I used to use for recipes and notes, windows notepad. I simply stored the notes in folders which were categorized like filing cabinet drawers. However as my recipe collection grew I had to find a solution with search capability.
The program I now use and high recommend, is a free form database, it works like I do without any structure or you can structure the info any way you want.
TreeDBNotes Pro or you can use the free version
The program mentioned can do a lot of different things, you can set up recipes, store spread sheets, contacts, record projects. with different key words to make locating things recipes easily. Personally I don't bother with the key words because the text search is fast. The big thing about mytreedbnotes is the flexibility, you can have no structure for entering your recipe just a blank page like windows notepad, or you can create your own templates to enter info the way you want it structured. Also read where I had a failure and all my files were ok even though I couldn't open the primary, the myTDBn does auto back beautifully.
I store all my passwords and login info to over 3 dozen forums I am a member of. All my online money acct info, ebay, paypall, checking, etc. I run 2 websites, with 4 other sites that act as either backup or testing and all the account info and the structure for those sites is cataloged using myTDn.
You can download the free trial version and use it for as long as you like to see if it works for you. You can import all your text recipes with the folder structure used in the tree.
I hope this is a possible solution.
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I used to use text notes via windows notepad, I had lots of folders like :
salads
salsa
sauces
seafood
sides
soup-chowders
stocks
with the individual note pad recipe in the appropriate folder. But eventually things got a little difficult because I would store the recipe and then have difficulty locating a specific recipe because I forgot the name and it may have been a shrimp recipe but it was actually a shrimp salad filed under salads.
Thus I needed a program that would allow me to use pictures, import my text files, be free form since that is the way I like to work, plus I wanted it for all my internet browsing for other topics, i.e. bbq & smoking meat, or I'm a serious poker player so things I learned about poker, store all my online access info (passwords, email addr, account info, etc.), how about contact management, and other projects.
The answer for me was
TreeDBNotes Pro - Notes, Contacts and Password Manager. I used the trial free version for about 2 months and liked it, and paid the $34.95 price.
Years ago I used to use a great program,
NYC "Now Your Cooking" . It sells for $30 for free upgrades, it does so many things for the cook, including helping you shop more efficiently. In fact it was too much.
If you just want to store your favorite recipes, plan special meals, jot some notes, then myTreeDB is a better solution. PLUS, great support, and a support forum that can provide some help if you need it. I have been using myTreeDBnotes for about a year, no problems, however just this past week, something happened on my computer and I'm not sure what, but everything is acting very slow. Well mytreedbnotes died, I couldn't open any of the 4 or 5 DBs that I have. So I had to reinstall the DB application, but after install it would not open my DBs in the main DB folder. AGONY, a couple of thousand recipes gone......... NO! I had the DB program setup for autobackup on another hard drive, there were all my DBs safe, and I just loaded a backup and saved it as the original and back in business.
Below is an image of TreeDBnotes this tab is for planning a special event meal, and over the coarse of the year I collect ideas then make my decisions.
Using the same program, I store all my internet security info. I run a web site, and forum with 2 backups on different sites, and all the login/setup/technical info is all in this DB program. You can store various types of documents, like word, excel. The program has its own table and text formating if you want to use that. BUT the real thing is SEARCH, I now can search on a key ingredient or name and find everywhere it is listed, in the DB.
