Home Cookin

Although it lacks some features found in other recipe database programs, Home Cookin' does a passable job of organizing recipes and assisting with meal planning.

Using its simple tabbed interface, you can either type in recipes or quickly add them by copying and pasting. We're also able to upload and paste in BMP images during tests. Resizing the number of servings was simple, and the program automatically adjusts the measurements in the recipe. Its handy reference materials include measurement equivalents and an illustration of the USDA Food Pyramid. We also like the meal-planning calendar.

Unfortunately, importing and exporting recipes was a bust. The program's "Copy to Clipboard" option gave a jumbled mess when exporting, removing images along the way. Importing was no better. The imported recipe was a mix of odd, erroneous characters. Home Cookin' doesn't give nutritional information for dishes, and the application's grocery lists aren't directly tied to selected recipes, unlike other programs in this category. We also were disappointed to only find 15 preloaded recipes to go along with the 15-day trial. Beginning cooking enthusiasts may want to try Home Cookin', but veterans may feel as if they've been burned.