> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trysouschef.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Keep a private cooking journal in Souschef

> Log what you cooked with notes and photos. Journal is a private cooking diary tied to a date and optionally to a recipe.

export const SUBSCRIPTION_ENABLED = false;

{SUBSCRIPTION_ENABLED ? (
<a href="/billing/free-plan" className="help-availability-badge">
  <Badge icon="circle-check" color="green" shape="pill">
    Included in Free plan
  </Badge>
</a>
) : (
<span className="help-availability-badge">
  <Badge icon="circle-check" color="green" shape="pill">
    Free
  </Badge>
</span>
)}

This feature is included in the free version of Souschef.

<div className="flex justify-center my-8">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/nekonote-llc/XuA-guXAxwzbRNF5/images/mascots/mitten-made-from-scratch.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=XuA-guXAxwzbRNF5&q=85&s=d65331c3cad83a76bff92ebe4fed1109" alt="Sous the cat ready to cook, oven mitten on" className="help-illustration" width="1722" height="1403" data-path="images/mascots/mitten-made-from-scratch.webp" />
</div>

Recipes get saved. The cooking itself can disappear. Journal is a private cooking diary for “I made this, here’s what I’d do next time.” Capture a note, photos, or both, tied to a date and optionally to a recipe.

<Note>
  Journal requires you to be signed in. Entries are private to your account and
  are not shared with collaborators.
</Note>

## Add a journal entry

You can start an entry from a few places:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Journal">
    Go to the **Planner** tab and tap **Journal**.

    <Info>
      📸 Screenshot needed: Planner tab showing the Journal calendar.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Or add from a recipe">
    Open a saved recipe and tap the **journal** icon or **Add journal**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Or add after cooking">
    After you finish **Step by Step** in [Cooking Mode](/using/cooking-mode), Souschef may ask **Add to Journal?** You can skip this prompt.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What to include

Write a note, add up to **3 photos** from your camera or library, or both. Attach a saved recipe if you want, or skip that and log a freeform cook.

Set when you cooked it: **today**, **yesterday**, or another day.

<Info>
  📸 Screenshot needed: journal composer with a note, photo slots, optional
  recipe, and date picker.
</Info>

<Warning>
  If you leave without saving, unsaved writing and photos are discarded.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  The recipe is optional. If you attach one and later delete it from your
  library, the title still stays on the journal entry.
</Tip>

## Browse your journal

The Journal calendar shows a month at a time:

* Days with photos show a picture
* Text-only days show a small dot
* Today is outlined

Open a day or a recipe to flip through entries, then edit or delete them.

<Info>
  📸 Screenshot needed: month calendar with a photo day, a text-only day, and
  today outlined.
</Info>

***

## Still need help?

If you have questions or run into anything unexpected, our team is happy to help. [Contact support](/troubleshooting/contact-support)

***

**Related articles**

* [How to use Cooking Mode](/using/cooking-mode)
* [Plan weekly meals](/using/meal-planner)
* [Organize & Search](/using/organize-and-search)