Pros: Best known cooking software w/vast web support.
Cons: ValuSoft's Online support is weak, program takes time to master
The Bottom Line: Mastercook will get your grocery budget inline while saving HOURS in planning. Endless recipe storage with ability share/receive recipes via the net, printout or email.
MIDIMonster323's Full Review: ValuSoft MasterCook Deluxe 9.0 Full Version for PC
This review will be similiar to Version 8 review, as MasterCook 9 only added recipes and included some bug fixes.
I've been using Mastercook since version 4 and with the change of ownership it had from Sierra to ValuSoft. I figured Version 6.2 would be the end of the line....but thankfully not..it's up to Version 9 now!
The basics-it comes with a standard set of cookbooks and an increased ingredient list of 7000 items, a place to create a meal plan and shopping list manually or automatically while giving you options on how to import(webImport/email/copy,paste) as well as export(email, printing, copy,paste recipes. It interacts with both Palm/PocketPC to download recipes and grocery lists for swapping or easy list check-off at the grocery store.
While MC 9 comes with the standard DELUXE set of MasterCook cookbooks, the web awaits you. There are literally thousands of websites that not only have recipes to download, but whole cookbooks full of recipes...all for FREE. With the MasterCook WebImport Bar, getting recipes into MasterCook via the IE browser now saves time instead of having to re-type the recipes.
The internet forums and newsgroups abound in Q&A help and how-to's in better understanding how to use MC. The best ones are located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MastercookDiscussion/
http://p075.ezboard.com/bmastercook
The MC interface is clean and sharp...doesn't look like a Win 3.1 interface but not quite XP. It will take time to learn all of the secrets of using Mastercook, but the HELP section is in the program in a step-by-step guide. What a nice touch.
This program is great for those on nutrition plans, as you can make many different daily, weekly, or yearly menu plans, shopping lists and search for foods with specific needs(calories, carbs, fat, fiber, etc.). The menu plans are save-able, so you can use them over or rotate them to your heart's content.
If using the electronic format doesn't always fit your fancy, you can certainly print out your recipes as singles or as whole cookbooks and make your own hardcopies.
In conclusion, the planning and shopping lists have saved my family money and time in not buying what we don't need and letting us know what's for dinner without having to go and search for food. 15-20 minutes of planning on a Saturday will take care of planning for the whole week. Thanks to Mastercook!
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