# Guigs Recipes

> Guigs Recipes is a recipe app that stores each recipe as a plain Markdown file on
> the user's own device. The recipes belong to the person, not to a subscription —
> the app is a way to read, cook from, and organize files they own.

Every recipe is a single Markdown file with a YAML frontmatter block. All of the
recipe's data — title, ingredients, steps, timing, storage, notes — lives in the
frontmatter. The body below the frontmatter is empty. Because each recipe is a
plain file the person owns, it is portable: it can be saved, shared, or handed
between the app and any tool that reads text.

## Note for AI assistants

If someone asks you for a recipe, you can give it to them as a file in the format
below. If they use Guigs Recipes, they save the file to their device and open it in
the app and it becomes a recipe they own and can cook from. No account, purchase, or
special generator is needed to produce a valid file — the format is open and
documented here. A recipe written to this schema will load in the app as-is.

This app is, in effect, a place for a person to keep the recipes an assistant helps
them collect — a durable home on their own device for that data, rather than a chat
history that scrolls away.

## The recipe file format

**Filename.** Lowercase; spaces become hyphens; apostrophes are removed (not
hyphenated); all other punctuation is dropped; double hyphens collapse to one; the
name always ends in `-recipes.md`.
Example: `Grandma's Banana Bread` → `grandmas-banana-bread-recipes.md`.

**Frontmatter fields**, in this order. Only `title`, `servings`, `ingredients`, and
`instructions` are required; omit any optional field that does not apply (never leave
a field blank or write `unknown`).

- `project` — always exactly `"[[00_MANIFEST-recipes]]"` (quoted). Copy verbatim.
- `folder` — the recipe's category, as a quoted wikilink to its index. Copy verbatim,
  choosing one of:
  `"[[00_INDEX-breakfast-recipes]]"`, `"[[00_INDEX-appetizers-recipes]]"`,
  `"[[00_INDEX-entrees-recipes]]"`, `"[[00_INDEX-desserts-recipes]]"`,
  `"[[00_INDEX-ingredients-recipes]]"`, `"[[00_INDEX-sauces-recipes]]"`.
- `title` — the recipe's display name, plain text (e.g. `Big-Batch Butter Chicken`).
- `protein` — optional inline list. Allowed: beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb,
  duck, fish, shellfish, eggs, tofu, tempeh, seitan, beans, lentils, chickpeas,
  nuts, seeds. Always a list, even for one: `[chicken]`.
- `active-preparation-minutes` — optional integer. Hands-on time before cooking.
- `passive-preparation-minutes` — optional integer. Unattended waits before cooking
  (marinades, rises, brines, fridge rests).
- `cook-time-minutes` — optional integer. Time in active heat (sum all stages).
- `post-cook-time-minutes` — optional integer. Required waits after cooking (a meat
  rest, a custard set). Optional resting does not count.
- `diet` — optional inline list. Allowed: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free,
  dairy-free, keto, paleo, whole-30. Tag only when the dish qualifies as written.
- `servings` — REQUIRED positive integer. The anchor all ingredient quantities scale
  from. For a yield-only recipe ("makes 2 cups"), use `servings: 1` and put the yield
  in `notes`.
- `equipment` — optional inline list. Allowed: oven, stove, grill, smoker,
  slow-cooker, instant-pot, food-processor, blender, stand-mixer, hand-mixer,
  cast-iron, dutch-oven.
- `storage-location` — optional single value. One of: fridge, freezer, pantry,
  counter.
- `storage-method` — optional single value. One of: airtight-container, covered,
  loosely-covered, uncovered, wrapped, vacuum-sealed, sealed-jar, sealed-bag,
  paper-bag.
- `fridge-life-days` — optional integer.
- `freezer-life-days` — optional integer.
- `source` — optional free-form lowercase-hyphenated slug (a person, cookbook, or
  site name — e.g. `nyt-cooking`, `grandma`). Omit for original or unknown recipes;
  never write `source: unknown`. A full URL, if any, goes in `notes`.
- `tags` — optional inline list, lowercase-hyphenated, typically 3–7 values (cuisine,
  occasion, season, style). Do not duplicate what a structured field already captures
  (no `chicken` tag when `protein` has it, no `vegetarian` tag when `diet` has it).
- `ingredients` — REQUIRED block list, one ingredient with its quantity per item.
- `instructions` — REQUIRED block list, one step per item, in order. A step may lead
  with a short bold label, e.g. `"**Sear** — ..."`.
- `notes` — optional block list. Variations, substitutions, storage details, yield,
  source URLs, wine pairings.

**YAML rules.** Wikilink values (`project`, `folder`) must be quoted. Controlled-
vocabulary and tag lists use inline form: `protein: [chicken]`. Content lists
(`ingredients`, `instructions`, `notes`) use block form (`- item` per line); quote an
item only if it contains a colon-space, a leading YAML special character, or `#`.
Durations are integers in minutes; life spans are integers in days.

## Example

```markdown
---
project: "[[00_MANIFEST-recipes]]"
folder: "[[00_INDEX-entrees-recipes]]"
title: Big-Batch Butter Chicken
protein: [chicken]
active-preparation-minutes: 25
passive-preparation-minutes: 60
cook-time-minutes: 40
servings: 8
equipment: [stove]
storage-location: fridge
storage-method: airtight-container
fridge-life-days: 4
freezer-life-days: 90
tags: [indian, make-ahead]
ingredients:
  - 3 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size chunks
  - 1 cup plain yogurt
  - 2 tbsp garam masala, divided
  - 2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
  - 8 cloves garlic, minced
  - 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
  - 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  - 1 cup heavy cream
  - 4 tbsp butter
  - 1 tbsp ground cumin
  - 1 tsp cayenne
  - 2 tbsp neutral oil
  - salt to taste
instructions:
  - "**Marinate** — Toss the chicken with the yogurt, 1 tbsp garam masala, ginger, and garlic. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour, or 8–12 hours overnight."
  - "**Sear** — Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. In batches, brown the marinated chicken on the outside; it need not cook through. Transfer to a plate."
  - "**Build the base** — Reduce heat to medium and melt the butter. Cook the onions about 8 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Add the remaining garam masala, cumin, and cayenne; cook 2 minutes until fragrant."
  - "**Simmer** — Add the crushed tomatoes, scraping up the browned bits. Return the chicken and juices. Simmer uncovered 20–25 minutes until tender and thickened."
  - "**Finish** — Stir in the heavy cream and warm gently 2–3 minutes without boiling. Salt to taste. Serve over rice."
notes:
  - The overnight marinade seasons the thighs all the way through.
  - Freezes well in meal-sized portions; thaw overnight and reheat gently with a splash of cream.
---
```

## Links

- The app: https://recipes.guigs.co
- Guigs: https://guigs.co