Quick Questions for MamaSue...

[CHRIST1NE]

In an earlier thread, you posted a recipe for Beef Tenderloin w/French Onion Sauce. I noticed it was exported from Mastercook and dated July 1999. Did you have to key all of that into your program, did you download it from somehwere or just wave a majic wand over your computer? I have the latest Mastercook CL (version 5) software and the recipes only go through 1998. I've noticed alot of you have later recipes than that (1998) that you export for people onto the bullitin board and I've always wondered how you got them into the software. I don't mind typing, but if there is an easier way that's always better http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Sincerely,
Christine

[Mamasue]

Hi CHRISTINE,

Hehe! I wish I had a magic wand...but then it would take the fun out of it all! Well, its a combination of all that you mentioned. I have CL Mastercook 5.0 and have cookbooks that it came with (96, 97 and 98). I started my subscription in late 99. Recipes that caught my eye I typed in my Mastercook and also scanned the pictures of that particular recipe with my scanner to insert with my recipe. Sometimes someone would post a recipe from a recent magazine that I have and that would save me time of typing into my Mastercook...I would just copy from BB and import. And some recipes may have been posted by someone here on the board and of course I would record the source in my Mastercook when I imported them. I also noticed that some recipes are repeaters from past issues.

Some of the gals here have the Cooking Light software that they subscribe to each month which supplies all the recipes from that month's issue and this saves them time in typing them out.

Hope this helped and if there is anything in particular that you are looking for just post. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[CHRIST1NE]

Thank you so much for your reply. I was REALLY hoping it was a majic wand - I'm such a slow typer!

I keep holding off typing in a bunch of 1999 recipes thinking that version 6 should be coming out soon with 1999 on it. I'll have to check out the CL store link from the homepage and see how much the monthly disks cost.

I actually just caught onto CL in May when I decided to start my "healthy lifestyle change" (not a diet - those don't work). I've gotten quite a few of the 1999 issues cheap on e-bay. It's keeps me busy anyway.

That's really nice that you have a scanner to do the pictures. Pictures make all the difference don't they. I don't have a scanner, so I have to cheat a little. I just type in the ingrediants (so I can do the cool searches) and then reference the issue/page in the notes section. Hmmmm christmas is coming... maybe Santa could bring me a scanner.

Thank you again for the reply!

[Grace]

Hi

Just wanted to let you know that the downloads from www.cookn.com (http://www.cookn.com) cost $6.98 per month, include every single recipe from that issue, and are compatible with both MasterCook and the CL Cookware software! I've been buying them since 1995 (I have the Cookware software) and I LOVE it! Hope that helps!

Grace

[CHRIST1NE]

Grace,

Thank you so much for the link. That is pretty neat!

I'll have to see if there are enough recipes in an issue to justify the cost. If nothing else, I could just download the really "good" issues.

Who thought eating healthy could be this much fun!!!

[MrsReber]

This is so cool, Mamasue. I have to get a scanner. Is it really easy to insert the pictures? Do you just scan the picture from the magazine? I am not familiar at all with scanners, guess I should buy one soon. I want to be able to make cookbooks as gifts and I hate not having the pictures to go along with the recipes.

[Kathy]

That is a great idea, Mrs. R; how are you planning on doing that? I bought a scanner at staples for about $75..it was a discontinued model but it does a pretty good job! (Scanmaker X6)


[This message has been edited by Kathy (edited 08-29-2000).]

[BarbaraL]

This doesn't address the scanning/downloading issue, but thought it might be of interest. When I try a recipe I really like, I type it into my computer -- that way, I have it on file at work (I usually go to the grocery store on my way home from work) I print it out and put a copy into a 3-ring binder, so I don't have to hunt through my CL issues to find the recipe when I want to repeat it. Of course, I don't think I try nearly the volume of recipes as many of you on this bulletin board!

[Mamasue]

CHRISTINE...I hear you about the "D" word. Eating healthy is a better way to put it and if I may say easier to manage. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

MrsReber and CHRISTINE....I love pictures to go along with recipes. When we bought our computer system a few years ago the printer came with the price of the package so we decided to buy the scanner. Its not an expensive one....UMAX by Astra. The software to use the scanner came with it. It took me a while to figure it out, plus a girlfriend of my daughters' helped me. Once I scanned a few pictures it became easier. Yep, I just lay the magazine on the scanner and follow the process of scanning and transforming the size. Once the recipe picture is transformed it is saved to my document file so all that I need to do is insert into Mastercook. Very easy! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I have been thinking lately that I think that I will buy a disposable camera and as I make a new recipe, take a picture of it so that I can scan it, save it and insert into Mastercook with the recipe. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Mamasue]

Oh, MrsReber I meant to tell you that if you do purchase a scanner and make Christmas cookbooks with the pictures that you scan...make one copy and bring it to a copy center. The reason is because you will find that you will use a lot of color ink, especially if you are copying in quantities. Just a thought knowing how expense the ink cartridges are. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[MrsReber]

Ah, good idea Mamasue, taking pictures of the food. I even have a digital camera at home that I could use for that and just download from the camera.

Kathy, I have got to make my sister a cookbook. She hardly cooks at all and she's vegetarian. She recently cut her hours at work so she can spend more time with her kids, so she will be starting to cook now Hopefully she won't poison her family http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif I bought a couple of thin binders at Staples and some sheet protectors. Seemed like the way to go to protect the pages. Nothing too fancy, more on the practical side, but I can make a nice cover for it, too.

Thanks for the input on the scanner and saving the ink cartridges. Yes, they are quite expensive! It just seems like it'd be such a fun project.