Cooking Aficionado for Windows

Used Cooking Aficionado for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffJuly 15, 2015

This database-oriented application allows cooks to store, manage, print, and e-mail recipes, but the inability to import them won't suit some palates. Cooking Aficionado's straightforward interface lets you easily view and manage recipes. Unlike similar applications in the market, this freeware only provides one preloaded sample, and its inability to import recipe files from different formats is a big turnoff for some users. Additionally, you'll only be able to export the recipe files in one format: CA XML. Cooking Aficionado can be registered for free, though a "How to buy" statement in the help file might confuse some users. Sharing options like the ability to print and e-mail recipes is well appreciated. In testing, e-mailed recipes were quickly and accurately sent. This freeware application can be displayed both in English and Spanish. Cooking enthusiasts looking for an organizational utility can try Cooking Aficionado, but we'd guess they'd also want to sample more flexible applications.

Cooking Aficionado for Windows

Used Cooking Aficionado for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: August 2, 2005

Latest update: July 15, 2015

Version: 3.1

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2000
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows 10
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 9,677

Downloads Last Week: 1

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Program available in other languages

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.1/5

16 User Votes

Outdated but still USABLE and IMPRESSIVE
notorazrOctober 26, 2011
Pros
Adding ingredients is just a simple cut and paste, no need to enter one ingredient at a time -- unit then quantity then ingredient like what other programs do. The ability to add pictures is very handy plus it doesn't seem to have any size limit. Would have been nicer if you could add more than one pic. then have a left right/arrow for easy switching.
Cons
There should have been shortcut keys. Speaking of keys you can actually find one on the internet. The company is already defunct so maybe it's not too illegal to do that, i guess :).
Summary
i love this app.
Do not download you can no longer register
colo39February 26, 2011
Pros
Good program but no longer able to be registered
Cons
Can no longer register Dont download!!!
Summary
Great software but no longer usable. I am looking for a guru to provide a registry patch to make it usable again,not just a 30 use trial. What a pain !!! Hours of work down the drain without a registry patch.
Do not download.
kathrynlindOctober 4, 2010
Pros
Good but unusable
Cons
They are gone, do not download can only use for 25 times without a key number which you cannot get.
Summary
Looks like they have gone out of business
reddevil5October 2, 2010
Pros
I liked the software but as I said...it looks like they have gone out of business. You are supposed to send for a key and I always get back an error....like that site is no longer up.
Cons
Good software if one could get it registered and working for more than 30 days
Summary
Think I am going to have to spend about $35 to get some software that manages recipes because the writers of Cooking Aficionado do not respond
Is 1 star the least you can give?
branwrenMay 10, 2010
Pros
It's free to try
Cons
There was nothing to like about this program
Summary
Wonderful program... but obsolete now??
hummingbirdsweetieApril 24, 2010
Pros
I have been using this program for several years now and I love how I can send my recipes by email, print them off, do a plain text view for copying & Pasting. I love that it is just a nice simple program that is easy to enter information into.
Cons
However, my husband went to put it on his new laptop so we can take it on the road for our road trip, and it keeps prompting us for the serial code. Mine won't work and neither will his... and of course their website is not for CA.
Summary
I wish they had removed the "registration code" part so that it can be used. Perhaps CNet should remove it from the download list since it is no longer supported.
Great program, easy to use. Internet required.
hwogsDecember 16, 2009
Pros
Very easy to cut and paste recipe info to create new recipes.
Cons
Could not get it registered on my old kitchen computer without an internet connection. Tried two times with new license keys from software provider and still got error message and could only use as a trial for 30 times.
Summary
If I did not have to register this program on a computer without internet service, then I would still be using it. It was easiest of all the free versions I tried.
WON'T PRINT IF YOU HAVE IE8
scuba199September 4, 2009
Pros
I love this simple program. You can just copy and paste from any recipe found anywhere. No having to type in details like size, quantity etc.
Cons
Company has no support! Emails comeback as a bad address. Help menu of limiited value. Will not print if IE8 is installed!!!!!!! I reverted back to IE7
Summary
I really like it and its really easy to use. BUT if you want fancy this is not the program.
havent been able to register for over 1 year
utopia7697November 17, 2008
Pros
I have used this software for several years now, and LOVE IT! I want to still use it, but I upgraded my computer, saved my recipes, installed CA on new computer, and could never register it- their inbox is full! & you can only try it for 25 times!
Cons
I had to print out all my recipes to save them... =(
Summary
WAS great software, but I fear it is obsolete.... =(
Very Basic
IrishAceNovember 17, 2008
Pros
No advertisements, loads and operates quickly, images can be added.
Cons
Recipes have to be manually entered or imported via .XML files.
Summary
This is a very basic program, however, the author did create some conveinent features like the ability to change theme colors, default language, and text size. (Don't get too exicted over the language selection - it's either English or Spanish.) The program comes with one sample recipe so you can see how the program works. The use can also create different categories, but it appears to be impossible to import recipes to any other category that the original sample category that is included. Can you move recipes between categories? You bet, but you have to edit each one individually. If you have the time to create your own recipe database, this program might work for you. But I'm still puzzled by how the title 'Cooking Afiocionado' is related to this program. Maybe it should simply be called 'Personal Recipe Database Application.'

Developer’s Description

Store, edit, search, and print recipes on your computer.

Easy, efficient recipe software for Windows. Cooking Aficionado provides essential features for recipe storage so you can store all of your recipes on your personal computer. Features include browse, add, edit, search, email, print, storing images and backup.