Recipes
An eChef recipe includes statistics, ingredients, directions, ratings, classifications and the image.
Recipe Statistics
Recipe Statistics include the recipe description, the source of the recipe, cooking times and yield. Values in Source are able to be filtered upon when searching the main library, and the Yield is displayed in the Shopping List interface so that decisions can be made on Number of Batches.
Ingredients
Several features make entering ingredients quick and easy. The "Tab" key takes the cursor from one field to the next, saving mouse clicks. Also, entering the first letter of the desired Unit will jump to that unit more quickly. Finally, the Ingredient Name field includes an auto-complete feature that displays ingredient names already present in your system.
If you add a new ingredient to your system when composing a recipe, eChef will prompt you for the ingredient's plural form and the desired Grocery Category designation — you can change these values at a later time by editing that ingredient in the Ingredient Master List. Note that not all ingredients require a plural form. You only need a plural form if an ingredient is ever used in whole amounts like "apples", "carrots" or "chicken breasts". For some ingredients like "beef stock", "cilantro" and "olive oil", a plural form is never used and does not need to be defined. However, some “tiny” ingredients like "chopped walnuts", "currants" and "dried breadcrumbs" should always be plural — for these, use the plural version as the main ingredient name.
When entering ingredient names, it is best to define them as they would be purchased in the store. Instead of having 1 pound of "green beans" or one 12-oz. can of "green beans", add clarity to your shopping lists by entering either 1 pound "fresh green beans" or 12 oz. "canned green beans". It may also be appropriate to include words like "shredded" or "chopped" in the ingredient name if you wish to buy items like cheeses or nuts that have already been prepared in this way.
The "Ingredient Note" section should be used to indicate how to prepare an ingredient. If you wish to say "1 C. celery... diced", define the ingredient to be "celery" and include the word "diced" in the Ingredient Note section. The "Brand" designation will appear on your shopping lists if you wish to include it.
Directions, Suggestions, Nutritional Facts & Notes
The Directions, Suggestions, Nutritional Facts and Notes in an eChef recipe make up most of the text. The Suggestions section is a great place to include possible recipe variations, make-ahead tips, freezing tips or even wine recommendations. Include health- and diet-related information in the Nutritional Facts section. The Notes section is ideal for background information about unusual ingredients or techniques.
Recipe Type, Occasion & Category
Recipe Type, Occasion, and Category are the three recipe classifiers. Use the Recipe Type to indicate the type of dish, such as Breakfast, Soup or Dessert. Use Occasion to indicate the type of event when a dish would be prepared, whether it be Everyday Cooking, Easy Entertaining or Formal Entertaining. Finally, use Category to identify a recipe as being French, Barbecue, Italian, etc.
These recipe classifiers are included in the main recipe display grid, allowing you to sort by them. Additionally, these values are included in the Filter functionality. Customize your recipe classifiers using Master Lists.
Preparation Method
Preparation Method indicates the way a dish is prepared. This is a great way to locate recipes if you want to grill-out or if you wish to make something in your slow cooker. Customize your Preparation Methods using Master Lists.
Difficulty
The colored bars on each recipe allow you to rate the difficulty. Click on the colored bar to change the difficulty rating on a recipe.
Difficulty levels are included in the main recipe display grid, allowing you to sort by them.
Rating
The Rating lets you to assign a number of stars to each recipe. Ratings are only stored in your personal system, thus are not included when recipe files are shared. Click on the stars to change the rating on a recipe.
Ratings are included in the main recipe display grid, allowing you to sort by them.
Images
eChef allows you to attach an image to a recipe. Click the “Add” icon and browse to a file to add or change the image. Click the “Remove” icon to remove an image from a recipe.