Handy CookBook App Reviews

I like this app a lot and use it almost every day. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of the limited choice of catagories. In future upgrades, please include catagories such as: Appetizers, Soups. Breakfast, and Miscellaneous (to name a few).

This is a well planned and excellent app. The developer has been thorough and put himself in the position of the user. The app is robust in the way it deals with user cookbooks. For example, it readily imports and categorizes MasterCook files and recipes. The developer is also very responsive to questions and suggestions In short, this is what a lifestyle app should be.

I use Living Cookbook on the PC and this app is the easiest and most flexible iPod/iPhone app that I have found, to sync my recipes. It allows you to import .mxp, .mx2 (MasterCook) and .mmf (Meal Master) files, individually or in bulk. Now that the developer has upgraded the app. to sync recipes using iTunes, it is much easier to use (although the old sync worked for me, I had to keep looking up how to do it - the new method is much easier to remember!). This application is stable and flexible: you can create your own recipe categories, import pictures & photos to accompany the recipes, and search by recipe or by ingredient. It has a shopping basket, where you can just select a recipe and it automatically adds the right quantity of ingredients to your list. It also saves the nutrition information with my recipes, so I can see how much damage Im going to do, with that Genocide-By-Chocolate recipe ;-) The interface could be a little more intuitive in odd places - for example, you have to enter the recipes list view to search; you cannot do this from the category view. But its not a big deal - the app. allows you to search by recipe-name or by ingredient, in a really flexible way. Finally, Im really impressed by how responsive the developer is. I have not had to ask him questions directly, but just looking at the app. blog and comments shows how fast he responds to even minor issues. It makes me feel comfortable that my treasured recipes are safe. Ive been using this app for about 2 years now - I cant say enough good things about it. Especially if you are using Living Cookbook - the best PC recipe organizer - who dont have a mobile app. themselves.

This app does just what it says and no more, which is fine with me. I have an extensive recipe collection in Living Cookbook and was in a pickle trying to get recipes onto my IPad for an upcoming trip. I am grateful that another reviewer made it clear that this app contains no recipes, but is designed for importing recipes from another source. There were so many apps and most contained recipes and were not what I needed. Although I found the instructions on importation from Living Cookbook a little confusing, I muddled through and amazingly it worked! I now have all my recipes on my IPad and ready to roll. I recommend this app for anyone using Living Cookbook or Master Cook. It works well.

As a Living Cookbook user this app was exactly what I was looking for. It took a minute to figure out the Import aspect of the app, after that, importing all my recipies took a couple of minutes without any problems. So far only one problem.....when I organize recipes into new cookbooks on the app, I loose the ability to assign a category and it looses the one it had. Maybe Im doing something wrong as that doesnt make a lot of sense to me, a cook book needs categorys . If this is the app and not me I hope it will be fixed in the future but either way this is still a great app....thanks

Have used Mastercook for years. Its a bit cumbersome, but I know all its quirks. I have saved all of my own recipes (400+) on there. When I got an iPad I was disappointed to learn that there was no Mastercook app. I definitely didnt want to retype them all. There are a few steps involved in uploading into Handy Cookbook (using iTunes), but it worked easily and without a hitch.

This app is wonderful! I love having all of my recipes in a single place and being able to use them on multiple devices. I also love being able to share a recipe when it is requested. The developer has made a very user-friendly app in my opinion!

Initially, we couldnt get the app to import recipes from our PC based Mastercook. The developer followed up within 24 hours and emailed us clear instructions, which allowed us to import the recipes. I would give this app five stars if the initial instructions that came with the app had been as clear as what the developer emailed to us the next day. We appreciated the good follow-up from the developer.

Carlos is the best!!! I was having trouble getting a connection to the webserver; and he fixed it for me! He was so very prompt and concerned about helping me to get it to work. I love the app so much; just knowing that all my recipes are where I want them. I e-mailed a couple of recipes to a friend last week!! But, it will be so much faster entering recipes through the webserver; so I am extremely happy with the app now!!!

How do I convert from PDF files to MXP? Otherwise, this looks like exactly what I wanted.

I gave it only 4 stars for one issue I experienced and I hope it can get resolved. On two occasions my iPhone had a major crash and had to be reset and I also did a software upgrade which required a full backup, installation of software and restore and all my recipes were gone. The last time with the upgrade I was really disappointed because I had just loaded several family recipes that I now have to re-find and reload them. I hope I can still get them. If this was fixed it would be a five star for me.

Have spent 3 hours trying to move master cook recipe book - app doesnt see them and no instructions on how to fix!

This does about everything on would want with a personal cookbook. I love the fact that I can sync it with my Mac, iPad, iPod and iPhone. The shopping list is a nice touch; though do not use it much. Love the fact that I can create and change the categories I need. And, I love the fact it does not come loaded with many useless receipts - my book contains my receipts and not some cook-cutters receipts. A few improvements I would like to see: 1.Either a “begin ahead time:” field (preferred), or a “sit/marinade time” (field). This is because I have a number of recipes with short Prep Time, and cooking time, however a long marinade time (in a few cases a long sit time before serving.) 2.As I said having flexible categories is very nice, however what would make it great is the ability to assign multiple category to a receipt. Take a simple receipt: Macaroni & Cheese with Ham this receipt could be in three different categories. (Can be done by having multi-copies of the receipts, but it far better and easier to make changes if there were one copy of the receipt with alias in other categories.) 3.To allow for least two images with the receipt. A “cover” picture and at least one location with the Preparation to include pictures of “key” Prep steps. (Using an image program, one could make one picture contain images for several steps.) 4.A stat section for Calories, Fat, Sodium etc. Even lacking these enhancements – this is the best cookbook I have seen and used.

Has anyone else had problems using wifi and the web server to sync recipes. I keep typing in the IP address but nothing. I really liked the app when I could do this (5) but for some reason I cant do that anymore(hence a 3). I cant figure out if its not compatible with upgraded Firefox, upgraded MAC OS, upgraded iOS or what. I have contacted the developer, but keep getting asked if I have done things that I have done. I hope/wish someone has a better suggestion, or guess I will be looking for another app.

How can one print a recipe from an iPad using handy cookbook? Cant seem to find the print button.

Seemed like a nice app to get my Mastercook recipes onto the iPad, but it crashes every time I try to import a recipe. I noticed there are no recent updates--I wouldnt recommend buying this app until it is updated for the new iOS.

Ive been using it successfully and havent had any issues, however, I would like to have the option to forward a recipe via text. You can send recipes via email, but people dont check their email as often as they check their texts. Thanks.

Every time I try to import a recipe/recipes the app crashes!! Please fix it!

I have been using this app for over 2 years now and find it extremely useful to keep all my recipes at hand. I love that you can customize the categories, upload photos instantly from the Internet, and create PDF books to export. I just wish the app was updated more often with new functionalities.

I was looking for a blank slate that I could mold to my own style. I file recipes oddly - by genre, ingredient, holidat and daypart (crazy but it works). and I have my own shorthand for ingredients and measurements. so, any app that forced me into a box was no good. and, I wanted easy backups and flex ability to share/output. I tried a bunch and they all failed. this is simply one of the best apps I have - it does exactly what it promises, extends my recipes easily back to other formats, ties the PC in if thats how I want to load/edut a recipe. easy to backup, edit and update. I took 4 thick paper files of recipes - pulled the very best (my go-to list) and loaded them. I also load new, untried recipes on the fly and delete them when they stink - update them with my alterations. I liberally add notes to everything. now, we add photos. this has made me a better home cook and everything is accessible when I travel. freaking amazing.