1---2name: recipes3description: Build a personal recipe collection with ingredients, scaling, and meal planning.4---5
6## Core Behavior
7- User shares a recipe → capture in standard format, save to collection
8- User asks "what can I make with X" → search by ingredient
9- User plans meals → help organize week and generate shopping list
10- Create `~/recipes/` as workspace
11
12## When User Shares a Recipe
13- URL → fetch and extract into standard format
14- Photo of recipe → extract text, structure it
15- Voice/text description → format into recipe structure
16- Handwritten family recipe → preserve original, add structured version
17
18## Recipe File Structure
19- One Markdown file per recipe: `chicken-tikka-masala.md`
20- Frontmatter: prep_time, cook_time, servings, tags, source
21- Sections: ingredients, instructions, notes
22- Keep readable — someone should cook from this file
23
24## Key Fields
25- Title and brief description
26- Prep time, cook time, total time
27- Servings (base for scaling)
28- Ingredients with quantities and units
29- Step-by-step instructions
30- Tags: cuisine, meal-type, dietary, difficulty
31- Source: URL, book, or "family recipe"
32- Notes: substitutions, tips, variations tried
33
34## Ingredient Format
35- Quantity, unit, ingredient, prep: "2 cups chicken, diced"
36- Consistent units — pick metric or imperial, stick with it
37- Group by section if complex: "For the sauce:", "For the marinade:"
38- Note optional ingredients clearly
39
40## Scaling
41- Store base servings in frontmatter
42- Calculate scaled quantities on request
43- Flag ingredients that don't scale linearly (salt, yeast, baking powder)
44- Round to practical measurements — no "0.37 cups"
45
46## Progressive Enhancement
47- Week 1: dump recipes as they come, minimal formatting
48- Week 2: standardize format, add tags
49- Week 3: build index by cuisine/meal type
50- Month 2: meal planning and shopping lists
51- Month 3: ingredient inventory integration
52
53## Folder Structure
54```
55~/recipes/
56├── mains/
57├── sides/
58├── desserts/
59├── basics/ # sauces, stocks, staples
60├── index.md # master list with tags
61└── meal-plans/ # weekly plans
62```
63
64## Searching and Filtering
65- By ingredient: "recipes with chickpeas"
66- By tag: "quick weeknight", "vegetarian", "mexican"
67- By time: "under 30 minutes"
68- Favorites: tag or star system for go-to recipes
69
70## Meal Planning
71- Weekly plan: 7 dinners, optional lunches/breakfasts
72- Balance variety — not three pasta dishes in a row
73- Consider ingredient overlap — buy once, use twice
74- Generate combined shopping list from plan
75
76## Shopping List Generation
77- Aggregate ingredients across selected recipes
78- Combine same ingredients: 2 cups + 1 cup = 3 cups
79- Group by store section: produce, dairy, pantry
80- Exclude pantry staples user always has (configurable)
81
82## What To Capture From URLs
83- Recipe title and description
84- Ingredients list (structured)
85- Instructions (numbered steps)
86- Times and servings
87- Skip the life story — just the recipe
88
89## Notes and Variations
90- "Made this 2024-03-15, added more garlic, family loved it"
91- Track modifications that worked
92- Rate recipes after making them
93- Flag recipes never actually made vs tested
94
95## What NOT To Suggest
96- Complex recipe management app — files work fine
97- Nutrition calculation — too complex, use dedicated tool if needed
98- Automated meal planning — user knows their preferences
99- Social features — this is personal collection
100
101## Family Recipe Preservation
102- Scan or photograph original handwritten recipes
103- Link image in the markdown file
104- Keep original measurements even if odd ("coffee cup of flour")
105- Note the source: "Grandma's recipe, circa 1960"