Keeping track of stock vs recipes with computer program

[ChristineBBD]

Click on the ingredient tab and go to the ingredient you want to edit. There is a tool bar above the ingredient, next to the yellow star is a pen. Click on the pen to edit.

A box will pop up, click on Measures and choose Add

You'll see a box called Custom Measures, fill in the size bottle, such as "3.5oz bottle" and put a check in the box next to it. Enter the gram weight (it's on the bottle too) and then click OK.

Before clicking OK though, you notice you can select from a whole host of measures. If you want the ingredient to give you choices such as dash, pinch, gallon, etc, just put a check in the box next to it!

[ChristineBBD]

An extra tip:

Click on the Recipe tab and then click on the folder called Cookbooks.

You have a split screen now, with folders on the left, and every recipe listed on the right.

If you want to change the properties of this cookbook, click on the menu button that looks like a hand pointing to a piece of paper. This is your properties button.

Play around with the tabs in the properties box that pops up, this is where you can change the way your recipes look, how they print out, etc. I wanted less blank space in my columns so I wouldn't have to scroll sideways to see all the info, and this is where you can change the width of your columns.

[ChristineBBD]

To change how a recipe is shown on your screen, go to any recipe and click on the same properties button.

A box will pop up letting you choose if you want the ingredients listed in a single column or in 2 columns. Do you want the photo next to the ingredients? Etc.

Click on Element Order, and this is where you can move things around. The default has the recipe source at the bottom of the page. I wanted to change this so it was right under the recipe name. That way, I can tell if I have the recipe in a book already sitting in my kitchen or if I need to print the recipe to have it next to the stove. If the source is listed, I just go get the book and it saves me from printing recipes I don't need to print.

[Keeanah]

I tried to buy this for the $26.95 price from the link below and got the following message =(

The following products you are attempting to purchase are no longer sold through our service, or are in the process of being setup for ordering.
Below is the last known contact information regarding the products. You may want to visit the developer's website or write an email for updated info on purchasing.

So looks like we're stuck with the $34.95 price - but I've been doing the free trial - it's worth it!

[Stelley]

I would also love to get the name of the program!

[Fullhandz]

Originally Posted by Stelley

I would also love to get the name of the program!

its: www.livingcookbook.com and you need a pc no macs

Keeanah - sorry about the other link not working any longer

[BrendaK]

Here's a question. I know you have to enter in your ingredients in the database. But what about taking away ingredients when you use them? How does that work? I think I could manage entering the ingredients, but it would get really tedious to enter every time you eat, have a snack, or use ingredients for every person in the house. I could probably keep up with dinners, but I don't want to be hounding my DH with hey -- how much salad dressing did you use for your lunch because I need to enter that in the computer How does the subtracting inventory part work?

[ChristineBBD]

I had to chuckle when I pictured you hounding your husband everytime he had a salad. LOL

First steps to getting your living cookbook ready is to...1. Enter your inventory. 2. Enter your recipes (making sure you link the ingredients!) 3. Create a menu plan using the calendar.
I plan menus for 14 days, because my dh gets paid twice a month:
One day might be....
Breakfast: Sausage Casserole
Strawberry smoothies 4 (this is # of servings)

Lunch Leftovers from the night before
Peas w pearl onions 1 pkg

Supper Sloppy Joes with Lentils (The rest is for lunch/leftovers for tomorrow)
Salad fixings 4
Green bean casserole

I don't bother keeping track of dressings, beverages because those are easy enough to plan what you need, simply add the usual gallons of milk to the grocery list, orange juice jugs, etc. This is because everyone drinks when they want through out the day and there's no need to follow them around with a measuring cup!

Where I don't add the serving numbers above: you don't need to add the serving number for recipes, because the recipes will have the number of servings listed automatically.
When you have an item that is not a "recipe" you want to include a serving number, like with our strawberry smoothies, we use bulk strawberries, soy milk and yogurt so....

When I sit down to do the next grocery list (at the end of the 2 weeks) I delete the menus from the previous 14 days and viola! their subtracted from my inventory with one click of a button!

Easy!