Pros

Unable to comment in the positive.

Cons

I never could get it to install or work.

Pros

Lots of recipes and features, including yield conversion

Cons

Buggy, crashes, options don't work

Summary

At first, this program worked fine. I was okay with the minor annoyances regarding the lack of layout support (it doesn't work) and the fact the you couldn't turn off line numbering within the procedure, but then it started giving a comon language error after the addition of every other recipe or so and completely failing to respond. I haven't tried to export my recipes out of this program yet, but will be doing so and looking for a more stable alternative. Oh, and don't bother with their email support. On the one time I did get it to work, no one ever responded. I have no motivation to purchase their "pro" version if their free version is this unusable.

Pros

It came with a lot of recipes already loaded, not sure yet how good they really are

Cons

The file system is a little funky. Since it was created in Access, why didn't they keep the .db file extension?

Pros

NONE AT ALL

Cons

Cant access anything on the program to try anything. BUGGY

Summary

Not worth the time it took to click on the button download. Totally corrupted. Not worth the one star you have to give the program to submit this review. ugh

Pros

I can put my cabinet/freezer/fridge inventory into the software, and it tells me what I can make. If I choose 7 meals at the beginning of the week, it tells me what my shopping list is for the items I might be missing. This is phenominal!!!

Cons

Because it's an older program, Vista/7 has minor problems. You have to install Net Framework 1.1 manually (since it's not included on Vista/7), and you have to find the blank database, because of the changeover from 2k/XP (Doc's & Settings) to Users

Summary

I see that others are having installation confusion for the program, and if you're "quick surfing" for a recipe program I can see why people would skip over and move on. The installation documentation, and the developer's website, show the easy steps to accomplish installing, but again--if you're 'quick surfing', you're not going to take the time. But the program's capability far exceeds the "well working" others, and the ability to backup/transfer/migrate to other machines, share them in a network environment, etc...are all features that I wouldn't expect from a recipe program.

But beyond the program's software capabilities, the expectation that someone would need an inventory control system, and the ability to predict that planning ahead for shopping trips, etc, is a wonderful feature that I never quite found in other programs. The program's item list ranges from vague to anal--one CAN insert that they have a 32 oz bottle of garlic salt, and the program then has the ability to estimate when--after several teaspoons or tablespoons of use in recipes, inform the user of what they're "almost out of", and need to restock on a shopping trip.

The base install includes about 200 recipes, and while some are good, some are bad, and some are just showing how this could be used to make highly expensive tasteless dishes, they exist only to show off what the true features of the software are capable of doing. The exotic chef might painstakingly gruel over all of the minute capabilities of the software--as perhaps a small restaurant owner would as well. In certain ways--if there was more of a "menu" structure--I could easily see this adapted to a POS system, or at least a very decent backend to one.

But for my small rural household of 4, and my desire to plan a weeks worth of meals with only one shopping trip, it's been a very very fast lifesaver. After loading in some 20 to 30 standard meals--some often, some rare treats--I can decide a week in advance what I'm making, what I'm in the mood for, and what changes I might make in my plans, and make sure--before the trip--how much of what I'd need to make sure I was stocked for any such contingency. There are no more emergency trips to the Dollar General for a surprise can of Cream of Anything, or Sugar, or Onion Powder, while in the middle of preparing a meal. It "knows" that I can only make Sweet & Sour pork steaks three times before I'm out of soy sauce or teriyaki sauce for the marinade, so I'm not stranded on the fly.

The only real "con" of this feature is--if you lived on a farm, grew your own food, etc...I'm not clear how the inventory system could prepare for those numbers. It can't count potatoes in the ground, or in the bag, but someone with more experience might know what to "expect" out of the garden, and compensate for it.

But it is very nice...setting up meals, experimenting with recipes, researching and entering things I want to do, downstairs in the den on the main tower...and being able to--in the morning or afternoon, to quickly use my laptop in the kitchen--off of the wireless, and pull up short notes or lists for shopping without having to run downstairs to find everything. The networking really saves time, and is the biggest surprise--I never imagined someone would really think things through like this.

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Pros

Nothing as it wouldn't work

Cons

Again can't tell as it wouldn't run..Using Windows XP Pro

Summary

Can't test it if it won't work

Pros

I love the interface and the general layout.

Cons

Almost nothing worked on it. Really annoying.

Summary

Only every third or fourth recipe responded when clicked, it was very glitchy.

Pros

There is nothing positive to say since I couldn't get it to open - as noted from previous reviewers there are various issues with opening/creating a database.

Cons

I can't believe CNET gave this 3 stars - if I could give a ZERO I would - complete waste of my time! Database issues should be addressed before EVER releasing to the public.

Pros

This was a great program for Windows XP. It was very easy to add recipes (shelving all my paper clips and snips) & create a database on my external hard drive.

Cons

Now I have a new laptop running Windows 7 with .NET Framework 4. I cannot install the new version (same-old needs .NET F 1.1).

Summary

Having the program running great in my old desktop in my office (a lot of help that is). Also, I cannot find any way to open the recipes I have through another application since they are created (as Recipe Center does) by RCS file extension format. No matter my searches through Microsoft's site I cannot seem to bypass the issues. There is no go-around since the program takes you to the win update site to install the 1.1, which it will not do in OS 7; only checks the NET 4. Don't waste your precious time & it's not worth messing up a good thing! If anyone else has any ideas I'll gladly listen---I want my recipes back in my kitchen where they belong!

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