Master Cook

[BethR]

I have Mastercook CL and use it a lot for filing and searching for recipes. I'm only just starting to use the mealplan and menu features, so I'm afraid I can't offer all that much help. One tip though -- I have found that if you're working with a menu, recipes will have an "R" in front of them. If you right click on this R, you can choose if you want the item on this line to be item, text, subtitle, or recipe. You can also insert, delete and move lines of your menu like you would rows in a spreadsheet.

I recommend you do what I still haven't had time to do -- set aside a few hours to read the manual and play with the software until you're comfortable with the features you want to use. I've heard from others on this board that it really helps to have that "quality time" to learn MC!

Good Luck -- Beth

[Veronica]

I just got MasterCook and am a little disappointed that it's not more intuitive. My definition of a great software program is one you can use without reading the manual. I've had to open my manual more than once to find out how to do something . . . the meal plan was one of them.

I use the feature BethR was talking about to list items in my meal plan that aren't recipes. For example, I'll use the text marker to indicate "Leftover xyz" as my lunch or dinner, which saves me from listing it as a recipe and prevents the program from adding the ingredients to my shopping list. It seems to work just fine.

I've done two meal plans so far and have found that I am cooking way too much food. It's so exciting to find a new recipe, add it to my plan, generate a shopping list, etc. If I don't scale back, though, my waistline is going to become a problem very soon! I definitely need to feature more leftovers and save those great recipes for other weeks. I'm learning. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[kwormann]

Veronica, I am excited about the recipe scaler, since it is just 2 of us. I have been home sick today and will be tomorrow and I plan on palying with it some tomorrow!

[kwormann]

Does anyone out there use Master Cook cooking light? I just bought it and am finding it a bit confusing. I am trying to paln meals, but it seems to only want recipes...what if I am having a frozen dinner...(husband out of town)? Any ideas/help??
KIm