Recipe Application for the Computer

I am designing and constructing a computer application to track my recipes.
There are sample applications available (Microsoft’s Access has one) but I think I want special features.

In addition (or instead of) the following outline of what I think a recipe program should do, what would you like to see?

1. Keep a record of each recipe we cook
2. Create easy reference to the recipes: report or query by:
a) Name (e.g., “Masala Masoor”)
b) Description (e.g., “Spicy Lentil Curry”)
c) Principal ingredient (chicken, beef, eggs, lentils, etc.)
d) Date(s) of serving
e) Type of cuisine (ethnicity)
f) Vegetarian Yes/No
g) Meal Category (appetizer, side, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert)
h) Prep time (this would include overnight marinating, etc.)
i ) Cook time
j ) Number of servings
k) Ingredients (should they be tracked or just listed in each recipe?)
l ) Instructions (1. First Step, 2. Second Step, etc.) for simplicity
m) Utensils (skillet, baking dish, etc.)

The biggest problem I see is with the ingredients. Computers don’t like dealing with “a pinch of” or “to taste,” and ½, ¼, 1/8 tsp have to be input as .50, .25 or .125 tsp., so the look and feel of it is awkward. Names of ingredients (if indexed) need a lot of thought: i.e., “pepper, green, hot, ”
though after a lot of recipe data has been input the pop-up list will be very helpful, showing the ingredient as soon as a few letters are keyed in.

Care to comment?

Rob Stuart-Vail
rob_sv@msn.com

[Pete]

It should be able to give nutritional information also. Good luck.

Thanks, Pete....

I assume I'd have to dig the nutritional info out from a book such as the USDA handbook (of which I have a very old copy).

Rob

[Pete]

There are a number of books devoted to nutritional values of foods. I don't know the name of any but check with the NRA, they may be able to help and probably publish their own book.

[mudbug]

Sometimes the best way is to look at other similar products.

Look here to find links to cooking software: http://www.kitchenlink.com/cgi/publi...?page=software

One Million Recipes 3.0
MasterCook 5.0: Deluxe - MasterCook 5.0: Cooking Light
MasterCook 5.0: Food & Wine - MasterCook 5.0: Complete Betty Crocker Suite
How to Cook Everything
Cook N 2000 - Cook N for Diabetics - Cook N Learn - Cook N for Kids 1.0 Ages 8-14
Gourmet French Cuisine - Mediteranian Aroma - Tastes of Italy
Great Pastries - Simple Pleasures - Vegetarian Delights
Home Gourmet 10,000
Food Lover's Encyclopedia

Thanks, CCHIU. That got me into a whole new lot of stuff which may be worthwhile. For the time being, I went with MSFT's Access and their sample recipe program, which I modified somewhat. I needed to get moving on it. But the nutritional aspects are important and I'll try to get into that. It's easy to add new data fields later as long as I'm careful with the design.

N.B.: Forum leader - how about deleting this thread at the end of January? I don't want to keep taking up space, unlesss you don't mind.

Why don't you just use MasterCook 5.0 version? It does all that for you & more? There's also another one call "Now You're Cooking". It's available online to start.

[mudbug]

You might also want to check out the following: http://www.kitchenlink.com/msgbrd/board_11/tklcc.html
Look for the topic "computer recipe" there are a number of people discussing this. Then you may want to do a general search for computer recipe or computer software at the site for discussion.

Char - Saturday November 20th 1999 11:08:56 AM

[mudbug]

I forgot to mention, the above post of "Char - Sat" at the kitchenlink.com is at #42 right now to help you find it

[mudbug]

Well, you're going to delete this later right? I just found that if you scroll down to #44 it has a bunch of posts about MasterCook which you might also want to search for.

[mudbug]

Have you considered a shopping list? Like if you look up many recipes and realize you don't have certain ingredients. If you could just check a box or something by each ingredient then "check out" when you're done so that a list of those items checked would be saved to a list for print.

[Rita]

I just purchased (Cook's Palate)It is a program to write your own recipe book.You can go to www.cookspalate.com and download a trial version.I am new at this but it sounds like what you are interested for.I realize you wanted this a while back;Good Luck!

Originally posted by rob_sv:
I am designing and constructing a computer application to track my recipes.
There are sample applications available (Microsoft’s Access has one) but I think I want special features.

In addition (or instead of) the following outline of what I think a recipe program should do, what would you like to see?

1. Keep a record of each recipe we cook
2. Create easy reference to the recipes: report or query by:
a) Name (e.g., “Masala Masoor”)
b) Description (e.g., “Spicy Lentil Curry”)
c) Principal ingredient (chicken, beef, eggs, lentils, etc.)
d) Date(s) of serving
e) Type of cuisine (ethnicity)
f) Vegetarian Yes/No
g) Meal Category (appetizer, side, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert)
h) Prep time (this would include overnight marinating, etc.)
i ) Cook time
j ) Number of servings
k) Ingredients (should they be tracked or just listed in each recipe?)
l ) Instructions (1. First Step, 2. Second Step, etc.) for simplicity
m) Utensils (skillet, baking dish, etc.)

The biggest problem I see is with the ingredients. Computers don’t like dealing with “a pinch of” or “to taste,” and ½, ¼, 1/8 tsp have to be input as .50, .25 or .125 tsp., so the look and feel of it is awkward. Names of ingredients (if indexed) need a lot of thought: i.e., “pepper, green, hot, ”
though after a lot of recipe data has been input the pop-up list will be very helpful, showing the ingredient as soon as a few letters are keyed in.

Care to comment?

Rob Stuart-Vail
rob_sv@msn.com