I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
http://www.bigoven.com/

It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!


"Top Spin" > wrote in message
>. ..
> I would like some suggestions for cooking software for Windows. I am
> currently on Win 2000 but will be moving to WinXP soon. It can be
> shareware or commercial. I don't have complicated needs. It will be
> used mainly for home cooking and just to keep track of things.
>
> I just bought MasterCook and I really hate it. The interface is awful.
> It's almost unusable.
>
> Here's what I need it to do:
>
> 1. Scale a recipe without changing the original. If I ask it to double
> the recipe, it would remember the original and indicate that this is a
> double-size version.
>
> 2. Show ingredients in both volume (tsp, cup) and weight (ounces,
> grams) units. Ideally, indicate which is the original.
>
> 3. Provide a usage log where I can enter the results of each time I
> try the recipe. Keep track of these by date.
>
> 4. Allow me to rate each recipe and sort by rating.
>
> 5. User interface that is similar to the Windows standard. Not the
> kludge that is MasterCook.
>
> Thanks. Any suggestions or pointers appreciated.
>
> --
> Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
> Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
> (01/10/05)

We're using Living Cookbook and love it.

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 14:21:59 GMT, " <> wrote:

>We're using Living Cookbook and love it.

I downloaded the demo yesterday. Very nice interface. Far superior to
MasterCook.

But, it does not support volume-to-weight unit conversions. I left a
suggestion on the message board and got a terse reply. It doesn't look
like this is somethng they will look at seriously.

--
Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(01/10/05)

>But, it does not support volume-to-weight unit conversions.

One of the things that sold me on Living Cookbook (and other software
may have this) is the Capture function.

You can copy a recipe from a website, or any other document, paste it
into the software, then just highlight the various portions of text
(title, ingredients, procedure, etc) and it feeds the info into the
recipe and formats it.

This saved a TON of time for us, because all of our recipes (hundreds
of them) were in a Word document.

And it's also great because if we get a recipe from Allrecipes.com or
Epicurious.com that we want to keep, it just takes a few seconds to
capture it.

wrote:
> One of the things that sold me on Living Cookbook (and
> other software may have this) is the Capture function.
>
> You can copy a recipe from a website, or any other
> document, paste it into the software, then just highlight
> the various portions of text (title, ingredients,
> procedure, etc) and it feeds the info into the recipe and
> formats it.
>
> This saved a TON of time for us, because all of our
> recipes (hundreds of them) were in a Word document.
>
> And it's also great because if we get a recipe from
> Allrecipes.com or Epicurious.com that we want to keep, it
> just takes a few seconds to capture it.

That's exactly the function I'm wanting. Can BigOven also do that ?
Also can Living Cookbook read other recipe formats to import from other
programs (Master Cook, Home Cooking, etc) ?


--
Pete Romfh, Telecom Geek & Amateur Gourmet.
promfh at hal dash pc dot org

Pete Romfh wrote:
> wrote:
>> One of the things that sold me on Living Cookbook (and
>> other software may have this) is the Capture function.
>>
>> You can copy a recipe from a website, or any other
>> document, paste it into the software, then just highlight
>> the various portions of text (title, ingredients,
>> procedure, etc) and it feeds the info into the recipe and
>> formats it.
>>
>> This saved a TON of time for us, because all of our
>> recipes (hundreds of them) were in a Word document.
>>
>> And it's also great because if we get a recipe from
>> Allrecipes.com or Epicurious.com that we want to keep, it
>> just takes a few seconds to capture it.
>
> That's exactly the function I'm wanting. Can BigOven also
> do that ? Also can Living Cookbook read other recipe
> formats to import from other programs (Master Cook, Home
> Cooking, etc) ?

Answering my own question.
I looked at the demo of Living Cookbook. It imports info from most of the
major packages.

--
Pete Romfh, Telecom Geek & Amateur Gourmet.
promfh at hal dash pc dot org

Pete Romfh wrote:
> wrote:
> > One of the things that sold me on Living Cookbook (and
> > other software may have this) is the Capture function.
> >
> > You can copy a recipe from a website, or any other
> > document, paste it into the software, then just highlight
> > the various portions of text (title, ingredients,
> > procedure, etc) and it feeds the info into the recipe and
> > formats it.
> >
> > This saved a TON of time for us, because all of our
> > recipes (hundreds of them) were in a Word document.
> >
> > And it's also great because if we get a recipe from
> > Allrecipes.com or Epicurious.com that we want to keep, it
> > just takes a few seconds to capture it.
>
> That's exactly the function I'm wanting. Can BigOven also do that ?

Yes, BigOven allows exactly this via its "Screen Import" feature. (If
you are interested, you can visit www.bigoven.com for more details and
a 30-day free trial download.)

- Steve
(BigOven founder)

> wrote in message
...
>
>>But, it does not support volume-to-weight unit conversions.
>
> One of the things that sold me on Living Cookbook (and other software
> may have this) is the Capture function.
>
> You can copy a recipe from a website, or any other document, paste it
> into the software, then just highlight the various portions of text
> (title, ingredients, procedure, etc) and it feeds the info into the
> recipe and formats it.
>
> This saved a TON of time for us, because all of our recipes (hundreds
> of them) were in a Word document.
>
> And it's also great because if we get a recipe from Allrecipes.com or
> Epicurious.com that we want to keep, it just takes a few seconds to
> capture it.

Big Oven does this.

In article >, Top Spin > wrote:
>On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 14:21:59 GMT, " <> wrote:
>
>>We're using Living Cookbook and love it.
>
>I downloaded the demo yesterday. Very nice interface. Far superior to
>MasterCook.

What limitations apply to the demo? It says "fully functional" at
<http://www.livingcookbook.com/features/free-software-downloads.htm>
but I assume there is some sort of "gotcha" such as can't save more
than five recipes, or only works for 30 days? (As a habitual
procrastinator, I have no use for time limitations in trialware. 8-)

>But, it does not support volume-to-weight unit conversions. I left a

I'm curious as to why you want this? Seems to me it would be rather
difficult to implement given the varying specific gravities across dry
products (and even within them -- e.g. types of sugar).

>suggestion on the message board and got a terse reply. It doesn't look
>like this is somethng they will look at seriously.

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:19:01 GMT, (Phred)
wrote:

>In article >, Top Spin > wrote:
>>On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 14:21:59 GMT, " <> wrote:
>>
>>>We're using Living Cookbook and love it.
>>
>>I downloaded the demo yesterday. Very nice interface. Far superior to
>>MasterCook.
>
>What limitations apply to the demo? It says "fully functional" at
><http://www.livingcookbook.com/features/free-software-downloads.htm>
>but I assume there is some sort of "gotcha" such as can't save more
>than five recipes, or only works for 30 days? (As a habitual
>procrastinator, I have no use for time limitations in trialware. 8-)

So, you want a free version of the commercial product with no
restrictions and unlimited use, right? If they did that, I bet an
admitted procrastinator, like you, would never get around to sending
in the registration fee. No?

Hello... It's a "trial" version. It's not a way for you to get
something for nothing. Look up trial in the dictionary.

>>But, it does not support volume-to-weight unit conversions. I left a
>
>I'm curious as to why you want this?

As I already explained, weight measurements are often much more
accurate than volume units and they scale far more easily. But most
recipes come with volume units only. So, a built-in conversion would
be a helpful utility. That is what comnputers are for.

>Seems to me it would be rather
>difficult to implement given the varying specific gravities across dry
>products (and even within them -- e.g. types of sugar).

Yes, it is a bit difficult to implement. MasterCook has done it (sort
of). But that has nothing whatsoever to do with why it is useful.

>>suggestion on the message board and got a terse reply. It doesn't look
>>like this is somethng they will look at seriously.
>
>Cheers, Phred.


--
Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(01/10/05)

In article >, Top Spin > wrote:
>On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:19:01 GMT, (Phred)
>wrote:
>
>>In article >, Top Spin
> > wrote:
>>>On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 14:21:59 GMT, " <> wrote:
>>>
>>>>We're using Living Cookbook and love it.
>>>
>>>I downloaded the demo yesterday. Very nice interface. Far superior to
>>>MasterCook.
>>
>>What limitations apply to the demo? It says "fully functional" at
>><http://www.livingcookbook.com/features/free-software-downloads.htm>
>>but I assume there is some sort of "gotcha" such as can't save more
>>than five recipes, or only works for 30 days? (As a habitual
>>procrastinator, I have no use for time limitations in trialware. 8-)
>
>So, you want a free version of the commercial product with no
>restrictions and unlimited use, right? If they did that, I bet an

Go frig yourself! Where did I say that? As I implied, I'm perfectly
happy to try a limited version of software as long as I know what the
limitations are *before* I download about 20 MB of trialware. If
it's time limited they can get nicked, "fully functional" or not.

>admitted procrastinator, like you, would never get around to sending
>in the registration fee. No?

>Hello... It's a "trial" version. It's not a way for you to get
>something for nothing. Look up trial in the dictionary.

Go and learn to read before you crap on yourself again.

>>>But, it does not support volume-to-weight unit conversions. I left a
>>
>>I'm curious as to why you want this?
>
>As I already explained, weight measurements are often much more
>accurate than volume units and they scale far more easily. But most
>recipes come with volume units only. So, a built-in conversion would
>be a helpful utility. That is what comnputers are for.
>
>>Seems to me it would be rather
>>difficult to implement given the varying specific gravities across dry
>>products (and even within them -- e.g. types of sugar).
>
>Yes, it is a bit difficult to implement. MasterCook has done it (sort
>of). But that has nothing whatsoever to do with why it is useful.
>
>>>suggestion on the message board and got a terse reply. It doesn't look
>>>like this is somethng they will look at seriously.

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
> wrote:

>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
>http://www.bigoven.com/
>
>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!

I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
message with tech support.

But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?

--
Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(01/10/05)

"Top Spin" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
> > wrote:
>
>>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
>>http://www.bigoven.com/
>>
>>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
>
> I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
> message with tech support.
>
> But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
> for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?
>
I believe you're correct. Metric to imperial, but not to weight.

"MOMPEAGRAM" > wrote in message
news:1106600036.cc3bab1bceac10e53803dd56b198c825@t eranews...
>
> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
> >>http://www.bigoven.com/
> >>
> >>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
> >
> > I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
> > message with tech support.
> >
> > But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
> > for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?
> >
> I believe you're correct. Metric to imperial, but not to weight.
>
> I just got Cook'n and I like better than MasterCook, maybe you might want
to look at it: http://www.dvo.com/

"sshay" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>
>
> "MOMPEAGRAM" > wrote in message
> news:1106600036.cc3bab1bceac10e53803dd56b198c825@t eranews...
>>
>> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> >>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
>> >>http://www.bigoven.com/
>> >>
>> >>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
>> >
>> > I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
>> > message with tech support.
>> >
>> > But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
>> > for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?
>> >
>> I believe you're correct. Metric to imperial, but not to weight.
>>
>> I just got Cook'n and I like better than MasterCook, maybe you might
>> want
> to look at it: http://www.dvo.com/
>
Thanks for the info, but I'm happy with Big Oven and I get great support and
upgrades. I've been with them since inception.

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:11:45 GMT, "sshay" > wrote:

>"MOMPEAGRAM" > wrote in message
>news:1106600036.cc3bab1bceac10e53803dd56b198c825@ teranews...
>>
>> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> >>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
>> >>http://www.bigoven.com/
>> >>
>> >>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
>> >
>> > I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
>> > message with tech support.
>> >
>> > But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
>> > for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?
>> >
>> I believe you're correct. Metric to imperial, but not to weight.
>>
>> I just got Cook'n and I like better than MasterCook, maybe you might want
>to look at it: http://www.dvo.com/

Are you saying that Cook'n can do volume to weight conversions?

That is, if I have a recipe that calls for 3 1/2 cups of flour, can it
convert that to 420 grams -- assuming that I have previously told it
that the flour I use is 30 grams to the 1/4 cup?

--
Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(01/10/05)

In article >,
Top Spin > wrote:

> On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:11:45 GMT, "sshay" > wrote:
>
> >"MOMPEAGRAM" > wrote in message
> >news:1106600036.cc3bab1bceac10e53803dd56b198c825@ teranews...
> >>
> >> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
> >> > > wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
> >> >>http://www.bigoven.com/
> >> >>
> >> >>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
> >> >
> >> > I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
> >> > message with tech support.
> >> >
> >> > But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
> >> > for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?
> >> >
> >> I believe you're correct. Metric to imperial, but not to weight.
> >>
> >> I just got Cook'n and I like better than MasterCook, maybe you might want
> >to look at it: http://www.dvo.com/
>
> Are you saying that Cook'n can do volume to weight conversions?
>
> That is, if I have a recipe that calls for 3 1/2 cups of flour, can it
> convert that to 420 grams -- assuming that I have previously told it
> that the flour I use is 30 grams to the 1/4 cup?
>
> --
> Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
> Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
> (01/10/05)

Shop'NCook can do that ( http://www.shopncook.com ).
It already knows the conversion factors between weight and volume units
for hundreds of ingredients. You can for example have the ingredients in
volume units in the recipe and add them to the shopping list in weight
units.

Mite
http://www.shopncook.com

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:11:45 GMT, "sshay" > wrote:

>"MOMPEAGRAM" > wrote in message
>news:1106600036.cc3bab1bceac10e53803dd56b198c825@ teranews...
>>
>> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:02:50 -0500, "MOMPEAGRAM"
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> >>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
>> >>http://www.bigoven.com/
>> >>
>> >>It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
>> >
>> > I just downloaded the demo, but it would not install. I have left a
>> > message with tech support.
>> >
>> > But, from what I saw on the web site, Big Oven does not have support
>> > for volume-to-weight conversions. Is that true?
>> >
>> I believe you're correct. Metric to imperial, but not to weight.
>>
>> I just got Cook'n and I like better than MasterCook, maybe you might want
>to look at it: http://www.dvo.com/

I checked out the Cook'n website. There's no demo to try so I can't
say how the software works, but from the web site it looks like they
are much more into selling additional recipe packages at $20 a pop
than in developing cooking software.

But then pretty much anything would be better than MasterCook.

--
Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(01/10/05)

Are there any good programs that fall into the freeware category? Not that I
have room for another program....

--

Just Brew It!
Johnny Mc

To E-mail me, just cut the "CRAP"!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"MOMPEAGRAM" > wrote in message
news:1106571690.59515bbbe0ab757215447549baf04a3f@t eranews...
>I have used a number of cooking software and the new Big Oven
> http://www.bigoven.com/
>
> It is well worth the money and the support is awesome!
>
>
> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
> >. ..
>> I would like some suggestions for cooking software for Windows. I am
>> currently on Win 2000 but will be moving to WinXP soon. It can be
>> shareware or commercial. I don't have complicated needs. It will be
>> used mainly for home cooking and just to keep track of things.
>>
>> I just bought MasterCook and I really hate it. The interface is awful.
>> It's almost unusable.
>>
>> Here's what I need it to do:
>>
>> 1. Scale a recipe without changing the original. If I ask it to double
>> the recipe, it would remember the original and indicate that this is a
>> double-size version.
>>
>> 2. Show ingredients in both volume (tsp, cup) and weight (ounces,
>> grams) units. Ideally, indicate which is the original.
>>
>> 3. Provide a usage log where I can enter the results of each time I
>> try the recipe. Keep track of these by date.
>>
>> 4. Allow me to rate each recipe and sort by rating.
>>
>> 5. User interface that is similar to the Windows standard. Not the
>> kludge that is MasterCook.
>>
>> Thanks. Any suggestions or pointers appreciated.
>>
>> --
>> Hitachi HB-A101 bread machine, 1 pound
>> Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
>> (01/10/05)
>
>