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Recipe Book template

A recipe book ChatGPT and Claude can read

Your best recipes are spread across screenshots, bookmarks and an old notebook. Ask ChatGPT or Claude what to cook and you get recipes nobody in your house has made. This template gives your own recipes one folder that both assistants read, with rules for how to save them.

Start with this template

Create a free account. Setup connects your assistant and gives you the template prompt.

Already connected? Copy the template link
https://hjarni.com/templates/recipe-book

Copy this URL and paste it into Claude or ChatGPT to install the template.

What you can ask

Once your assistant is connected, try these in ChatGPT or Claude.

  • “Save this recipe to my Recipe Book: [paste a link]”

    Your AI saves the ingredients, steps, times and source link in one format, in the right meal folder. Its folder rules say not to guess missing details, so give it a quick check.

  • “What can I make from my Recipe Book with chickpeas, spinach and half a lemon?”

    It checks the recipes you saved and names the ones that fit.

  • “Plan four weeknight dinners from my Recipe Book. Vegetarian, nothing over 30 minutes.”

    It reads the prep and cook times you saved, picks four that fit, and can write the shopping list.

  • “We made the chickpea bowl again. Add to the note: double the lemon next time.”

    The tweak goes into the recipe note, where the next chat can find it.

How to use

  1. 1 Connect your assistant. Start with this template to create a free account and connect ChatGPT or Claude. Already connected? Copy the link above.
  2. 2 Ask your AI to set it up. Send the template prompt from setup, or this page’s link, to your connected assistant. It creates the folders, tags, and instructions.
  3. 3 Save a note and try it in a new chat. Add something useful, then ask your assistant to check Hjarni and retrieve it. The template is a starting point for your own material.

Structure

Tags

vegetarian quick-meal comfort-food meal-prep

Folders

Recipe Book
Recipes organized by meal type
Has AI instructions
Breakfast
Morning meals and brunch ideas
Has AI instructions
Lunch
Midday meals and light bites
Has AI instructions
1 starter note
Dinner
Evening meals and main courses
Has AI instructions
Desserts
Sweets, baking, and treats
Has AI instructions
Snacks & Sides
Side dishes, appetizers, and snacks
Has AI instructions

Common questions

Common questions

Does this work in both ChatGPT and Claude?

Yes. Your recipes live in your Hjarni knowledge base, and both assistants read it through the official MCP server. Connect each one once and they share the same recipe book.

Do I need to add all my recipes first?

No. Start with the one you cook most. Add the rest as you cook them. Paste a link or the recipe text and your AI saves it in the template's format.

Will my AI make up quantities or oven temperatures?

The folder instructions tell it to save only what the source says and to leave gaps empty. It can still slip, so check a recipe before you rely on it.

Where do I put dietary rules?

In the Recipe Book folder instructions. Write them once, like "vegetarian, no mushrooms". Your AI gets them whenever it reads that folder. Mention your Recipe Book when you ask, so it checks the folder first.

Can I see what my AI changed in a recipe?

Yes. Every note keeps its history. You can read each edit and restore an earlier version.

For your AI

Share this page with your AI. It reads the definition below, creates the folders, instructions, tags, and starter notes in your account.

Show template definition

Install steps for AI agents:

  1. Check existing tags with tags-list. Only create missing ones with tags-create.
  2. Create containers top-down using containers-create, noting the returned IDs. Use parent_id to build the hierarchy.
  3. For each container with llm_instructions, call instructions-update with level: "container" and the container's ID.
  4. Create any seed notes using notes-create, placing them in the correct container by ID. Use container_path to resolve which container.
  5. Discuss any customizations with the user before or after installing.
---
name: Recipe Book
description: 'Save recipes from URLs or conversations, organized by meal type. Then
  ask ChatGPT or Claude what to cook with what is in your fridge.

  '
tags:
- vegetarian
- quick-meal
- comfort-food
- meal-prep
containers:
- name: Recipe Book
  description: Recipes organized by meal type
  llm_instructions: |
    This container is a recipe collection.
    - Search within this template before creating a new recipe. If a recipe already exists for the same dish, update it instead of creating a duplicate.
    - Use the dish name as the note title.
    - Structure the note body with these sections when information is available: Summary, Ingredients, Instructions, Prep Time, Cook Time, Servings, Notes, Source.
    - Keep ingredients as bullet points and instructions as numbered steps.
    - Tag with relevant categories from this template when they fit: vegetarian, quick-meal, comfort-food, meal-prep.
    - Save any shared URL in source_url.
    - If the user shares a URL and the recipe details are accessible, extract the recipe faithfully. If details are missing, save what is known and do not invent quantities, temperatures, or times.
    - Ask one concise clarifying question when the intended meal category or missing core ingredients are unclear.
  children:
  - name: Breakfast
    description: Morning meals and brunch ideas
    llm_instructions: |
      Use this folder for breakfast and brunch recipes.
      - Place recipes here when they are primarily morning meals.
  - name: Lunch
    description: Midday meals and light bites
    llm_instructions: |
      Use this folder for lunch recipes.
      - Place recipes here when they are primarily salads, sandwiches, soups, or other midday meals.
  - name: Dinner
    description: Evening meals and main courses
    llm_instructions: |
      Use this folder for dinner recipes.
      - Place recipes here when they are main dishes or evening meals.
  - name: Desserts
    description: Sweets, baking, and treats
    llm_instructions: |
      Use this folder for desserts and baking.
      - Place recipes here when they are sweet dishes, baked goods, or treats.
  - name: Snacks & Sides
    description: Side dishes, appetizers, and snacks
    llm_instructions: |
      Use this folder for sides, appetizers, and snack recipes.
      - Place recipes here when they are not intended as the main meal.
  notes:
  - title: Crispy Chickpea Bowl
    body: |
      **Summary:** A fast grain bowl with roasted chickpeas, greens, and a lemony yogurt sauce.

      **Ingredients:**
      - 1 can chickpeas
      - 2 cups cooked rice
      - 2 cups greens
      - 1 cup chopped cucumber
      - 1/2 cup yogurt
      - 1 lemon

      **Instructions:**
      1. Roast the chickpeas until crisp.
      2. Warm the rice and prepare the vegetables.
      3. Mix yogurt with lemon juice and salt.
      4. Assemble the bowl and serve.

      **Prep Time:** 10 minutes
      **Cook Time:** 25 minutes
      **Servings:** 2

      **Notes:** Easy to batch for weekday lunches.

      This is an example note - feel free to delete it.
    tags:
    - vegetarian
    - meal-prep
    container_path: Recipe Book > Lunch

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