THE SPECTRUM dons a white hat and apron in a new program from Bug-Byte, The Computer Cookbook. The package comprises two cassettes, the first containing a menu planner and the second details of recipes.

It is difficult to see how anyone would prefer loading a lengthy program to obtain a recipe rather than opening a cookbook but Bug-Byte thinks otherwise and employed a respected freelance chef, Ian Hoare, to provide a series of recipes for dishes both traditional and exotic.

The recipes are reasonably clear, if necessarily brief, given memory limitations. One useful feature is the facility to determine the correct quantities for any number of people up to 200.

The menu planner is of rather more interest, permitting you to choose a meal based on the size of your purse or the ingredients in your store cupboard.

When all is said and done the program remains a souped-up database.

Genuine cooks would do better to buy a general-purpose filing program and use it to store their favourite recipes.

Chris Bourne

Memory: 48K Price: £9.50