattered that we were included in this discussion, and hope that you’ll swing by our site and try the free download. Thanks, and happy cooking.

  6. 1 January 2007 @ 5:54 pm Posted by Carol

    I have been using MasterCook for years. It’s not perfect, but it works for keeping track of all my little bits of scrap paper from newspapers, clippings, copies, etc.

    To the woman who is with EChef, I love the scability option and would think twice about purchasing a software that doesn’t have that feature. In fact, I would not purchase hers for just that reason. Sorry. It’s not that I am math challenged, it’s just that computers were invented to do that sort of thing for me. Gives me more time to tinker with my recipes!

    Regarding her nutrional info, honestly, no one takes those as 100% accurate, but we need something to start with.

    I might swing by there site and take a closer look, but chances are won’t be trading my old MC. Then again, Windows Vista isn’t in my immediate future so I think I will ok for a bit.

    And yes, my laptop travels into the kitchen quite a bit!

  7. 18 January 2007 @ 12:19 pm Posted by Jasia

    I’m looking for software to create a family cookbook. I’m not a “foodie”, I’m a family historian. I don’t collect recipes (except for this cookbook) and I don’t plan to make a career of creating cookbooks. This is a one-shot deal for me. I’m hoping you can recommend a software program that is less about recipe management and more about cookbook publishing.

    Here’s what I need in a software program:
    1. First and foremost it must allow for small photos of the recipe contributors (thumbnail size) for each recipe. The emphasis in this cookbook is family so each family member will have their picture on each recipe. If the software program itself doesn’t allow for including pictures, exporting to a page layout program would work. Microsoft Word is a word processor not a page layout program and it’s not really set up for “designing”. Ideally I’d like a cookbook program that exports to Adobe InDesign or PageMaker or Quark.
    2. I would appreciate if it was easy to enter recipes (maybe shortcut keys for measurements, i.e. 1/2 C).
    3. I’d like nutritional analysis/information for each recipe.
    4. I need to be able to create a standard format file (preferably PDF) of the finished book to send to a commercial printer.
    5. I’d really like to be able to add comments/short blurbs to each recipe such as: “This was Aunt Susie’s signature dish. She served it every Christmas and Easter and brought it to every pot luck supper.”

    If anyone knows of any software that can help me with my project I’d really appreciate hearing about it!

    I love your blog. I consider it a real “gem” and am glad to have found it.

    Thanks for any help!

  8. 18 January 2007 @ 12:57 pm Posted by Dave

    Hi Jasia,

    To be perfectly honest, I have yet to see something like this. Of course, there is software available on the market to store recipes and print cookbooks. Cook’s Palate is one such program that seems fairly popular … but when you get down to it, you end up spending over $200 for the software, there’s no export to standard formats, and you have to send it to them for printing.

    I currently have four cookbook projects, one of which is the write-in cookbook we gave for Christmas, all of them in Publisher format before printing. I know, I should be using InDesign as it’s more widely used in publishing, which I have, but I started in Publisher and I know all its little quirks. I certainly agree with you about Word not being for page layouts. I enjoy setting things to within 0.01″ …

    I feel your pain and that of others so much that my son and I will likely start development of our own recipe software application this weekend. We’re considering all kinds of features, but to be sure a publishing aspect would be a requirement. We’ll likely export to Publisher to get started, and from there tweaking can be done prior to an export to PDF. Also, Chef Tad of the Frog Leg Inn has already started to give me his input on what he would find useful.

    One major aspect that you’ve pointed out though is that of the usefullness of features for various users. Do we need one application that can switch between a mode for people like yourself, and a mode for people who want more of the foodie side? Or do they need to be two separate applications? That’s an interesting question, one I need to think about.

    It would seem your item 3 won’t happen in our software though. This discussion from a later entry in this blog will show you why such a thing is seriously problematic. Basically, users assume too much from the resulting data which is largely incorrect for far too many reasons.

    Glad you like this blog! I’ll have to show my wife the kitten pics on yours. Today she could use a good giggle …

    Dave