Recipe Software - what do you use?

[Very Happy Jan]

Thanks Cathy79 but Living Cookbook doesn't run on Mac unless it's via Parallels. I do have Parallels but would prefer Mac compatible  software. Just have to keep looking or work on recommendations and buy sight unseen.

[Russell]

Thanks Cathy79 but Living Cookbook doesn't run on Mac unless it's via Parallels. I do have Parallels but would prefer Mac compatible  software. Just have to keep looking or work on recommendations and buy sight unseen.

What the geek in me did was, install LC2008 on Damaris's Windows PC, then put on a VNC client. This means I can access anywhere in the house via my laptop, netbook, imac, Windows VM on the iMac, or iphone Great for using in the kitchen while cooking. In theory anyway, has yet to be tested.

Russell.

[cathy79]

Thanks Cathy79 but Living Cookbook doesn't run on Mac unless it's via Parallels. I do have Parallels but would prefer Mac compatible  software. Just have to keep looking or work on recommendations and buy sight unseen.

  My mistake - I thought you meant you couldn't find a website for the product.

[Russell]

I'm not sure if it works with LC in particular as my license is on the wrong machine, but I have VMWare fusion 3. It lets you run windows applications from an icon on ht emac desktop just like Mac application, it just starts up the Vm machine first. Of course that's an expensive option if you haven't got the VMWare software already.

The LC people are going to refund the second upgrade license I purchased by mistake. I thought that was nice of them.

Russell.

[meganjane]

After using the Living Cookbook for a few hours, I don't really like it.
I spent most of my time deleting all the cookbooks already there and the next hour or so deleting all the ingredients that I don't use!
I also found it difficult to capture recipes from my computer. To me, it's way too time consuming. I'll stick with my folders on my computer and Word.

[cathy79]

That's a shame MJ.  I haven't bothered deleting all the cookbooks and ingredients - they're just sitting there, being ignored.

Did you use the "capturing" technique?  I found once I got the hang of it, it's quite easy.  The videos on the web are helpful.

[Russell]

It certainly does take a lot of "cleaning up" if you want it streamlines and Australia only content, but as Cathy says you can generally ignore that. As for the importing, I haven't done enough to comment, but because there is so much categorisation and configuration, it's not going to strip all that data from plain text easily unless the text has been formatted, so yes, there would be a bit of cut & paste into the right areas.

It's sort of like cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. if you don't need the bells and whistles, a simple file is easier. If you want to be able to slice & dice your recipes, ingredients, menus, nutritional data, grocery lists etc etc, then nothing beats it.

Russell.

[cathy79]

I guess as I've been using it as I collect recipes, it's not so much time - just a few minutes here and there.  Quite different to sitting down and converting a large collection.

[chocdoc]

Amanda, I also use a Mac and have been using A Cook's Book for years. Am quite happy with it. Like the fact that it will make shopping lists and menus for me.

I also have a mac & have been looking for software. I can't seem to find a trial version of A Cook's Book (maybe I'm just technologically challenged). Did you get a trial version or jump straight in and buy?

I'm on a Mac and for years have used Mastercook.  My latest Mac doesn't support OS9 - so I've had to switch over to MacGourmet.  So far I'm happy with it.  There are apparently ways to download certain recipes directly from the net - I'm challenged so haven't figured that one out - but with a combination of entering the ingredients manually and cutting and pasting the instructions I've been happy. 

There is a trial version of it to try.

[Very Happy Jan]

Thanks Chocdoc. I'm off to google MacGourmet.

[RoxyS]

VHJ & Amanda, I just visited the A Cook's Book site and if you scroll down to see all the features of the program then it comes up at the bottom with the opportunity to "download" and under that it says "Purchase a Cook's Book". If you choose the "download" it will download to your computer and you can use it on a trial basis. You are  limited in how many recipes you can put into it and I think there are some other limitations but you can get a good ideas at to the capabilities of it. It is about time I updated my version as I haven't used it in ages due to various computer issues.

[Russell]

Hi All,

For those interested in seeing what cookbooks can come out of Living Cookbook, with some additional post-editing, go have a look at http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3447.0.

Russell.

[maddy]

I purchased the full version of living cookbooks about 2 weeks ago.
I have to say that I LOVE it!
Admittedly, it does take a few recipes to get the hang of it, but once you do.......I can copy & paste a recipe straight from the net, and format in no time to my own book.
I did spend a little time fiddling with the settings, to get the layout I was happy with. Now any recipe I add is neat and uniform.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

When you are cooking do you have a computer in your kitchen to read off Maddy or do you still print out? 

[maddy]

When you are cooking do you have a computer in your kitchen to read off Maddy or do you still print out? 

Hi Chelsea.....I have to confess to being a recipe book tragic 
The family are so used to me now photographing everything I make.....it's become a bit of a joke now 

I am slowly transferring  all my trusted and favourite recipes to living cookbooks, then I do print them off.
I use green display books for all my thermomix recipes, and have different books for soups/mains/cakes etc.
One side I have therecipe  print off, then the other side I print off a big picture of the cooked recipe.....like the ones I post here.
I've started books for my other non-TM recipes, but do the same process.
The intention is to have my own personalised books, with all my favourites, instead of trawling through the oodles of cookbooks looking for something.
Also, this concept makes it much easier to compile a cook book for my daughter/son.....when it's their time to leave the nest