diff --git a/.claude/CONTEXT.md b/.claude/CONTEXT.md
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+# KitchenMD — Domain Glossary
+
+A living glossary of canonical terms for this project.
+Implementation details belong in specs or code, not here.
+
+---
+
+## Annotation
+
+An inline sigil-based marker embedded in recipe prose that carries structured data.
+There are exactly three annotation types: **Ingredient**, **Cookware**, and **Timer**.
+An annotation is valid Markdown plain text — it does not break rendering in Obsidian or any standard Markdown renderer.
+Annotations follow CommonMark's inline processing rules: parsed wherever CommonMark processes inline content (paragraphs, headings, list items, blockquotes); ignored wherever CommonMark treats content as literal (code spans, code blocks, HTML comments, raw HTML blocks).
+
+## Ingredient Annotation
+
+Syntax: `@name{quantity}` or `@name{quantity unit}`
+
+The `{` character terminates the name, so multi-word names work without escaping.
+The `{}` wrapper is mandatory — bare `@name` without braces is not valid.
+Quantity is optional; `@black pepper{}` is valid with no quantity.
+Valid quantity formats: integer (`2`), decimal (`0.5`), simple fraction (`1/2`), mixed number (`1 1/2`).
+Unit is optional and free-form — the format places no constraints on what unit string is written.
+When both quantity and unit are present, they are delimited by the last space inside the braces — so `@butter{1 1/2 tbsp}` parses as quantity `1 1/2`, unit `tbsp`.
+Valid name characters: any character except `{`, `}`, `@`, `$`, `~`.
+
+## Cookware Annotation
+
+Syntax: `$name{}`, `$name{quantity}`, or `$name{quantity unit}`
+
+Same `{`-terminated name rule as Ingredient.
+The `{}` wrapper is mandatory.
+Quantity is optional; `$pan{}` is valid with no quantity.
+Quantity and unit follow the same rules as Ingredient: valid formats are integer, decimal, simple fraction, mixed number; unit is free-form; delimited by the last space inside the braces.
+Valid name characters: any character except `{`, `}`, `@`, `$`, `~`.
+
+## Timer Annotation
+
+Syntax: `~N unit` or `~N-N unit`
+
+No braces.
+The `~` sigil is followed immediately by a number or `N–N` range, a space, then a time unit word from the known set.
+N follows the same format rules as ingredient/cookware quantity: integer, decimal, simple fraction, or mixed number.
+Supports natural range syntax: `~10-15 mins`.
+In range form, the `-` separator follows the first quantity expression — since negative quantities don't exist, the `-` is unambiguous. `~1/2-1 hr` parses as a range of 1/2 hr to 1 hr.
+The annotation terminates after the unit word — trailing prose is ignored. `~1 min more` parses as a timer of 1 min; "more" is plain text.
+Known unit set (aliases → canonical abbreviation): `sec`, `secs`, `second`, `seconds` → `s`; `min`, `mins`, `minute`, `minutes` → `min`; `hr`, `hrs`, `hour`, `hours` → `hr`.
+
+## Recipe File
+
+A valid `.md` file that may contain any combination of Obsidian Flavored Markdown, YAML frontmatter, and Annotations.
+The file renders correctly in Obsidian without a plugin.
+A Recipe File contains prose instructions only — there is no separate ingredients list section.
+Ingredients are derived entirely by the Parser from inline Ingredient Annotations.
+
+## Step
+
+The atomic unit of a recipe instruction.
+A step is a single non-empty line in a prose context, or a single ordered list item.
+Headings are not steps.
+Step numbers are section-local — they reset at each heading and do not change when steps are added to other sections.
+
+## Combined Recipe
+
+A Recipe File whose purpose is to sequence steps from two or more other Recipe Files.
+It contains no steps or ingredients of its own — only Step References in the order they should be executed.
+
+## Step Reference
+
+A KitchenMD extension of Obsidian transclusion syntax for embedding a specific step from another Recipe File.
+
+Syntax:
+- `![[filename#section-heading:N]]` — step N within a named section.
+- `![[filename#N]]` — step N in a headingless recipe (bare number, no section prefix).
+
+- `filename` — the Recipe File to reference (no `.md` extension, matching Obsidian wikilink convention).
+- `section-heading` — the heading text of the section containing the step.
+- `N` — the 1-based step number within that section or file.
+
+Examples:
+- `![[italian meatballs#rolling:2]]` — second step of the "rolling" section.
+- `![[basic brine#2]]` — second step of a headingless recipe.
+
+This syntax is a compatibility break with vanilla Obsidian: `#section:N` does not match any Obsidian heading anchor, so Step References will not render correctly without KitchenMD tooling.
+
+## Frontmatter
+
+YAML metadata block at the top of a Recipe File (standard `---` delimiters).
+The parser passes frontmatter through as-is with no schema enforcement.
+Consumers are responsible for reading whatever fields they need.
+
+## Sigil
+
+The single punctuation character that opens each annotation type:
+- `@` — Ingredient
+- `$` — Cookware
+- `~` — Timer
+
+## Parser
+
+The TypeScript library (`@kitchen-md/core`) that accepts a Recipe File string and returns a structured data object.
+It is a pure function of its input string — no filesystem access.
+
+## Structured Output
+
+The data object returned by the Parser for a given Recipe File.
+Shape is not yet fully specified — see open questions below.
+
+---
+
+## Open / Unresolved
+
+- **Structured Output shape** — exact fields, types, and nesting of the parse result.
+- **Unit normalisation** — the parser should normalise known aliases to a canonical abbreviation (`grams` → `g`, `kilograms` → `kg`); exact alias table and canonical forms are TBD. This is a parser concern, not a format constraint.
diff --git a/.claude/adr/0001-step-reference-syntax.md b/.claude/adr/0001-step-reference-syntax.md
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+# ADR 0001 — Step Reference Syntax
+
+**Status**: Accepted
+
+## Context
+
+KitchenMD supports Combined Recipes: files whose sole purpose is to sequence steps from two or more other Recipe Files into a single cooking order (e.g. "penne alla vodka + italian meatballs").
+To express this, a Combined Recipe needs to embed specific steps from other files — not entire files or sections, but individual lines of instruction.
+
+Obsidian's existing transclusion syntax (`![[file#heading]]`) transclude a section from heading to the next heading.
+It has no native concept of step-level granularity.
+
+Two approaches were considered:
+
+**Option A — Extend Obsidian's anchor syntax with a `:N` suffix**
+`![[file#section:N]]` for a named section, `![[file#N]]` for a headingless recipe.
+The `:N` part is a KitchenMD-specific extension; vanilla Obsidian does not recognise it and renders an "unable to find" error for the anchor.
+
+**Option B — Use Obsidian block references**
+Obsidian supports `![[file#^blockid]]` to transclude a specific block.
+Authors would manually assign block IDs to every step (e.g. `^step-1`, `^step-2`).
+This is valid Obsidian syntax and would render correctly without KitchenMD tooling.
+
+## Decision
+
+**Option A** — extend Obsidian's anchor syntax with `:N` for section-scoped steps and bare `#N` for headingless recipes.
+
+## Rationale
+
+Option B (block references) requires authors to manually annotate every step with a block ID, which is tedious, error-prone, and pollutes the source file with machine IDs (`^step-1`) that are meaningless to human readers.
+The authoring cost is too high for a format designed to be written naturally.
+
+Option A requires no author effort beyond normal recipe writing.
+Step numbers are derived automatically by the parser from document structure.
+The compatibility cost is acceptable: vanilla Obsidian renders a visible "unable to find" error rather than silently corrupting content, so the break is obvious and recoverable.
+Combined Recipes are a specialised document type — authors who create them are expected to use KitchenMD tooling.
+
+Step numbers are **section-local** (reset at each heading) rather than global, so adding or removing steps in one section does not renumber steps in other sections and does not break existing Step References elsewhere.
+
+## Consequences
+
+- Combined Recipe files will not render correctly in vanilla Obsidian without the KitchenMD plugin; they will show "unable to find" errors for step anchors.
+- Individual Recipe Files (non-combined) are unaffected — they contain no Step References and render correctly in vanilla Obsidian.
+- The KitchenMD parser and future Obsidian plugin must implement step counting to resolve `![[file#section:N]]` and `![[file#N]]` references.
diff --git a/SPEC.md b/SPEC.md
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+# KitchenMD Language Specification
+
+KitchenMD is [Obsidian Flavored Markdown](https://help.obsidian.md/obsidian-flavored-markdown) with three inline annotation extensions (**Ingredient**, **Cookware**, **Timer**) and one structural extension (**Step Reference**).
+A KitchenMD file is a valid `.md` file and renders correctly in Obsidian without a plugin.
+
+---
+
+## Base language
+
+[Obsidian Flavored Markdown](https://help.obsidian.md/obsidian-flavored-markdown) is itself a superset of CommonMark.
+All Obsidian Flavored Markdown constructs are valid and carry their standard meaning: headings, paragraphs, lists, blockquotes, code spans, fenced code blocks, links, wikilinks (`[[page]]`), transclusion (`![[page]]`), YAML frontmatter, and so on.
+
+YAML frontmatter (standard `---` delimiters) is passed through as-is.
+The format places no schema on frontmatter fields; consumers read whatever fields they need.
+
+---
+
+## Annotations
+
+Annotations are inline markers that carry structured data about ingredients, cookware, and timers.
+They are written as plain text and do not conflict with any CommonMark syntax.
+
+### Scope
+
+Annotations are processed wherever CommonMark processes inline content:
+
+- **Parsed**: paragraphs, headings, list items, blockquotes
+- **Ignored**: code spans, fenced/indented code blocks, HTML comments, raw HTML blocks
+
+### No escape mechanism
+
+A bare `@` or `$` not followed by a valid annotation pattern is passed through as plain text — no backslash escape is needed.
+For `~`, the restricted unit vocabulary (see Timer) prevents false positives.
+
+---
+
+## Ingredient
+
+```
+@name{} 
+@name{quantity}
+@name{quantity unit}
+```
+
+**Sigil**: `@`
+
+**Name**: everything between `@` and `{`.
+Valid characters: any character except `{`, `}`, `@`, `$`, `~`.
+Multi-word names work naturally: `@unsalted butter{30 g}`.
+
+**Braces**: mandatory. Bare `@name` without braces is not a valid annotation.
+
+**Quantity**: optional. Valid formats:
+- Integer: `2`
+- Decimal: `0.5`
+- Simple fraction: `1/2`
+- Mixed number: `1 1/2`
+
+**Unit**: optional, free-form string.
+When both quantity and unit are present, they are delimited by the **last space** inside the braces.
+`@butter{1 1/2 tbsp}` → quantity `1 1/2`, unit `tbsp`.
+
+**Examples**:
+```
+@eggs{2}
+@flour{200 g}
+@unsalted butter{30 g}
+@butter{1 1/2 tbsp}
+@black pepper{}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Cookware
+
+```
+$name{}
+$name{quantity}
+$name{quantity unit}
+```
+
+**Sigil**: `$`
+
+**Name**: same rules as Ingredient — any character except `{`, `}`, `@`, `$`, `~`.
+
+**Braces**: mandatory.
+
+**Quantity**: optional. Follows the same format rules as Ingredient quantity (integer, decimal, fraction, mixed number).
+
+**Unit**: optional, free-form. Same last-space delimiter rule as Ingredient.
+
+**Examples**:
+```
+$mixing bowl{}
+$non-stick frying pan{}
+$plate{3}
+$cupcake liner{12 large}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Timer
+
+```
+~N unit
+~N-N unit
+```
+
+**Sigil**: `~`
+
+**Number (N)**: follows the same format rules as Ingredient/Cookware quantity (integer, decimal, simple fraction, mixed number).
+
+**Range**: two quantities separated by `-`. Since negative quantities do not exist, the `-` is unambiguous.
+`~1/2-1 hr` → range of 1/2 hr to 1 hr.
+
+**Unit**: one word from the known set, normalised to its canonical abbreviation:
+
+| Written | Canonical |
+|---------|-----------|
+| `sec`, `secs`, `second`, `seconds` | `s` |
+| `min`, `mins`, `minute`, `minutes` | `min` |
+| `hr`, `hrs`, `hour`, `hours` | `hr` |
+
+A `~` followed by a number but not a known unit word is not a valid annotation and passes through as plain text.
+
+**Termination**: the annotation ends after the unit word. Trailing prose is ignored.
+`~1 min more` → timer of 1 min; "more" is plain text.
+
+**Examples**:
+```
+~1 min
+~2-3 mins
+~1.5 hrs
+~1/2-1 hr
+```
+
+---
+
+## Recipe structure
+
+A KitchenMD file is prose instructions only.
+There is no separate ingredients list section.
+Ingredients, cookware, and timers are derived entirely by tooling from inline annotations.
+
+---
+
+## Steps
+
+A **step** is the atomic unit of a recipe instruction.
+Steps are counted by tooling; authors write naturally without numbering them.
+
+A step is one of:
+- A single non-empty line in a prose context (paragraph or heading body).
+- A single ordered list item.
+
+Headings are not steps.
+Step numbers are **1-based** and **section-local**: they reset at each heading and do not change when steps are added to other sections.
+
+---
+
+## Step References
+
+A Step Reference embeds a specific step from another Recipe File.
+It is used in Combined Recipes to sequence steps across files.
+
+```
+![[filename#section:N]]   (step N within a named section)
+![[filename#N]]            (step N in a headingless recipe)
+```
+
+- `filename` — the target Recipe File, without the `.md` extension.
+- `section` — the heading text of the section containing the step, exactly as written (case-sensitive).
+- `N` — the 1-based step number within that section.
+
+**Examples**:
+```
+![[italian meatballs#rolling:2]]
+![[basic brine#3]]
+```
+
+### Combined Recipes
+
+A Combined Recipe is a Recipe File that contains only Step References (and optionally frontmatter and prose headings for organisation).
+It has no annotations of its own — ingredients and timers belong to the referenced recipes.
+Its purpose is to define the execution order of steps across two or more recipes, such as an index card for a multi-component meal.
+
+**Compatibility note**: Step References are a KitchenMD extension.
+Vanilla Obsidian does not recognise `#section:N` or `#N` as valid anchors and will show an "unable to find" error.
+Individual (non-combined) Recipe Files are unaffected.
+
+---
+
+## Formal grammar (ABNF sketch)
+
+```abnf
+ingredient  = "@" name "{" [quantity [SP unit]] "}"
+cookware    = "$" name "{" [quantity [SP unit]] "}"
+timer       = "~" quantity SP time-unit
+
+name        = 1*(any-char)
+any-char    = %x00-7E except "{" / "}" / "@" / "$" / "~"
+
+quantity    = mixed-number / fraction / decimal / integer
+integer     = 1*DIGIT
+decimal     = 1*DIGIT "." 1*DIGIT
+fraction    = integer "/" integer
+mixed-number = integer SP fraction
+
+time-unit   = "sec" / "secs" / "second" / "seconds"
+            / "min" / "mins" / "minute" / "minutes"
+            / "hr"  / "hrs"  / "hour"   / "hours"
+
+timer-range = "~" quantity "-" quantity SP time-unit
+
+step-ref-sectioned  = "![[" filename "#" section ":" step-num "]]"
+step-ref-headingless = "![[" filename "#" step-num "]]"
+filename    = 1*(any-char)
+section     = 1*(any-char except ":" / "]")
+step-num    = 1*DIGIT
+```
+
+> Note: `unit` in ingredient/cookware is free-form and not captured in the grammar above.
+> The last-space rule applies at parse time: everything after the last space inside `{}` is the unit; everything before it is the quantity.
diff --git a/fixtures/basic.md b/fixtures/basic.md
index 0de8a05..b74d899 100644
--- a/fixtures/basic.md
+++ b/fixtures/basic.md
@@ -10,18 +10,7 @@ source: https://example.com/pancakes
 A simple weekend breakfast that comes together in minutes.
 Pairs well with [[maple syrup]] or fresh fruit from the [[farmers market]].
 
-## Ingredients
-
-- @flour{200 g}
-- @milk{300 ml}
-- @eggs{2}
-- @unsalted butter{30 g}
-- @baking powder{1 tsp}
-- @salt{0.5 tsp}
-
-## Method
-
-### Batter
+## Batter
 
 Sift @flour{200 g} and @baking powder{1 tsp} into a $mixing bowl{} along with @salt{0.5 tsp}.
 Make a well in the centre and crack in @eggs{2}.