Double a recipe with a click and get a shopping list, too

Alicia Shea's recently conceived website is the offspring of 25 years of dinner parties and thousands of hours logged in front of a computer. Based in her Belmont kitchen, cookingwithalicia.com offers an array of dishes ; some a re throwback s (American chop suey), others perennial favorites (banana bread). But you have to start somewhere, and if boiling water seems daunting, a series of clicks will show you dicing, slicing, and more.

A full-time techie for more than 30 years, Shea, 57, is a self-proclaimed "cook and geek." Now she has converted her zeal for the stove and the mouse into an online tutorial for rookies. Her photographer is her husband , Kevin.

This isn't a blog, but rather a website for cooking. There are no photos of refrigerator contents, ramblings about last night's dinner, or what's in a local farmers' market. Shea's site is a carefully engineered tool that combines many kitchen reference manuals into one user-friendly spot.

But it's not yours to navigate for free. Interested culinarians subscribe for $9.99 per month. Though you can go onto the site to look at recipes and photographs, accessibility is limited without a subscription. Membership comes with a weekly e-mail and access to more recipes.

Shea's computer expertise is obvious when you navigate the site. The strength is in unique technical features. Recipes seem to be a compilation of decades of clippings, more Rachael Ray than Martha Stewart. But the site has a dowdy look, and photographs are amateurish, not nearly as alluring as dozens of similar sites. Nevertheless, you'll never be left guessing what to do.

Users can hunt for recipes in a number of ways. Say you want to make something easy, an entirely vegetarian menu, or you've got loads of zucchini on hand. You can search the database that way. Shea also has a feature that does your math. Double or halve a dish with just one click.

The most practical feature is the shopping list, a handy tool for new cooks or anyone who lacks the time and desire to stroll through a supermarket in search of inspiration. Decide what you want to make, click on "I'm done. Create my shopping list now," and the site compiles ingredients from selected recipes, grouping similar items and arranging them in the order in which they can be found at most markets. A drawback is that ingredient totals are not cumulative : You may need 4 cups of milk for your menu, but your shopping list calls for 1 cup, 2 cups, 1 cup, rather than 1 quart.

You can also choose how brief or in-depth a recipe should go. Each homepage has a photo of the finished dish and a series of concise directions, sufficient for some. For less - skilled cooks, there is no lack of step-by-step photos.

At my stove, mac and cheese did not live up to the reputation of its more famous boxed cousin; it lacked creamy cheesiness.

Old family recipes are a highlight of Shea's desserts. Pecan butter ball cookies were fragile, but Shea had alerted readers that they would be. One sideways glance and these delicious sweets would have crumbled into a heap.

Hundred corner shrimp balls are an example of the depth of the sidebars. Confused about ginger? A pop-up describes what it is and where to find it, as well as appropriate substitutes, including dried or crystallized ginger. From there, another link takes you to a lesson on grating ginger. Because Shea recommends using a Microplane grater , another window introduces the user to this former carpenter's tool. And in case a purchase is necessary, you'll see a link to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, so your very own Microplane will be on the doorstep in no time.

What Shea lacks in sophistication, she makes up for in details and motherly hand-holding in the kitchen.