Skip to content

Recipes Page Documentation

Menu Location: Content > Recipes

Access Level: Manager and above

Last Updated: 2026-03-01

Overview

The Recipes page is the central management tool for creating, editing, and organizing recipe content that appears on your customer-facing website. Well-written recipes enhance customer engagement, provide cooking inspiration, and showcase how to prepare products sold in your subscription boxes.

Primary Functions:

  • Create and edit recipe content
  • Organize recipes by category and tags
  • Manage recipe images and photos
  • Track recipe performance and popularity
  • Feature seasonal or promotional recipes
  • Link recipes to specific products

Page Layout

Header Section

  • Search Bar: Find recipes by name, ingredient, or tag
  • Filter Controls: Filter by category, status, season, or product
  • Action Buttons: Create New Recipe, Bulk Actions, Import Recipes
  • View Toggle: Grid view (with images) or List view (compact)

Recipe List/Grid

Displays all recipes with key information:

  • Recipe title
  • Featured image thumbnail
  • Category badges
  • Status (Published, Draft, Archived)
  • View count
  • Creation/update date
  • Quick action buttons

Pagination

  • Results per page selector
  • Page navigation
  • Total recipe count

Creating a New Recipe

Basic Steps

Quick Start:

  1. Click "Create New Recipe" button
  2. Enter recipe title
  3. Add recipe image
  4. Fill in preparation/cook times
  5. Add ingredients list
  6. Write cooking instructions
  7. Select category and tags
  8. Save as Draft or Publish

Recipe Title

Best Practices:

  • Keep titles clear and descriptive
  • Include key ingredient or dish type
  • Make titles SEO-friendly
  • Examples:
  • "Roasted Root Vegetable Medley"
  • "Quick Summer Tomato Pasta"
  • "Slow Cooker Beef Stew"

Avoid:

  • Vague titles like "Delicious Dinner"
  • Overly long titles (keep under 60 characters)
  • ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation

Recipe Description

Write compelling descriptions that:

  • Describe the dish's flavor profile
  • Mention key ingredients
  • Highlight what makes recipe special
  • Set expectations (difficulty, time, servings)
  • Include dietary information if relevant

Example: "This hearty vegetarian chili combines organic black beans, sweet potatoes, and fire-roasted tomatoes for a warming meal perfect for cold winter nights. Ready in just 30 minutes!"

Recipe Images

Image Requirements:

  • Minimum resolution: 1200x800 pixels
  • Format: JPG or PNG
  • File size: Under 2MB (for web performance)
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2 recommended

Photography Tips:

  • Use natural lighting when possible
  • Show finished dish prominently
  • Include garnish/styling
  • Consider lifestyle shots (people enjoying meal)
  • Ensure images are appetizing and on-brand

Upload Process:

  1. Click "Upload Image" button
  2. Select image file from computer
  3. Crop/resize if needed
  4. Add alt text for accessibility
  5. Save image

Ingredients Section

Format Guidelines:

  • One ingredient per line
  • Include quantity, unit, and ingredient name
  • List in order of use
  • Group by recipe section if complex recipe

Good Examples:

  • 2 cups organic cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Features:

  • Drag and drop to reorder ingredients
  • Link ingredients to products in your store
  • Mark optional ingredients
  • Add ingredient notes (e.g., "or substitute...")

Instructions Section

Writing Clear Instructions:

  • Number each step
  • Use action verbs (Chop, Sauté, Mix, Bake)
  • Keep steps concise and focused
  • Include time estimates for longer steps
  • Specify cooking temperatures
  • Define doneness indicators

Example Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread in single layer on baking sheet.
  3. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until vegetables are golden and tender.
  4. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

Advanced Features:

  • Add step images (optional but helpful)
  • Include timer buttons for each step
  • Add video links for complex techniques

Timing Information

Fields to Complete:

  • Prep Time: Time for chopping, measuring, mixing (minutes)
  • Cook Time: Active cooking time (minutes)
  • Total Time: Prep + cook + any resting time
  • Servings: Number of portions (adjustable)

Example:

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Servings: 4

Difficulty Level

Select appropriate level:

  • Easy: Simple techniques, few ingredients, minimal equipment
  • Medium: Some cooking skills required, moderate time commitment
  • Hard: Advanced techniques, precise timing, specialized equipment

This helps customers choose recipes matching their skill level

Dietary Information

Tag recipes appropriately:

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Nut-Free
  • Low-Carb
  • Paleo
  • Keto

Multiple tags allowed - Recipe can be both Vegan and Gluten-Free

Categorizing Recipes

Recipe Categories

Common Categories:

  • By Meal Type: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Desserts
  • By Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  • By Protein: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Seafood, Vegetarian
  • By Cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean
  • By Cooking Method: Slow Cooker, Grilled, Baked, One-Pot
  • By Occasion: Weeknight Dinners, Holiday Meals, Party Food

Assign Multiple Categories: A recipe can belong to multiple categories. For example:

  • "Grilled Chicken Salad" ’ Dinner, Summer, Chicken, Grilled

Recipe Tags

Tagging Best Practices:

  • Use specific ingredient tags (tomatoes, basil, chicken breast)
  • Add preparation method tags (quick, make-ahead, freezer-friendly)
  • Include dietary tags (covered above)
  • Use seasonal tags (summer produce, winter warming)
  • Add product linking tags (matches specific box items)

Example Tag Set: Recipe: "Summer Vegetable Pasta" Tags: pasta, tomatoes, zucchini, vegetarian, quick, summer, weeknight-dinner, farm-box-recipe

Recipe Status Management

Draft Status

Use for:

  • Recipe still being written
  • Awaiting approval
  • Testing in progress
  • Seasonal recipes not yet ready to publish

Draft recipes:

  • Not visible on public website
  • Accessible only to admins
  • Can be edited freely
  • No SEO impact

Published Status

Published recipes:

  • Live on website
  • Searchable by customers
  • Indexed by search engines
  • Included in recipe collections
  • Can still be edited (changes appear immediately)

Before Publishing, Verify:

  • All fields completed
  • Recipe tested and accurate
  • Images are high quality
  • No typos or errors
  • Proper categorization
  • Product links working

Archived Status

Archive recipes when:

  • Seasonal recipe is out of season
  • Featured product no longer available
  • Recipe being replaced with updated version
  • Content needs to be preserved but hidden

Archived recipes:

  • Removed from public display
  • Preserved in admin system
  • Can be reactivated later
  • Useful for seasonal rotation

Product Linking

Why Link Recipes:

  • Customers can add recipe ingredients to cart
  • Boost product discovery
  • Increase average order value
  • Provide context for how to use products
  • Create seamless shopping experience

Linking Process:

  1. In recipe editor, find "Linked Products" section
  2. Click "Add Product"
  3. Search for product by name
  4. Select product from dropdown
  5. Specify which ingredient(s) this product represents
  6. Save

Example: Recipe: "Caprese Salad" Linked Products:

  • Organic Cherry Tomatoes (1 pint)
  • Fresh Mozzarella (8 oz)
  • Fresh Basil (1 bunch)
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil (bottle)

Customer Experience: Customer viewing recipe sees "Add ingredients to cart" button that adds all linked products.

Featuring Recipes

Set featured recipe:

  1. Open recipe to feature
  2. Check "Feature on Homepage" checkbox
  3. Save recipe
  4. Recipe appears in prominent homepage position

Best Practices:

  • Feature seasonal recipes
  • Rotate featured recipes weekly
  • Align with current product availability
  • Tie to promotions or holidays
  • Use stunning photography for featured recipes

Recipe Collections

Create Curated Collections:

  • "Quick Weeknight Dinners" (under 30 mins)
  • "Fall Harvest Favorites" (seasonal)
  • "Customer Top Picks" (most viewed)
  • "New This Month" (recent additions)
  • "Box Meal Plans" (full week's recipes using box contents)

Collection Management:

  1. Create new collection
  2. Add title and description
  3. Select recipes to include
  4. Order recipes (drag and drop)
  5. Publish collection
  6. Collection appears on recipe section of website

Recipe Performance Tracking

Metrics Displayed

For Each Recipe:

  • Views: How many times recipe was viewed
  • Engagement: Time spent on page, scroll depth
  • Product Clicks: Clicks on linked products
  • Conversions: Products added to cart from recipe
  • Social Shares: Shares on social media
  • Print Count: Times recipe was printed

Use Metrics To:

  • Identify most popular recipes
  • Understand customer preferences
  • Optimize future recipe content
  • Measure ROI of recipe program
  • Inform product development

View Top Performers:

  1. Click "Popular Recipes" report button
  2. Select date range
  3. Review top 20 recipes by views
  4. Analyze patterns (cuisine type, difficulty, ingredients)
  5. Create more content similar to top performers

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Create Seasonal Recipe for Current Box Contents

Goal: Write recipe using products in this week's subscription box

Steps:

  1. Review current week's box contents
  2. Click "Create New Recipe"
  3. Enter recipe title featuring main ingredient
  4. Write recipe using 3-5 items from current box
  5. Add compelling photos of finished dish
  6. Link to products in current box
  7. Tag as "farm-box-recipe" and current season
  8. Publish immediately
  9. Feature on homepage
  10. Email to subscribers highlighting recipe

Tip: Create 2-3 recipes per week to give variety

Use Case 2: Import Recipes from External Source

Goal: Batch upload recipes from spreadsheet or previous system

Steps:

  1. Click "Import Recipes" button
  2. Download CSV template
  3. Fill template with recipe data
  4. Include all required fields
  5. Upload completed CSV
  6. Review import preview
  7. Confirm import
  8. System creates draft recipes for all entries
  9. Review and edit each recipe
  10. Publish when ready

Use Cases:

  • Migrating from old website
  • Importing chef's recipe collection
  • Adding partner/vendor recipes

Use Case 3: Update Recipe for Product Availability

Goal: Modify recipe when featured product is out of stock

Steps:

  1. Search for recipe by product name
  2. Open recipe for editing
  3. Add substitution note to ingredient
  4. Update linked product to in-stock alternative
  5. Adjust recipe title if needed (e.g., "Strawberry Salad" ’ "Berry Salad")
  6. Add admin note explaining change
  7. Save changes
  8. Changes appear on website immediately

Example: Strawberries out of season ’ substitute blueberries or mixed berries

Use Case 4: Create Holiday Recipe Collection

Goal: Curate recipes for Thanksgiving holiday

Steps:

  1. Click "Create Collection"
  2. Title: "Thanksgiving Feast from the Farm"
  3. Description: Seasonal, local ingredients for holiday table
  4. Search recipes by tags: "holiday", "fall", "thanksgiving"
  5. Add 10-12 recipes covering:
    • Appetizers (2)
    • Main dishes (3)
    • Sides (4)
    • Desserts (3)
  6. Order recipes logically (appetizers first)
  7. Set collection to publish 3 weeks before holiday
  8. Feature collection on homepage
  9. Email collection to subscribers
  10. Track engagement through holiday

Use Case 5: Feature Customer-Submitted Recipe

Goal: Add recipe submitted by customer to website

Steps:

  1. Review customer submission (usually via email)
  2. Test recipe to verify it works
  3. Click "Create New Recipe"
  4. Enter recipe details from customer submission
  5. Take professional photos of prepared dish
  6. Add credit: "Recipe courtesy of [Customer Name]"
  7. Link to relevant products
  8. Categorize appropriately
  9. Publish recipe
  10. Email customer to notify them recipe is live
  11. Consider sending customer store credit as thank you

Benefits: User-generated content, customer engagement, community building

Troubleshooting

Recipe Images Not Displaying

Symptoms:

  • Broken image icon on website
  • Image shows in admin but not on site

Solutions:

  1. Check image file size (should be under 2MB)
  2. Verify image format is JPG or PNG
  3. Re-upload image
  4. Clear website cache
  5. Check file permissions on server
  6. Verify image URL is correct

Common Causes:

  • File too large
  • Incorrect file format
  • Caching issue
  • Broken file path

Recipe Not Appearing on Website

Symptoms:

  • Recipe shows as Published in admin but not visible to customers

Check:

  1. Verify status is "Published" not "Draft"
  2. Confirm recipe is assigned to at least one category
  3. Check publish date isn't set to future
  4. Clear website cache
  5. Verify recipe isn't marked as "Admin Only"
  6. Check if website has recipe page enabled

Common Causes:

  • Still in Draft status
  • Publish date in future
  • Cache not cleared
  • Missing category assignment

Symptoms:

  • Clicking product in recipe doesn't add to cart
  • Product link shows error

Solutions:

  1. Verify product still exists and isn't deleted
  2. Check product is In Stock
  3. Re-link product in recipe
  4. Test product link after re-linking
  5. Check if product requires subscription vs. one-time purchase
  6. Verify product ID hasn't changed

Workaround: Remove broken link and add new link to current product

  • Recipe Categories (recipe-categories.php) - Manage recipe categories
  • Recipe Approval (recipe-approval.php) - Review submitted recipes
  • Products (products.php) - Link recipes to products
  • Media Library (media-library.php) - Manage recipe images
  • Email Templates (email-templates.php) - Email recipes to customers

Typical Workflow:

  1. Recipes page ’ Create new recipe
  2. Media Library ’ Upload recipe photos
  3. Products ’ Link products to recipe
  4. Recipe Categories ’ Assign categories
  5. Recipe ’ Publish
  6. Email Templates ’ Create "Recipe of the Week" email

Permissions & Access

Required Access Level: Manager or higher

Access Level Capabilities:

  • Manager: Create, edit, publish recipes; manage categories
  • Administrator: All Manager + delete recipes, bulk operations, import
  • Kiva Admin: All features + technical settings, API access

Restricted Features:

  • Delete Recipes: Requires Administrator
  • Bulk Import: Requires Administrator
  • Recipe API Settings: Requires Kiva Admin

Best Practices

Content Quality

  1. Test every recipe before publishing
  2. Use clear, concise instructions - avoid ambiguity
  3. Include visual aids - photos for complex steps
  4. Write for your audience - match skill level of customers
  5. Proofread carefully - typos damage credibility

SEO Optimization

  1. Use descriptive titles with key ingredients
  2. Write compelling meta descriptions
  3. Include alt text for all images
  4. Link internally to related recipes
  5. Use structured data (recipe schema markup)

Product Integration

  1. Link recipes to available products only
  2. Update links when products change
  3. Feature recipes during product promotions
  4. Create recipes highlighting seasonal products
  5. Track conversion from recipes to purchases

Engagement

  1. Publish new recipes regularly (at least weekly)
  2. Rotate featured recipes to showcase variety
  3. Create themed collections for holidays and seasons
  4. Encourage customer submissions
  5. Share recipes across social media

Organization

  1. Use consistent categorization
  2. Tag thoroughly for discoverability
  3. Archive out-of-season recipes (don't delete)
  4. Maintain recipe library organization
  5. Review and update old recipes periodically

Things to Avoid

  • L Publishing untested recipes
  • L Using low-quality or stock photos
  • L Writing vague or confusing instructions
  • L Featuring recipes with unavailable products
  • L Neglecting dietary information and allergen warnings
  • L Copying recipes from other sources without permission
  • L Letting recipe content go stale (update regularly)

Quick Reference Card

Task Action/Location
Create new recipe Click "Create New Recipe" button
Edit existing recipe Click recipe title in list
Upload recipe image Recipe editor > "Upload Image" button
Add ingredient Recipe editor > Ingredients section > "Add Ingredient"
Link product to recipe Recipe editor > "Linked Products" > "Add Product"
Publish recipe Recipe editor > Status: "Published" > Save
Feature on homepage Edit recipe > Check "Feature on Homepage"
Create recipe collection Click "Create Collection" button
Import multiple recipes Click "Import Recipes" > Upload CSV
View recipe performance Recipe list > Metrics column
Search recipes Use search bar at top of page
Filter by category Select category from filter dropdown

FAQs

Can customers submit their own recipes?

Yes, if enabled on your website. Customer submissions appear in Recipe Approval queue for review before publishing. You can edit, approve, or reject submissions.

How many recipes should I have on my website?

Start with 20-30 quality recipes covering various meal types and difficulty levels. Add 2-4 new recipes monthly. Focus on quality over quantity.

Should I include nutrition information?

If possible, yes. Many customers appreciate nutritional data. Use a nutrition calculator or software to generate accurate information. Always include allergen warnings.

Absolutely. Link to all ingredients sold in your store. Customers can add all ingredients to cart with one click.

What happens to recipes when a product is discontinued?

Update recipe to link to replacement product, or archive recipe if no suitable replacement exists. Don't delete recipes - archive them for future reference.

Can I schedule recipes to publish on specific dates?

Yes, set a future publish date when creating or editing recipe. Recipe automatically goes live on that date.

How do I credit a recipe source or author?

Add a "Recipe courtesy of [Name]" note in the recipe description or footer. For customer submissions, always credit the contributor.

Should I include recipe videos?

Videos greatly increase engagement if you have resources. Start with a few popular recipes. Even simple smartphone videos of key steps help.

Can I print recipe cards for customers?

Yes, include a "Print Recipe" button. The print version formats nicely for customers to use in the kitchen.

How do I handle recipe variations (substitutions)?

Include a "Notes" or "Substitutions" section at the end of recipe listing common variations (dairy-free option, protein swap, etc.).

End of Documentation

For additional help, contact your system administrator or Kiva Logic support.