cookpac/mastercook question

[ChefChris]

Hi

I came across a few threads while searching for info on cookware/mastercook. I have mastercook 5 which only goes up to cookinglight 98, so I am trying to find a way to put more recipes into it. I thought the cookpac was a good solution except the nutritional info not working into mastercook would be very upseting...I agree with grace that buying 99 and 00's cookpacs would be very expensive too! Mrs. Reber I am curious as to what you decided...

I do have the annuals too, so I guess if I decided on a recipe to use from the cookpac/mastercook set up I could then go look up the accurate nutritional analysis...

My goal is to find a way to manage all of those recipes I want to try. Everyone on the BB has such great ideas and I have lists and lists of things to try, but it is unweildy when it comes time to decide what to make.

also, does anyone know what years of CL are included in Mastercook 6?

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Thanks so much!
Chris

[Laura B]

I have MasterCook 6.0 and it includes selected recipes from 1992 through 1998. The cookboks for 1997 and 1998 have more than the ones for the earlier years, but I don't think that even those have ALL of the recipes from the year.

I do get the Cookpacs, so I have filled in what I didn't have of 1998 and have gotten all of 1999 and 2000. It cost a lot, but I think it was worth it for me. Maybe not for others. And, now that I just buy the new one every month, I hardly notice the 7 dollars a month. I cringe if I add it up to see what I pay for the year, but 7 bucks a month is nothing. I waste that much or more in the vending machines at school, etc.

Cookpacs don't come with pictures which is the only thing that bothers me about them. The fact that the nutritional info doesn't come up correct does not bother me too much. When I am using a certain recipe, I can adjust it then and it will be fine.

[ChefChris]

I can't thank you enough for your replies! I thought by getting 6.0 I would pick up all of year 99. 5.0 only goes to 98, but I didn't realize it didn't have all of the recipes. I think I will need to pursue the cookpac route and add to my mastercook collection that way. I agree that it can be costly, but I use CL all the time and it seems like it will make my life easier to have it in this format too!

Thanks again for taking time to reply
Chris

[Joyce]

I'm sure you don't need my two cents, but I considered buying cookpacs, but with the cost at $77 yearly, I own all the annual books from 1990 on which take up a small space on my shelf, I also have the 95-00 index printed out. There is nothing I enjoy more on a Sunday morning than sitting on the couch with some coffee, the new weeks food ads, and my books and leafing through recipes and pictures.

[Grace]

I would normally agree with you Joyce, but the reasons that make me spend that $77 a year are this:

1. I can type in a specific ingredient I have on hand, and INSTANTLY get every single recipe with that ingredient.
2. I can print out a new copy to cook from in the kitchen, then when it gets wet and covered in yuck, I just throw it out.
3. I can print out copies for people who ask me for them.
4. I can e-mail the recipes to friends, mom, etc.
5. I can post the recipes quickly and easily on this BB.
6. I can download only those recipes which appeal to me, so every recipe I look at is one that I know is something I'd like to make (I don't have to wade through whole bunch I know I'd never be interested in making).
7. I can come home after a long, hard day, and quickly come up with something to eat based on something I have on hand. While oftentimes I like sitting down and "reading" a cookbook, my lifestyle doesn't always allow me that luxury. So the software helps me find things quickly and efficiently.

And I could keep going on.....

But those are things that I personally like about it, and everyone has different wants/needs. So if it doesn't suit your needs, then by all means do the annuals!! I just gave three annuals that I'd received as gifts to a girlfriend of mine who is just getting hooked on CL. She doesn't use a computer at all, and she's trying like crazy to modify her cooking since her 40 year old husband's just had 2 strokes in the last 6 months. So I was glad to give them to someone who would use and enjoy them. But for her, the software and cookpacs would be worthless. She hates computers. Anyhow, like I said, I love the cookpacs and they are worth every penny to me!!


[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 11-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 11-13-2000).]

[Laura B]

I just want to echo what Grace said. I LOVE sitting down to read a great cookbook, and I read cookbooks more than I read any other kind of book (except law study guides http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif). However, the CL recipes are the ones that actually get made frequently and the conveniences which Grace listed make that money well-spent for me. I guess I just wanted to say that you can love MasterCook AND regular hard copy cookbooks. I would not want to give up either!

[ChefChris]

Wow!

I can't thank you enough for your responses it helps me a lot! I really want it all, in every format!

I love the annuals and I love the issues and I am starting to love Mastercook so I am sure I will love cookware too. I got rid of all my issues from 97, 98 and 99 because of the annuals and now I regret it. It is great to be able to go back when you have time and look through all the pictures along with the recipes.

I do exactly what you mentioned, Joyce (when I steal some time away from 2 toddlers!) and look at what is on sale and go through my books, it's fun! I really liked someones idea I saw of storing their back issues by month grouping instead of chronologically. There is a great logic to that with shopping and cooking seasonally. I have found myself going through all my Oct annuals to decide on what to make in Oct etc.

Since I like having a lot of options I will go ahead for the cookpacs too just so I can see if I like the process I envision.

I am wondering though if anyone has had mastercook cooking light 5.0 and upgraded to 6.0, I am not sure if it is worth it. I looked on the website and it mentioned some advantages. Has anyone done this?

Thanks
Chris

[Laura B]

Chris,

I did update from 5.0 to 6.0 and I am not sure that it was worth it. I have not noticed any real differences and the recipe bundle is exactly the same as the one that came in my Best of MasterCook 5.0 (although maybe this is more than the regular CL 5.0?) I have 1992-1998 that came with Best of 5.0 and the 6.0 had the same recipes. I basically just paid for the newest engine. The only thing that I can tell is different is the new indexing. I am in the process as I type this of having MC go through my old cookbooks and make an all new index. This will supposedly be MUCH faster when using the search function. I'll let you know if it is. Also, they probably fixed some of the bugs from the 5.0 engine, but I have not spent enough time using it to notice.

[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 11-13-2000).]

[Laura B]

WOW!!! The new 6.0 engine's indexing feature ROCKS. I searched all of my Cooking Light Cookbooks for "cookies" and the search was over in the blink of an eye, having brought up 139 matches!! At this point, I would have to recommend getting that new version if the slow searches bother you in the slightest. That same search on the old engine would have taken up to or over a minute. With the new one, we're talking seconds. I am so excited!

[Laura B]

Originally posted by ChefChris:
I am starting to love Mastercook so I am sure I will love cookware too.

Hi. It is me one more time. You may have meant to say cookpacs instead of cookware, but I wanted to make sure you realize that you don't have to use the separate cookware program if you already own mastercook. The cookpacs are in MC format already! (I'm sure you knew this...)

[Joyce]

Grace, I must have misunderstood this thread. I thought Chefchris was looking for "thoughts and experiences", so I offered mine. I certainly did not mean to belittle anyone else's likes and/or dislikes, nor was I looking to find out why or if one way was better than any other way.

[ChefChris]

Laura

Thanks for that critical point! I have thought the search feature in 5.0 was oddly timeconsuming...that alone will make 6.0 worth it! Can't wait, now all I have to do is figure out how to import and export. I have had no success in trying to import the recipes from the website into 5.0. The import assistant feature didn't help either, I am sure I just need to spend more time with it.
Thanks for your insights
Chris

[BethR]

My feelings on the Cookpacs are similar to Laura B's. I bought all of '99 and '00 (spread over several months) and now I just buy the Cookpacs monthly. I think $7 a month is very reasonable, when you consider the time it would take to type in even a few recipes each month. I love being able to search so many recipes quickly, email recipes to friends and post recipes to this board. It's worth the money to me!
Beth

[kentgirl]

Laura B
You gave me the first good reason why I should upgrade from 5.0 to 6.0. I've always been frustrated with the search engine.

Right now I have 5.0 and I have never upgraded with any of the new patches available on the Sierra website. Did you have to pay full price for the 6.0 software, or is there an upgrade price?

Also, is there an improvement on the Meal Planner? I've never been able to really figure out how that feature works!

[kwormann]

How do you get cookpaks??

Kim

[ChefChris]

kwormann

If you go to the "store" on CL website you can follow the links. There is a place to click on called Cookware/Cookpac. That takes you to where you need to go to purchase them. As LauraB pointed out you can either use the Cookware software to run the cookpacs(the actual recipes) or run it in you mastercook software. (anyone please feel free to correct me if I am mistaken!)

kentgirl, I saw on sierra's website a $10 rebate if you buy it there, I am not sure of the terms though, maybe it has to do with owning a previous version? The one I bought at the store has a coupon on it for a year free of cooking light, sounds like a good deal as that is $20!) Cost of software was $29.99 at Best Buy, Amazon appears out of them? The offer runs until 8/01.


This has all been so helpful to me.
Thanks
Chris

[Grace]

Well Joyce, my message wasn't directed at you specifically. As you noted, ChefChris was looking for opinions and experiences, and I too, was offering mine. I only mentioned your name at all because, like I said, normally I would be right with you in forgoing the software and getting the annuals - I like looking at the pictures and the time spent sitting around enjoying my cookbooks. Whatever I wrote beyond that was not information for YOU specifically - I just went on to offer OTHERS my opinion on the benefits of the cookpacs, in case someone else may be wondering why anyone would spend $77 a year instead of getting the annuals. Perhaps you didn't read my post entirely - in no way did I try to insinuate that the cookpacs were a better way to go, and mentioned my friend to illustrate that. Sorry if you weren't interested in my opinion.

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 11-14-2000).]

[Laura B]

kentgirl,

You may want to check the Sierra website. You can usually get a "patch" that updates you to the newest engine, and I think it should be free. It sometimes takes Sierra a long time to make it available, though. I just bought the new version. It was 26 dollars through sierra and it came with a free subscription to CL, which made the purchase worth it for me. But definitely check that website before you purchase!

OK - I checked Sierra's website. Apparently patches are only done WITHIN a version (like 5.0 to 5.5). There is no patch to version 6. Looks like you would have to buy it.

[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 11-14-2000).]

[BethR]

Thanks for the info, Laura B -- I too have been considering an upgrade to 6.0 but haven't done it yet. I find the search speed on 5.0 pretty annoying. Hearing from you that the new engine searches so much faster is probably the only nudge I need to go get 6.0.... Ooooo, or maybe ask for it for Christmas... Oh, one question -- you said it came with a CL subscription... Do you know if you can use that to renew if you already subscribe, or is it only good for new subscribers?
Thanks again --
Beth

[Laura B]

Beth - I am assuming that the free subscription will act as a renewal if you are a current subscriber. If not, then I am out of luck!

[JennyLiz]

I just noticed some Honey Nut Cheerios boxes out again, offering CL Master Cook for $1.99 + 3 "O" codes as proof of purchases. This is a great deal- I did it about 6 months ago and hadn't seen any of the specially marked boxes since. Hurry, they go fast! JennyLiz