KitchenBuddy

Project Overview

KitchenBuddy is a web-based cooking assistant that allows users to navigate and execute recipes using voice commands. Built with Flask and integrated AI capabilities, the application provides an interactive, hands-free cooking experience. It supports voice recognition, intelligent recipe guidance, and a fully searchable recipe library, making it particularly useful for users seeking convenience, accessibility, or multitasking in the kitchen.

Objective

The primary goal of KitchenBuddy is to enhance the cooking experience by providing voice-enabled, AI-powered assistance that allows users to follow recipes without touching a screen. The application supports both traditional and voice-only usage modes, delivering seamless interaction in real-time.

Tools and Technologies

• Backend: Flask (Python)
  
  

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap
  
  

• Database: PostgreSQL (persistent in production), SQLite (optional for development)
  
  

• Voice Interface: SpeechRecognition, pyttsx3
  
  

• Natural Language Processing: spaCy
  
  

• AI Integration: OpenAI API (for context-aware assistant responses)
  
  

• Deployment Platform: Railway
  
  

Key Features

• Voice Command Control: Users can navigate recipes by saying commands like “next step,” “repeat,” or “set timer for 10 minutes.”
  
  

• AI Cooking Assistant: The assistant provides context-aware responses to help users better understand and follow instructions.
  
  

• Voice-Only Mode: A dedicated interface for fully voice-driven operation, ideal for hands-free environments.
  
  

• Admin Dashboard: Recipe management and user control via a protected admin panel.
  
  

• Recipe Library: Includes over 20 pre-loaded popular recipes with detailed steps and dietary information.
  
  

• Database Initialization: Quick setup through a dedicated route (/populate_all) that creates the admin user and populates the recipe library.