Another question about MasterCook

[GayeC]

I have come to the sad realization that CL magazines and printouts from this BB are taking over my house! I have to get some control! Will Master Cook help with this problem? I know that I can download recipes from the BB to MC (and vice versa), but does MC have all of the recipes from the magazines, and a way to update as new magazines come out? I want to get be able to throw away the magazines after I enjoy them, without losing any of the recipes. TIA for any advice you can give me. Gaye

[patsyk]

I have been using the MC software since I got married. The first one I got only had two CL "cookbooks" and it had a variety of recipes from different years.

The next update I got (5.0, I think) had recipes from 1996-1998. Version 6.0 goes back to 1995! Since I usually just update what I have, I don't know if the newest version goes all the way back or not... perhaps someone who just started with version 6.0 can answer that question.

I love the software and just recently figured out how to download recipes using the import assistant (yep, I am a bit slow to figure things out because I don't always use the book).

Good luck!

[Laura B]

The Cooking Light version of Mastercook comes with a good number of CL recipes. However, to keep MC up to date, you will have to either enter the recipes yourself, buy the CookPacs, or maybe join a group that types in the recipes together and shares them (someone has mentioned this on the board once or twice but I do not personally know of one). For info about the cookpacs, run a search. We have talked about them a few times. As a summary, they are 7 dollars per issue and contain all recipes from that issue of CL. They are MasterCook formatted already. I love them and find that, for the convenience, they are worth the money. Many others disagree.

[Grace]

Jewel from this board talked about the same problem a day or two ago. Here is what I wrote to her:

Jewel, that's the exact reason why I have the CL CookWare software on my computer, and why I buy the monthly cookpacs. I have every issue of CL in binders since 1991, but as you say, if I'm looking for a specific recipe, or even just looking for all recipes that use a specific ingredient, there is no way I have the time or inclination to sit and go through all those magazines (or books for that matter). I just go to the computer, punch in the recipe I want, hit search, and voila, there it is! Also, if I want to search for all the appetizer recipes that use asparagus, or all the stew recipes that call for lamb (for example), I can do that, and it will pull all the CL recipes from 1991 to now that fit those parameters in two seconds flat. I don't know how I would live without my software. And because it's strictly CL (no other recipes are included), I don't have to wade through a whole bunch of stuff I'm not interested in. Also, with the cookpacs, you don't have to download every single recipe from each issue into the software - you can choose out only those that appeal to you, so again, when I do a search, I'll only pull up recipes that at one time looked good to me. You might want to consider getting it, the software is free when you buy your first Cookpac (which costs $6.98, and all of it can be downloaded immediately - no waiting for CD ROM's to come in the mail!). MasterCook is another option, but I find it MUCH more complicated a program to use (you can go to www.cookn.com (http://www.cookn.com) and play with an on-line version of the CookWare software to see what it's like and to compare), plus MasterCook always includes a million recipes that aren't CL, that I personally wouldn't be interested in having. But that's totally personal preference. Anyhow, just thought I'd share how I deal with the very same problem you describe! I really do use the software every single day. And I know a lot of people on this board benefit from it as well, since I can find pretty much any CL recipe and post it!

Run a search on MasterCook and you will find lots of information.

Here is another thread to check out as well:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/006136.html

Hope that helps.

[Laura B]

Originally posted by Grace:
MasterCook is another option, but I find it MUCH more complicated a program to use (you can go to www.cookn.com (http://www.cookn.com) and play with an on-line version of the CookWare software to see what it's like and to compare), plus MasterCook always includes a million recipes that aren't CL, that I personally wouldn't be interested in having. But that's totally personal preference. Anyhow, just thought I'd share how I deal with the very same problem you describe! I really do use the software every single day. And I know a lot of people on this board benefit from it as well, since I can find pretty much any CL recipe and post it!

Just wanted to note a few things about MasterCook: it honestly is not complicated to learn, but it is true that CookWare is simpler; if you buy just the Cooking Light version of MasterCook, you do not get a lot of other non-CL recipes; even if you do get a version with more recipes than just CL ones, they are divided into separate cookbooks and you can choose to search only the Cooking Light cookbooks if that is all you want at a given moment.

[Grace]

AHA - LauraB - that's good information. I didn't know that. Thanks for clarifying. My Mom got MasterCook, but she hasn't used it yet. I took a look at it on her computer, and there was so much to it compared to the CookWare, and I was just too lazy to sit and try and figure it out. But she has asked me to help her with it, so I will have to at some point, at which time I will know better the pros and cons of each software. I do like that the CL recipes are kept in a different cookbook, though. Thanks again.

[Laura B]

No problem, Grace. I have looked at the sample CookWare and truly do LOVE MasterCook and don't think I would be happy with Cookware. Mastercook does come divided into all kinds of separate cookbooks which you can then rearrange the way you want them and create new ones, etc. I think it is a more versatile program than CookWare and I have been totally satisfied with it!

[GayeC]

Thanks for all of the advice. Now I am confused about whether to get MasterCook or Cookware! But, it sounds like I won't go wrong with either one! Gaye

[suziking]

I posted this info in an earlier thread. You might also want to check out accuchef.
www.accuchef.com (http://www.accuchef.com)

I really like it. It was easy to learn how to use and it hasn't crashed on me yet.

Suzi