Mac Recipe Software

Good Mac recipe software is something that almost everyone could use.


Organizing those snippets from magazines right down to the ancient instructions that have been passed down from generations is definitely a helpful task.

There are several packages available off the shelf that can help with this. But I take a slightly different approach. And this is because I want to AVOID RETYPING THE RECIPE.

Now, I am no gourmet cook. I like to make dinnertime interesting – so trying new things is something that I do on a regular basis. Whenever I see something yummy in a magazine, I rip the page out. Sometimes friends give the directions to make one of their favorite foods. Before I know it, I have clippings all over the house – in no particular order. But I really don’t want to type all of these items into my computer. The sheer amount of time involved is more than I am willing to commit. And the end result might not taste too good anyway. In my mind, retyping the whole thing is the downfall of any Mac recipe software.

However, I do love using my Apple iMac to organize my life – recipes included. What I do is this:

  1. First I scan the recipe using my handy Fujitsu 300M portable scanner for Macs in a pdf format.
  2. In Pages, Apple’s word processing software (part of the iWork suite of programs) I have created a custom blank template for a 4×6 card.
  3. I open my pdf scan using a program called PDF pen (although Apple’s native Preview will also work).
  4. In PDF Pen I clip the parts of the recipe that I want to include on the recipe card. In Preview, it may require a screenshot instead.
  5. I drag the clipped section from PDF Pen to my Pages document. Sometimes I even clip the picture as well.
  6. I then save the Pages recipe card and print it out on a blank (no lines) 4×6 index card to keep in my recipe box in the kitchen.
  7. On my Apple Mac computer I file the document in a folder system aptly titled Recipes. Inside this folder are subfolders for the different categories of food – just like a cookbook. Appetizers, Soups, Breads, Desserts…..
  8. I also take one extra step of adding the recipe to Evernote. This way, I have it with me on my iPhone when I am on the go. If I didn’t make a grocery list ahead of time -  I can check the ingredients on the fly while I am out shopping.

So, using this system I have created my own Mac recipe software of sorts.


Of course, this method isn’t for everyone – and there is one off the shelf package available that I wouldn’t mind giving a try. It seems that it does have a cut and paste feature which is a big time saver.

I believe that I have seen this product go on sale at deep discount on MacUpdate Promo – (my favorite site for cheap Mac software)

If you have any recommendations for programs for Macs in this area -  I would love to hear them!

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