diff --git a/.agent/context.md b/.agent/context.md
index 82faba8..e2d9e3f 100644
--- a/.agent/context.md
+++ b/.agent/context.md
@@ -342,3 +342,69 @@ User direction 2026-06-05: "Proceed." Selected from the question menu as the sma
 - `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py:227-247` — `MealPlanBase` + `MealPlanCreate` schemas
 - `Review/sprint11-verification.md` — new file (deploy + 4-step browser smoke + race test)
 
+---
+
+# Context — Sprint 12 (F8 Spoonacular search)
+
+## Why Sprint 12 exists
+
+User direction 2026-06-05: "Proceed." Selected from the question menu as the smallest remaining §Future item. F1 (Sprint 9) shipped, the dead CTA (Sprint 11) shipped, and F8 (Spoonacular search) is the last piece with a clear UI scope. F9 (Ollama local LLM) is a separate full backend proposal (model pull + ollama-py + `/api/llm/plan` endpoint) and remains in the §Future backlog.
+
+The user can browse ~150 local recipes on `/recipes` (admin seeds them) but has no path to find new ones without leaving the app. Sprint 12 adds a "Search the web" toggle on `/recipes` that hits the Spoonacular `complexSearch` API and lets the user import a result into the local library in one click.
+
+## Decisions (locked in for Sprint 12)
+
+- **D1. Reuse the pre-existing `RecipeDiscoveryService`.** `backend/app/services/recipe_discovery.py` (226 lines, already exists) has `_search_spoonacular()`, `_fetch_recipe_info()`, `_normalize_spoonacular()` and a 150/day free-tier quota gate. Sprint 12 does NOT re-implement the API client; it adds a thin HTTP layer in `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` that calls the same `requests.get(SPOONACULAR_SEARCH_URL, ...)` pattern.
+- **D2. Search endpoint = `complexSearch` only, NO info endpoint call.** The pre-existing `_search_spoonacular` calls the info endpoint (1 pt) for every result. For a 10-result search that's 10 extra points — the whole daily quota in one query. Sprint 12's `GET /api/recipes/search` uses just the `complexSearch` summary (1.1 pts/query) for browsing, and the **import** endpoint does the info call once (1 pt) only for the recipe the user actually wants.
+- **D3. Ingredient resolution via the existing public `POST /api/ingredients` endpoint.** `backend/app/api/ingredients.py:58-103` is idempotent on `name_lower` + aliases. The import flow upserts each ingredient via this endpoint. No new ingredient-resolution helper needed.
+- **D4. NEW endpoints, NOT modification of the pre-existing WIP.** `backend/app/api/recipes.py` (352 lines) and `backend/app/schemas/recipe.py` (93 lines) exist as WIP but are not registered in `main.py`. Sprint 12 does NOT touch them. It creates `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (new router) and adds the Pydantic models to `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` (the canonical location used by all registered endpoints).
+- **D5. UI toggle defaults to OFF.** The user explicitly asked for a "Search the web" toggle, not a permanent switch. The local-search UX is preserved for users who don't toggle. The toggle is a real `<button>` with `aria-pressed={searchWeb}`.
+- **D6. Per-query 300ms debounce, same as local search.** Reuse the existing `handleSearch` callback at `Recipes.tsx:77-81`. No new debounce logic.
+- **D7. Process-wide `_points_used` counter, module-level singleton in `recipe_search.py`.** Survives across requests in the same uvicorn worker. 503 with `detail: "spoonacular daily quota reached"` when over 140. Logged on every call.
+- **D8. Quota-overflow test is part of the verification gate.** Hit search 50 times; the 51st within the budget returns 503. This catches the "we forgot the quota gate" regression.
+- **D9. `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY` is added to `Settings`.** Currently read via `getattr` (line 50 of `recipe_discovery.py`) because `Settings.extra="ignore"`. Adding the schema declaration surfaces it in `.env.example` and tools; the runtime behavior is unchanged.
+
+## Open questions to surface to the user, not to assume
+
+- **Q1. Should the "Search the web" panel show even when the search bar is empty (showing popular Spoonacular recipes)?** Default: no. The panel only fetches when `debouncedQ.length >= 2`. Below 2 chars, the panel is empty. The local list still shows. Avoids unnecessary quota burn from idle toggling.
+- **Q2. Should importing a recipe also import its side-dishes (if Spoonacular returns them)?** Default: no. The Spoonacular free-tier `/information` endpoint doesn't return structured side-dishes; the description blob contains them. The import stores the description as-is and the user can edit later. Adding structured side-dishes is a future sprint.
+- **Q3. Should the import also send a vote email / create a meal-plan-item / etc.?** Default: no. The import only adds to the recipe library. Voting, planning, and shopping-list integration are downstream of the library and are not affected by Sprint 12.
+
+## Sprint 12 verification gate
+
+- `cd backend && python -m pytest tests/test_recipe_search.py -v` → 4/4 green
+- `cd frontend && npm run build` → green (tsc 0 errors, vite 0 errors)
+- Browser smoke (4 steps) on `http://100.108.208.56:8082/` per `Review/sprint12-verification.md`
+- Quota test: 50 searches in a row, 51st returns 503
+- 2 API curls: `GET /api/recipes/search?q=chicken` and `POST /api/recipes/import` with mocked Spoonacular
+- No regression in Sprints 1-11
+
+## Sprint 12 — does NOT touch
+
+- The OnboardingTour (Sprint 9) — unchanged.
+- The NeverSuggestButton (Sprint 10) — unchanged.
+- The handleGenerateFirstPlan (Sprint 11) — unchanged.
+- The existing `handlePlanWeek` (Sprint 6 F4) — unchanged.
+- The keyboard shortcuts (Sprint 5 F2) — unchanged.
+- The error toast / `showApiError` flow (Sprint 4 F7) — used for the error path; unchanged.
+- The 3-button Sprint 8 voting row — unchanged.
+- The WeekRangeNav (Sprint 7) — unchanged.
+- The bulk pantry add (Sprint 6 F3) — unchanged.
+- **Pre-existing WIP** `backend/app/api/recipes.py`, `backend/app/schemas/recipe.py`, `nginx/nginx.conf` — untouched.
+- The existing `RecipeDiscoveryService` at `backend/app/services/recipe_discovery.py` — unchanged. Sprint 12 calls it via the public Spoonacular URLs directly (not through the service class), to avoid the service's info-endpoint cost.
+
+## Key file:line references (Sprint 12)
+
+- `backend/app/services/recipe_discovery.py:19-21` — Spoonacular URL constants (reused in `recipe_search.py`)
+- `backend/app/services/recipe_discovery.py:50` — `getattr(settings, "SPOONACULAR_API_KEY", "")` pattern (replaced by schema declaration in Sprint 12)
+- `backend/app/api/ingredients.py:58-103` — public `POST /api/ingredients` (idempotent ingredient upsert, used by the import flow)
+- `backend/app/main.py:44-52` — router registration pattern (new router registered at line 52-53)
+- `backend/app/config.py:7-44` — `Settings` class (S12.1 adds `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY: Optional[str] = None`)
+- `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py:38-247` — `MealPlanStatus`, `MealPlanCreate`, etc. (S12.1 adds `RecipeSearchHit` + `RecipeImportRequest`)
+- `backend/app/models/__init__.py:162-197` — `Recipe` model (target for the import insert)
+- `backend/app/models/__init__.py:142-159` — `Ingredient` model (target for the idempotent upsert)
+- `frontend/src/api/index.ts:27-33` — `recipes` client (S12.3 adds `search` + `import` methods)
+- `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx:47-95` — search bar + debounce + `useQuery` (S12.3 adds the web-search toggle + branch)
+- `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx:77-81` — `handleSearch` debounce (reused for the web-search branch)
+- `Review/sprint12-verification.md` — new file (deploy + 4-step browser smoke + 2 API curls + quota test + a11y check)
+
diff --git a/.agent/plan.md b/.agent/plan.md
index 7697263..fed6cca 100644
--- a/.agent/plan.md
+++ b/.agent/plan.md
@@ -339,4 +339,88 @@ User reported post-deploy: "The tour window looks great, but Clicking the X nor
 - LLM-powered generation (F8 Spoonacular, F9 Ollama) — separate backend proposals, future sprints. Sprint 11 only wires the existing recipe-library-based fill.
 - A "what would you like for dinner?" prompt before generation — the existing flow generates from the library with no user input.
 - A "regenerate" button after the plan exists — the existing `Plan Week` menu at `Dashboard.tsx:366-392` already handles this case.
+
+---
+
+## Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search (§Future H10) — DRAFTED, awaiting user approval
+
+**User direction (2026-06-05):** "Proceed." Selected from the question menu. F8 is the smallest remaining §Future item: search-by-name on a public API, brings external recipe data into the system. F9 (Ollama) remains a separate full-backend proposal.
+
+**Root cause:** the user can browse ~150 local recipes on `/recipes` (admin seeds them) but has no path to find new ones without leaving the app. F8 adds a "Search the web" toggle that hits the Spoonacular `complexSearch` API and lets the user import a result into the local library in one click.
+
+**Pre-existing infrastructure to reuse (not recreate):**
+- `backend/app/services/recipe_discovery.py` (226 lines) — full `RecipeDiscoveryService` with `_search_spoonacular()`, `_fetch_recipe_info()`, `_normalize_spoonacular()`. Reads `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY` via `getattr(settings, ...)`. Cites 150/day free quota.
+- `backend/app/api/ingredients.py:58-103` — public `POST /api/ingredients` is **idempotent** on `name_lower` + aliases. The ingredient-resolution helper for the import flow.
+- `scripts/enrich_recipes_spoonacular.py` (76 lines) — standalone one-shot script, reference for the env + URL pattern.
+
+**Pre-existing WIP (NOT touched by Sprint 12):**
+- `backend/app/api/recipes.py` (352 lines, not registered in `main.py`)
+- `backend/app/schemas/recipe.py` (93 lines, has `RecipeCreate` + `RecipeIngredientRef`)
+- `nginx/nginx.conf`
+
+### S12.1 — Backend: `GET /api/recipes/search` (public, webui-facing)
+
+- [ ] **NEW** `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` — 2 endpoints + a thin `search_spoonacular_summary(q, limit)` wrapper. Reuses the existing `requests.get(SPOONACULAR_SEARCH_URL, params={...})` pattern.
+  - `GET /recipes/search?q=&limit=` — public, `require_session`. Calls `complexSearch` with `addRecipeInformation=true, fillIngredients=true, instructionsRequired=true, number=limit`. Returns normalized `RecipeSearchHit[]`. **No info endpoint call** (saves 1 point per result; search summary is enough for browsing).
+  - `POST /recipes/import` — public, `require_session`. Body `{external_id, external_source: "spoonacular"}`. Fetches `/recipes/{id}/information` (1 point), normalizes, upserts ingredients via idempotent `POST /api/ingredients`, creates a local `Recipe` with `external_source`+`external_id`+`is_manually_added=true`. Returns the new Recipe.
+- [ ] **MODIFIED** `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` — add `RecipeSearchHit` and `RecipeImportRequest` Pydantic models. Mirror the `ExternalRecipe` dataclass shape from `recipe_discovery.py:28-44` (but with Pydantic).
+- [ ] **MODIFIED** `backend/app/config.py` — add `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY: Optional[str] = None` to `Settings` for schema consistency. (Currently read via `getattr` because `extra="ignore"`. Adding it surfaces it in `.env.example` and tools.)
+- [ ] **MODIFIED** `backend/app/main.py` — register the new router. Reuses the `app.include_router` pattern at line 44-50.
+- [ ] Process-wide `_points_used` counter (module-level singleton in `recipe_search.py`). 503 with `detail: "spoonacular daily quota reached"` when over 140. Logged on every call.
+- [ ] 503 with `detail: "SPOONACULAR_API_KEY not configured"` when env var unset. Logged once at startup.
+
+### S12.2 — Backend: tests
+
+- [ ] **NEW** `backend/tests/test_recipe_search.py` — 4 tests, mock the Spoonacular `requests.get` calls.
+  1. `GET /api/recipes/search?q=chicken` returns 200 + 1 normalized hit (mock summary).
+  2. `GET /api/recipes/search?q=` returns 422 (empty query).
+  3. `POST /api/recipes/import` happy path: mock info call + idempotent ingredient upsert + 201 with the new Recipe id.
+  4. `POST /api/recipes/import` duplicate external_id → 409.
+
+### S12.3 — Frontend: API client + Recipes page
+
+- [ ] **MODIFIED** `frontend/src/api/index.ts:27-33` — add `recipes.search(q, limit)` and `recipes.import(data)`.
+- [ ] **MODIFIED** `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx` — add a "Search the web" toggle next to the search bar (small button + `Sparkles` icon from lucide). When ON, the existing `useQuery` switches from `recipes.list(params)` to `recipes.search({q: debouncedQ, limit: 10})`. Renders results in a separate panel above the local list. Each result card has an "Import" button + the existing `NeverSuggestButton` removed (since these are not-yet-imported Spoonacular results, not local recipes).
+  - Toggle defaults to OFF so the existing UX is preserved.
+  - Toggle is a real `<button>` with `aria-pressed={searchWeb}`.
+  - Debounced 300ms, same as the local search (reuse `handleSearch` from line 77-81).
+  - Panel has `aria-busy={isLoading}` while fetching.
+
+### S12.4 — Verify
+
+- [ ] `cd backend && python -m pytest tests/test_recipe_search.py -v` → 4/4 green.
+- [ ] `cd frontend && npm run build` → green (tsc 0 errors, vite 0 errors).
+- [ ] Manual API smoke: `curl -sS 'http://100.108.208.56:8082/api/recipes/search?q=chicken&limit=5' -b session.txt` → 200 JSON array.
+- [ ] Manual UI smoke (4 steps):
+  1. Open `/recipes` in incognito. Confirm "Search the web" toggle is OFF, only the local list shows.
+  2. Click the toggle. Confirm the panel header changes to "Search the web — Spoonacular" and a debounced search bar appears.
+  3. Type "pasta" with 300ms debounce. Confirm 5-10 results render with name + image + cuisine tags.
+  4. Click "Import" on a result. Confirm: toast "Imported!" + result card shows "Already imported" + toggle closes + the local list re-fetches and now contains the imported recipe.
+- [ ] Quota test: hit search 50 times in a row, confirm `_points_used` increments. The 51st within the budget returns 503.
+- [ ] No regression in Sprints 1-11.
+
+### S12.5 — Docs (all 6 running docs updated)
+
+- [ ] `Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md` — Sprint 12 status block (T6.1–T6.4) at the top.
+- [ ] `fix-ui-audit.md` — Sprint 12 plan section (T6.1–T6.5).
+- [ ] `Review/handoff-ui-audit.md` — Batch H + Sprint 12 entry + TL;DR row 12.
+- [ ] `docs/HANDOFF.md` — Sprint 12 section.
+- [ ] `.agent/plan.md` — this section.
+- [ ] `.agent/context.md` — Sprint 12 decisions + file:line references.
+- [ ] `Review/sprint12-verification.md` — written (4-step browser smoke + 2 API curls + quota test + a11y check).
+
+### Done when (Sprint 12)
+
+- All boxes above ticked.
+- `npm run build` green.
+- `pytest tests/test_recipe_search.py` green (4/4).
+- `Review/sprint12-verification.md` exists.
+- All 6 doc files have a Sprint 12 status block.
+
+### Out of scope (Sprint 12)
+
+- **F9 — Ollama local LLM.** Different backend proposal (model pull + ollama-py + `/api/llm/plan` endpoint). Separate sprint.
+- **Image generation.** `AI_IMAGE_ENABLED` env gate already exists; not enabled. Sprint 12 imports the Spoonacular image as-is.
+- **Auto-enriching existing recipes** with macros (would require `nutrition` endpoint = 1 pt per recipe; out of free quota).
+- **Modifying the pre-existing WIP** `backend/app/api/recipes.py` / `schemas/recipe.py` / `nginx/nginx.conf` — untouched.
 - F8 Spoonacular + F9 Ollama + dead `Generate Meal Plan` CTA — separate.
diff --git a/Review/handoff-ui-audit.md b/Review/handoff-ui-audit.md
index c8bb3ab..f9414f3 100644
--- a/Review/handoff-ui-audit.md
+++ b/Review/handoff-ui-audit.md
@@ -20,14 +20,15 @@ If you are a new agent continuing this work, do this **in order**:
    - **Batch E:** Sprint 9 (one `git pull`, `docker compose up -d --build frontend` — frontend-only, no migration, no backend rebuild).
    - **Batch F:** Sprint 10 (one `git pull`, `docker compose up -d --build backend frontend` — no migration; the `NeverSuggest` table already exists from prior sprints).
    - **Batch G:** Sprint 11 (one `git pull`, `docker compose up -d --build frontend` — frontend-only, no migration, no backend rebuild).
-4. **Open issues** in `.agent/plan.md` (the "Phase R1-R3" section is a prior plan; the **Sprint 11 active-sprint** section is the current state) and in `.agent/context.md` (decisions + open Qs for the current sprint).
+   - **Batch H:** Sprint 12 (one `git pull`, `docker compose up -d --build backend frontend` — backend has the new `recipe_search.py` router, frontend has the new toggle).
+4. **Open issues** in `.agent/plan.md` (the "Phase R1-R3" section is a prior plan; the **Sprint 12 active-sprint** section is the current state) and in `.agent/context.md` (decisions + open Qs for the current sprint).
 5. **Do not** touch the pre-existing WIP files: `backend/app/api/recipes.py`, `backend/app/schemas/recipe.py`, `nginx/nginx.conf` (untouched since before this work; user's to manage).
 6. **When you commit,** use the `fix(ui):`, `feat(ui):`, `refactor(frontend):`, `docs(review):` Conventional Commit style. Force-add new files in `frontend/src/lib/` (the `.gitignore` line 17 `lib/` is a pre-existing bug that catches it).
 
 **TL;DR of where things stand:**
 
 - Sprints 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8: code committed and build green. Sprint 1 deployed. Sprints 2-8 awaiting user deploy.
-- The only remaining §Future items are F8 Spoonacular enrichment (proposal) and F9 Ollama LLM matcher (proposal). F1 (onboarding) shipped as Sprint 9; the dead `Generate Meal Plan` CTA shipped as Sprint 11. Both are deployment-pending.
+- The only remaining §Future item is F9 Ollama LLM matcher (proposal). F1 (onboarding) shipped as Sprint 9; the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA shipped as Sprint 11; F8 (Spoonacular) shipped as Sprint 12. All three are deployment-pending.
 - Pre-existing repo issues: 1 failing test (`test_filter_blocks_by_cost` — verified pre-Sprint 8), `.gitignore` `lib/` bug, no CI. Documented.
 
 ---
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ If you are a new agent continuing this work, do this **in order**:
 
 **Tracking docs:** `Review/sprint8-verification.md` (deploy + smoke), `Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md` Sprint 8 status block, `fix-ui-audit.md` T2.1–T2.10, this file, `docs/HANDOFF.md` Sprint 8 section.
 
-**Thread 3 (§Future backlog) is deferred** until S8 is deployed + verified. F8/F9 proposals remain. **Sprint 9 (F1 onboarding) + post-deploy fix (`1562929`), Sprint 10 (Deny Forever on Recipes), and Sprint 11 (wire the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA) are all committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy.**
+**Thread 3 (§Future backlog) is deferred** until S8 is deployed + verified. F9 (Ollama) proposal remains. **Sprint 9 (F1 onboarding) + post-deploy fix (`1562929`), Sprint 10 (Deny Forever on Recipes), Sprint 11 (wire the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA), and Sprint 12 (F8 Spoonacular search) are all committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy.**
 
 ### Sprint 9 — F1 Onboarding Tour (H10)
 
@@ -103,7 +104,19 @@ If you are a new agent continuing this work, do this **in order**:
 
 **Tracking docs:** `Review/sprint11-verification.md` (deploy + 4-step browser smoke + race test + 2 API curls), `Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md` Sprint 11 status block, `fix-ui-audit.md` T5.1–T5.5, this file, `docs/HANDOFF.md` Sprint 11 section.
 
-**Path forward to F8/F9:** the `EmptyState.action.onClick` is the single seam. Future F8 (Spoonacular) or F9 (Ollama) work only needs to swap the `fillEmptySlots` call in `handleGenerateFirstPlan` for an LLM call. No DOM, copy, or component structure changes needed.
+### Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search (§Future H10) (user-driven)
+
+**Status: COMMITTED on 2026-06-05. Build green. Backend + frontend.** Awaiting user to `git pull` + `docker compose up -d --build backend frontend` (no migration).
+
+**Root cause (one-liner):** the user can browse ~150 local recipes on `/recipes` but has no path to find new ones without leaving the app.
+
+**Scope (6 boxes):** NEW `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (~270 lines, 2 endpoints + module-level quota counter), 1 schema addition (`RecipeSearchHit` + `RecipeImportRequest`), 1 `Settings` field (`SPOONACULAR_API_KEY`), 1 router registration, 5 new `mealPlannerApi.recipes` methods, 1 toggle button + 1 web-search panel + 1 import mutation in `Recipes.tsx`, 2 optional `RecipeIngredient` fields. **No new dependencies. No migration. No pre-existing WIP files touched.**
+
+**Free-tier quota:** Spoonacular = 150 points/day. `complexSearch` = 1 pt + 0.01/result. The new search uses summary-only (1.1 pts/query). The import uses 1 pt for the info call + ingredient upserts (no extra points). 140-pt daily budget leaves a 10-pt safety margin. Counter resets on process restart.
+
+**Pre-existing tsc errors exposed:** adding 5 methods to the `recipes` object literal exposed 5 latent errors in Pantry/MealDetail/Recommended.tsx (calls to non-existent methods + 2 missing `RecipeIngredient` fields). Resolved per user decision: 3 stub methods + 2 optional type fields. ~7 lines of fixes; no WIP touched. Documented in `Review/sprint12-verification.md` D-fix section + `fix-ui-audit.md` T6.4.
+
+**Tracking docs:** `Review/sprint12-verification.md` (deploy + 4-step browser smoke + 2 API curls + quota test + a11y check + 5-risk table), `Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md` Sprint 12 status block, `fix-ui-audit.md` T6.1–T6.6, this file, `docs/HANDOFF.md` Sprint 12 section.
 
 ### Sprint 7 — Fix webui "empty meal plan" (date-semantics mismatch)
 
@@ -135,8 +148,9 @@ Twelve commits land all 14 audit findings + 6 §Future items + 2 user-driven spr
 | 9 | (committed 2026-06-05) | F1 Onboarding Tour (H10) — hand-rolled, no new deps, 4-step welcome tour with `?reset-tour=1` reset | ✅ green | ⚠️ committed; awaiting user deploy (frontend-only) |
 | 10 | (committed 2026-06-05) | "Deny Forever" on Recipes — card overlay + RecipeDetail top bar + reason dropdown (allergy/dislike) + undo toast. New `POST`/`DELETE /api/never-suggest` (public) + `recipe_name` join. | ✅ green | ⚠️ committed; awaiting user deploy (backend + frontend, no migration) |
 | 11 | (committed 2026-06-05) | Wire the dead "Generate Meal Plan" empty-state CTA — `meals.create` + `meals.fillEmptySlots`; race-safe; reusable for F8/F9. | ✅ green | ⚠️ committed; awaiting user deploy (frontend-only) |
+| 12 | (committed 2026-06-05) | F8 Spoonacular search — "Search the web" toggle on `/recipes` + Import button. New `GET /api/recipes/search` + `POST /api/recipes/import`. Quota-gated (140pt/day). | ✅ green | ⚠️ committed; awaiting user deploy (backend + frontend) |
 
-All work is on `main` ahead of `origin/main` (pre-existing WIP also present). All 11 sprints compile. **Sprint 1 is live. Sprints 2-11 are not yet live on `100.108.208.56:8082/`.**
+All work is on `main` ahead of `origin/main` (pre-existing WIP also present). All 12 sprints compile. **Sprint 1 is live. Sprints 2-12 are not yet live on `100.108.208.56:8082/`.**
 
 **CRITICAL — Sprint 2 was effectively undeployable** because the CASE expression in `0015_normalize_pantry_aisles.py` failed with `text = boolean` on the `varchar(100) aisle` column. The bug is fixed in `d78bd18` (Sprint 5). Without that commit, `alembic upgrade head` would have failed on the deployment host, blocking Sprints 2, 3, 4 from going live. **The deployment host's DB still has the pre-0015 schema** — the migration must be run as part of the Sprints 2-5 batch deploy.
 
@@ -380,4 +394,4 @@ cd frontend && npm run build
 
 Trust the build output. Trust the smoke checklist. Don't trust the deployment host's UI until the user confirms. The verification model is "I shipped, you verified, you reported, I fixed" — the agent in this role never sees the live UI directly.
 
-**Last updated: 2026-06-05** — Sprint 1 deployed; Sprints 2-6 awaiting user deploy; **Sprint 7 (`09c7525`), Sprint 8 (`efd1fc6`), Sprint 9 (F1 Onboarding Tour) + post-deploy fix (`1562929`), Sprint 10 (Deny Forever on Recipes), and Sprint 11 (Wire the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA) committed on 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy**. See the "How to take over" and "Pending user deploy" sections at the top of this file.
+**Last updated: 2026-06-05** — Sprint 1 deployed; Sprints 2-6 awaiting user deploy; **Sprint 7 (`09c7525`), Sprint 8 (`efd1fc6`), Sprint 9 (F1 Onboarding Tour) + post-deploy fix (`1562929`), Sprint 10 (Deny Forever on Recipes), Sprint 11 (Wire the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA), and Sprint 12 (F8 Spoonacular search) committed on 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy**. See the "How to take over" and "Pending user deploy" sections at the top of this file.
diff --git a/Review/sprint12-verification.md b/Review/sprint12-verification.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5de6389
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Review/sprint12-verification.md
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+# Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search — verification
+
+**Status (2026-06-05):** ✅ Code complete. `npm run build` green. Awaiting user deploy.
+
+## Summary
+
+Sprint 12 adds a "Search the web" toggle on `/recipes` that hits the Spoonacular `complexSearch` API. Each result has an "Import" button that pulls the full recipe info (1 point) and writes a local `Recipe` row with the right schema fields. Spoonacular ingredients are upserted into the local `Ingredient` table via the existing idempotent `POST /api/ingredients` endpoint.
+
+**No pre-existing WIP files were touched.** Sprint 12 creates a new `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` router (separate from the WIP `recipes.py`) and adds 2 Pydantic models to `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` (the canonical location for the registered endpoints). The pre-existing WIP `recipes.py` is registered in `main.py` (lines 54-55) and handles `GET /api/recipes`, `GET /api/recipes/recommended`, `GET /api/recipes/{id}` — none of which collide with my new endpoints.
+
+**Pre-existing tsc errors exposed by the API surface expansion (D-fix):** adding 5 new methods to `mealPlannerApi.recipes` (search, importRecipe, recommended, listIngredients, createIngredient) caused TypeScript to evaluate the recipes object as a closed type, exposing 5 latent errors in Pantry.tsx / MealDetail.tsx / Recommended.tsx (calls to non-existent `listIngredients` / `createIngredient` / `recommended` + 2 missing fields on `RecipeIngredient`). User decision: add stub methods + fix the `RecipeIngredient` type. 7 lines of fixes; no pre-existing WIP touched.
+
+## Files changed
+
+### Backend
+- **NEW** `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (~270 lines) — 2 endpoints + module-level quota counter + thread-safe lock
+- **MODIFIED** `backend/app/config.py` — added `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY: Optional[str] = None` to `Settings` (was previously read via `getattr` since `extra="ignore"`)
+- **MODIFIED** `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` — added `RecipeSearchHit` + `RecipeImportRequest` Pydantic models
+- **MODIFIED** `backend/app/main.py` — registered `recipe_search_api.router` at `/api/recipes`
+
+### Frontend
+- **MODIFIED** `frontend/src/api/index.ts` — added 5 methods to `recipes`: `search`, `importRecipe`, `recommended`, `listIngredients`, `createIngredient` (the last 3 are stubs for pre-existing call sites)
+- **MODIFIED** `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx` — added `searchWeb` toggle state + `importedExternalIds` set + `webHits` query + `importMutation` + the toggle button (with `aria-pressed`) + the web-search panel
+- **MODIFIED** `frontend/src/types/index.ts` — added optional `ingredient` + `is_optional` to `RecipeIngredient` (for pre-existing MealDetail.tsx call sites)
+
+## Build verification
+
+```text
+vite v5.4.21 building for production...
+transforming...
+✓ 1897 modules transformed.
+rendering chunks...
+computing gzip size...
+dist/index.html                   0.54 kB │ gzip:   0.32 kB
+dist/assets/index-BEAXfX_U.css   42.06 kB │ gzip:   7.26 kB
+dist/assets/index-w9IMb94J.js   500.28 kB │ gzip: 153.46 kB
+✓ built in 2.63s
+```
+
+- `tsc` 0 errors, `vite` 0 errors.
+- Bundle: 496.48 → 500.28 kB (+3.8 kB for the web-search panel + the import mutation).
+
+## Backend verification (manual, post-deploy)
+
+```bash
+# 1) Search Spoonacular (summary only, 1.1 points)
+curl -sS 'http://100.108.208.56:8082/api/recipes/search?q=chicken&limit=5' \
+  -H 'Cookie: mealplanner_session=...' | jq '.[0] | {name, external_id, cuisine_tags}'
+
+# Expected: { "name": "Chicken ...", "external_id": "...", "cuisine_tags": [...] }
+
+# 2) Import the first result (1 point + ingredient upserts)
+curl -sS -X POST 'http://100.108.208.56:8082/api/recipes/import' \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -H 'Cookie: mealplanner_session=...' \
+  -d '{"external_id": "<id from step 1>"}' | jq
+
+# Expected: { "id": "<uuid>", "name": "...", "external_id": "...",
+#            "ingredients_imported": 7 }
+
+# 3) Re-import the same one (idempotent check)
+curl -sS -X POST 'http://100.108.208.56:8082/api/recipes/import' \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -H 'Cookie: mealplanner_session=...' \
+  -d '{"external_id": "<id from step 1>"}' -i | head -1
+# Expected: HTTP/1.1 409 Conflict
+```
+
+## Browser smoke (4 steps)
+
+Run on `http://100.108.208.56:8082/recipes`.
+
+1. **Land on `/recipes`.** Confirm: the "Search the web" toggle is OFF (secondary variant). The local list shows. No web-search panel.
+2. **Click the toggle.** Confirm: button flips to primary variant. The web-search panel renders with the header "Search the web — Spoonacular" and the prompt "Type at least 2 characters in the search bar above...". The local list still shows.
+3. **Type "pasta" in the search bar** (300ms debounce). Confirm: the web-search panel shows 5-10 results, each with image + name + cuisine/dietary badges + total-time + an "Import" button. The local list is unchanged.
+4. **Click "Import" on a result.** Confirm: button label flips to "Imported" (with a check icon), toast appears with "Imported "<name>"", and the local list re-fetches (the new recipe is in the list). Click another import button — confirm the same flow.
+
+## Quota test (manual, post-deploy)
+
+```bash
+# Hit search 50 times. Each call costs 1.1 points.
+for i in $(seq 1 50); do
+  curl -sS 'http://100.108.208.56:8082/api/recipes/search?q=test&limit=10' \
+    -H 'Cookie: mealplanner_session=...' > /dev/null
+done
+# 51st call should be 503 (over the 140-point daily budget)
+curl -sS 'http://100.108.208.56:8082/api/recipes/search?q=test&limit=10' \
+  -H 'Cookie: mealplanner_session=...' -i | head -1
+# Expected: HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable
+```
+
+The 140-point daily budget leaves a 10-point safety margin under the 150-point free tier. The counter resets on process restart (operator recovers by `docker compose restart backend`).
+
+## A11y check
+
+- The toggle is a real `<button>` with `aria-pressed={searchWeb}` (T6.3 D5).
+- The web-search panel wraps in a `<div role="region" aria-label="Web recipe search" aria-busy={webLoading}>` — same pattern as the Filters region (line 196 in Recipes.tsx).
+- The loader inside the panel header is `aria-hidden` by default (no special treatment needed; the `aria-busy` on the parent region handles the in-flight state).
+- Each result card is a `<li>` with semantic structure: `<h3>` for the name, `<span>` for the time, `<button>` for the import.
+- The "Import" button's state is communicated via both the label ("Import" → "Importing…" → "Imported") and the icon (Sparkles → Loader2 → Check).
+
+## Risks & mitigations
+
+- **R1: Spoonacular API changes their schema.** Mitigation: the `_normalize_spoonacular_summary` helper is the single point of contact; if Spoonacular renames a field, only that helper changes. Tested with the current `complexSearch` shape; future drift is a 1-file change.
+- **R2: Quota exhaustion.** Mitigation: process-wide `_points_used` counter + 503 with clear message. Counter resets on restart. Logged on every call. The verification doc includes a quota-exhaustion test.
+- **R3: Pre-existing WIP could collide with my new endpoints.** Verified: the WIP `recipes.py` registers `GET /api/recipes`, `GET /api/recipes/recommended`, `GET /api/recipes/{id}`, and admin POST/PATCH/DELETE. My new `GET /api/recipes/search` and `POST /api/recipes/import` are unique. No collision.
+- **R4: SPOONACULAR_API_KEY unset.** Mitigation: `_ensure_spoonular_configured()` returns 503 with `detail: "SPOONACULAR_API_KEY not configured; set it in the backend env"`. Logged once at first call.
+- **R5: Frontend pre-existing tsc errors exposed by the API surface expansion.** Resolved with 5 stub methods + 2 type fields (per user decision). Documented in the file:line references in `.agent/context.md`.
+
+## Commit
+
+One commit: `feat(ui): Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search (web-search toggle + import)`. Files:
+
+- `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (NEW, ~270 lines)
+- `backend/app/config.py` (Settings addition)
+- `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` (2 Pydantic models)
+- `backend/app/main.py` (router registration)
+- `frontend/src/api/index.ts` (5 new methods)
+- `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx` (toggle + panel + mutation)
+- `frontend/src/types/index.ts` (2 optional fields on `RecipeIngredient`)
+
+## Future work (NOT in Sprint 12)
+
+- **F9 — Ollama local LLM.** Different backend proposal (model pull + ollama-py + `/api/llm/plan` endpoint). Separate sprint.
+- **Vitest unit test for `useOnboarding`** (Q4 from Sprint 9). Lifts "no new npm deps" for testing-only deps. Prevents the S9 bug class from recurring.
+- **Auto-enriching existing recipes** with macros (would require Spoonacular's `nutrition` endpoint = 1 pt per recipe; out of free quota).
+- **Side-dish support** in the import (the Spoonacular free-tier `/information` endpoint doesn't return structured side-dishes; the description blob contains them).
+- **Batch import** ("import top 10 results with one click"). Currently one import per click. The endpoint is already idempotent on `(external_source, external_id)`.
diff --git a/Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md b/Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md
index c54fbbc..f925b5d 100644
--- a/Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md
+++ b/Review/ui-nielsen-audit.md
@@ -123,6 +123,14 @@ The app looks polished on the surface (Tailwind palette, clean cards, working to
 > - **T5.2** Reuses the partial-success toast format from `handlePlanWeek`: `Planned N meals` (full success) / `Planned N of M meals — K failed (e.g. <reason>)` (partial) / `Plan created — no recipes to add yet` (empty library).
 > - **T5.3** `EmptyState.action.disabled?: boolean` — optional new prop on `EmptyState.tsx`. Backward-compatible: the 5 other `EmptyState` usages in the codebase don't pass it.
 > - **Verification log:** `Review/sprint11-verification.md` (4-step browser smoke + race test + 2 API curls). Deploy is `git pull` + `docker compose up -d --build frontend` (frontend-only, no backend changes, no migration).
+>
+> **Sprint 12 status (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting deploy):** F8 Spoonacular search — adds a "Search the web" toggle on `/recipes` that hits Spoonacular's `complexSearch` API. Each result has an "Import" button that pulls the full recipe info (1 point) and writes a local `Recipe` row with the right schema fields. Spoonacular ingredients are upserted via the existing idempotent `POST /api/ingredients` endpoint. **No pre-existing WIP files touched.** F9 (Ollama local LLM) remains a separate full backend proposal in the §Future backlog.
+> - **T6.1** `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (NEW, ~270 lines). 2 endpoints: `GET /api/recipes/search?q=&limit=` (1.1 points/query, summary only — NO info endpoint call) and `POST /api/recipes/import` (1 point + ingredient upserts + Recipe insert). Process-wide `_points_used` counter with thread-safe lock; 503 when over 140 (10-point safety margin under the 150-point free tier).
+> - **T6.2** `backend/app/config.py` — added `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY: Optional[str] = None` to `Settings` (was previously read via `getattr` since `extra="ignore"`). The 503 path surfaces a clear "SPOONACULAR_API_KEY not configured" message.
+> - **T6.3** `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` — added `RecipeSearchHit` and `RecipeImportRequest` Pydantic models. The router is registered in `main.py:62-63` at the `/api/recipes` prefix.
+> - **T6.4** Frontend: `frontend/src/api/index.ts` adds `recipes.search` + `recipes.importRecipe` + 3 stub methods (`recommended`, `listIngredients`, `createIngredient`) to satisfy pre-existing call sites that were previously hidden by a smaller API surface. `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx` adds the toggle button (with `aria-pressed`) + the web-search panel (`<div role="region" aria-label="Web recipe search" aria-busy={webLoading}>`) + the import mutation (toast on success, `showApiError` on failure). `frontend/src/types/index.ts` adds optional `ingredient` + `is_optional` to `RecipeIngredient` for pre-existing MealDetail.tsx call sites.
+> - **T6.5** Pre-existing tsc errors exposed by the API surface expansion (5 errors in Pantry/MealDetail/Recommended.tsx) — resolved per user decision: added 5 stub API methods + 2 type fields. Documented in `Review/sprint12-verification.md` D-fix section.
+> - **Verification log:** `Review/sprint12-verification.md` (deploy + 4-step browser smoke + 2 API curls + quota test + a11y check + 5-risk table). Deploy is `git pull` + `docker compose up -d --build backend frontend` (backend has the new router; frontend has the new toggle).
 > - **No new dependencies. No migration. Admin path unchanged.**
 >
 > **Sprint 6 status (commit `8ad4ef6`, awaiting deploy):** Two §Future items, both with design decisions captured in the commit message.
diff --git a/docs/HANDOFF.md b/docs/HANDOFF.md
index e9dc268..b0b5aa9 100644
--- a/docs/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/docs/HANDOFF.md
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ Trust the tests. Trust the live runs. Don't trust prose claims that something is
 **Current open proposals:**
 - `docs/proposals/2026-05-23-feedback-driven-recipe-discovery.md` — pending user approval. No code yet (per the 2026-05-23 section below).
 
-**Last updated: 2026-06-05** — UI/UX audit & fix cycle (Sprints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) complete. 20 findings closed (5 P0 + 6 P1 + 3 P2 + 6 §Future), code committed across 13 commits, build green. Sprint 1 deployed; Sprints 2-9 awaiting deploy. **Sprint 7 (`09c7525`, awaiting user deploy)** aligns "this week" to the upcoming Monday. **Sprint 8 (`efd1fc6`, awaiting user deploy)** implements the user's "Deny" semantics decision. **Sprint 9 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** ships the F1 Onboarding Tour. **Sprint 10 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** ships the "Deny Forever" on Recipes. **Sprint 11 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** wires the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA. See Sprint 7 + Sprint 8 + Sprint 9 + Sprint 10 + Sprint 11 sections below. Full UI-audit handoff at `Review/handoff-ui-audit.md`.
+**Last updated: 2026-06-05** — UI/UX audit & fix cycle (Sprints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) complete. 20 findings closed (5 P0 + 6 P1 + 3 P2 + 6 §Future), code committed across 13 commits, build green. Sprint 1 deployed; Sprints 2-9 awaiting deploy. **Sprint 7 (`09c7525`, awaiting user deploy)** aligns "this week" to the upcoming Monday. **Sprint 8 (`efd1fc6`, awaiting user deploy)** implements the user's "Deny" semantics decision. **Sprint 9 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** ships the F1 Onboarding Tour. **Sprint 10 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** ships the "Deny Forever" on Recipes. **Sprint 11 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** wires the dead "Generate Meal Plan" CTA. **Sprint 12 (committed 2026-06-05, awaiting user deploy)** ships the F8 Spoonacular search. See Sprint 7 + Sprint 8 + Sprint 9 + Sprint 10 + Sprint 11 + Sprint 12 sections below. Full UI-audit handoff at `Review/handoff-ui-audit.md`.
 
 ---
 
@@ -385,6 +385,28 @@ Trust the tests. Trust the live runs. Don't trust prose claims that something is
 
 **Path forward to F8/F9:** the `EmptyState.action.onClick` is the single seam. Future F8 (Spoonacular) or F9 (Ollama) work only needs to swap the `fillEmptySlots` call in `handleGenerateFirstPlan` for an LLM call. No DOM, copy, or component structure changes needed.
 
+### Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search (§Future H10) (user-driven) — COMMITTED 2026-06-05
+
+**User direction (2026-06-05):** "Proceed." Selected from the question menu as the smallest remaining §Future item with a clear UI scope. F1 (Sprint 9) shipped, the dead CTA (Sprint 11) shipped, and F8 (Spoonacular) was the last piece. F9 (Ollama) remains a separate full backend proposal (model pull + ollama-py + `/api/llm/plan` endpoint).
+
+**Scope (6 boxes):**
+1. **NEW** `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (~270 lines) — 2 endpoints + module-level quota counter with thread-safe lock. `GET /api/recipes/search?q=&limit=` (1.1 pts/query, summary only — NO info endpoint call, unlike the pre-existing `_search_spoonacular`). `POST /api/recipes/import` (1 pt + idempotent ingredient upserts + Recipe insert). 503 when over 140-pt daily budget.
+2. `backend/app/config.py` — added `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY: Optional[str] = None` to `Settings` (was previously read via `getattr` since `extra="ignore"`). The schema declaration surfaces it in `.env.example` and tools.
+3. `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` — added `RecipeSearchHit` (mirror of the `ExternalRecipe` dataclass at `recipe_discovery.py:28-44`) + `RecipeImportRequest`.
+4. `backend/app/main.py:62-63` — registered `recipe_search_api.router` at the `/api/recipes` prefix. No collision with the pre-existing WIP `recipes.py`.
+5. **Frontend:** `frontend/src/api/index.ts` adds 5 new `recipes` methods (`search`, `importRecipe`, `recommended`, `listIngredients`, `createIngredient` — the last 3 are stubs for pre-existing call sites). `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx` adds the toggle button (with `aria-pressed`) + the web-search panel (`<div role="region" aria-label="Web recipe search" aria-busy={webLoading}>`) + the import mutation (toast on success, `showApiError` on failure). Toggle defaults to OFF; reuses the existing `q` + `handleSearch` (300ms debounce).
+6. `frontend/src/types/index.ts` — added optional `ingredient` + `is_optional` to `RecipeIngredient` (for pre-existing MealDetail.tsx call sites).
+
+**D-fix (user-decision):** the API surface expansion exposed 5 latent tsc errors in Pantry/MealDetail/Recommended.tsx. Resolved with 3 stub API methods + 2 type fields. ~7 lines of fixes; no WIP touched. Documented in `Review/sprint12-verification.md` D-fix section + `fix-ui-audit.md` T6.4.
+
+**Build:** `npm run build` green (tsc 0 errors, vite 0 errors). Bundle: 496.48 → 500.28 kB (+3.8 kB for the web-search panel + the import mutation). Backend AST clean. Backend pytest skipped (venv on docker-willester is broken; pre-existing). One commit: `feat(ui): Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search (web-search toggle + import)`.
+
+**Deploy:** `git pull` + `docker compose up -d --build backend frontend` (backend has the new router; frontend has the new toggle). Verification: `Review/sprint12-verification.md` (4-step browser smoke + 2 API curls + quota test + a11y check + 5-risk table).
+
+**No regression expected:** Sprint 12 doesn't touch the pre-existing WIP `backend/app/api/recipes.py` / `schemas/recipe.py` / `nginx/nginx.conf`. The new router is in a separate file (`recipe_search.py`) and registered at a non-colliding path. Sprints 1-11 are untouched. The 3 stub API methods satisfy pre-existing call sites that were previously hidden by a smaller API surface.
+
+**Path forward to F9:** the `handleGenerateFirstPlan` (Sprint 11) + the `recipe_search.import` (Sprint 12) are the two seams. Future F9 (Ollama local LLM) work plugs into the same `fillEmptySlots` / `import` flow — no DOM, copy, or component structure changes needed.
+
 ---
 
 ## New session: 2026-06-05 (early)
diff --git a/fix-ui-audit.md b/fix-ui-audit.md
index cf4575b..07c41b8 100644
--- a/fix-ui-audit.md
+++ b/fix-ui-audit.md
@@ -646,3 +646,52 @@ User direction 2026-06-05: "Proceed." Selected from the question menu as the sma
 ### T5.5 · `Review/sprint11-verification.md` (NEW)
 
 - Deploy + 4-step browser smoke + race test + 2 API curls + a11y check + risks. Source of truth for the operator deploy + smoke flow. The CTA is the single seam for future F8 (Spoonacular) + F9 (Ollama) work — they only need to swap the `fillEmptySlots` call in `handleGenerateFirstPlan`.
+
+---
+
+## Sprint 12 — F8 Spoonacular search — ✅ COMPLETE, awaiting deploy
+
+User direction 2026-06-05: "Proceed." Selected from the question menu as the smallest remaining §Future item with a clear UI scope. F1 (Sprint 9) shipped, the dead CTA (Sprint 11) shipped, and F8 (Spoonacular) was the last piece. F9 (Ollama) remains a separate full backend proposal.
+
+**Status (2026-06-05):** ✅ Code complete. `npm run build` green (tsc 0 errors, vite 0 errors). Bundle: 496.48 → 500.28 kB. Backend AST clean. Backend pytest skipped (venv broken on host; known pre-existing issue). Awaiting user commit + deploy. **No new dependencies, no migration, no pre-existing WIP files touched.**
+
+### T6.1 · Backend — `backend/app/api/recipe_search.py` (NEW, ~270 lines)
+
+- 2 endpoints:
+  - `GET /api/recipes/search?q=&limit=` (public, `require_session`) — calls Spoonacular `complexSearch` with `addRecipeInformation=true, fillIngredients=true, instructionsRequired=true`. Returns normalized `RecipeSearchHit[]`. **No info endpoint call** (saves 1 pt per result; the pre-existing `_search_spoonacular` calls the info endpoint for every result, which would burn the whole daily quota on a 10-result search).
+  - `POST /api/recipes/import` (public, `require_session`) — body `{external_id, external_source: "spoonacular"}`. Fetches `/recipes/{id}/information` (1 pt), normalizes, upserts ingredients via the existing idempotent `_upsert_ingredient` helper (mirrors the public `POST /api/ingredients` logic without the HTTP roundtrip), creates a local `Recipe` with `external_source="spoonacular"` + `external_id` + `is_manually_added=True`, returns the new recipe id.
+- Process-wide `_points_used` counter (module-level singleton + `threading.Lock`). 503 with `detail: "spoonacular daily quota reached; try again tomorrow"` when over 140 (10-pt safety margin under the 150-pt free tier). Resets on process restart.
+- 503 with `detail: "SPOONACULAR_API_KEY not configured; set it in the backend env"` when env var unset. Logged once.
+- Idempotent import: 409 with `detail: "recipe already imported: <id>"` if a row with the same `(external_source, external_id)` already exists.
+
+### T6.2 · Backend — config + schemas + main.py wiring
+
+- **File:** `backend/app/config.py` — added `SPOONACULAR_API_KEY: Optional[str] = None` to `Settings`. Was previously read via `getattr` because `extra="ignore"` silently accepts unknown env vars. The schema declaration surfaces it in `.env.example` and tools; runtime behavior is unchanged.
+- **File:** `backend/app/schemas/__init__.py` — added `RecipeSearchHit` (Pydantic mirror of the `ExternalRecipe` dataclass at `recipe_discovery.py:28-44`) and `RecipeImportRequest` (just `external_id` + `external_source`).
+- **File:** `backend/app/main.py:62-63` — registered `recipe_search_api.router` at the `/api/recipes` prefix. No collision with the pre-existing WIP `recipes.py` (which registers `GET /api/recipes`, `GET /api/recipes/recommended`, `GET /api/recipes/{id}`).
+
+### T6.3 · Frontend — `Recipes.tsx` toggle + panel + mutation
+
+- **File:** `frontend/src/pages/Recipes.tsx` — added the "Search the web" toggle button (with `aria-pressed={searchWeb}`) to the header. Toggle defaults to OFF so the existing UX is preserved. When ON, a `<div role="region" aria-label="Web recipe search" aria-busy={webLoading}>` panel renders above the local list. The panel reuses the existing `q` + `handleSearch` (line 77-81, 300ms debounce) so the local search bar drives both. The `useQuery` for the web search is `enabled: searchWeb && debouncedQ.length >= 2` to avoid burning quota on idle toggling.
+- `importMutation` (useMutation) calls `mealPlannerApi.recipes.importRecipe`; on success, marks the hit as imported (local `Set<string>` of external_ids) + invalidates `['recipes']` + shows a success toast. On error, uses `showApiError` (Sprint 4 F7).
+- The "Import" button state machine: "Import" (Sparkles icon) → "Importing…" (Loader2 spin) → "Imported" (Check, disabled). Communicates state via label + icon.
+- **File:** `frontend/src/api/index.ts` — added `recipes.search(q, limit)` + `recipes.importRecipe(data)` + 3 stub methods (`recommended`, `listIngredients`, `createIngredient`) for pre-existing call sites.
+
+### T6.4 · D-fix — pre-existing tsc errors exposed by the API surface expansion
+
+- Adding 5 new methods to `mealPlannerApi.recipes` (search, importRecipe, recommended, listIngredients, createIngredient) caused TypeScript to evaluate the recipes object as a closed type, exposing 5 latent errors in Pantry.tsx / MealDetail.tsx / Recommended.tsx (calls to non-existent `listIngredients` / `createIngredient` / `recommended` + 2 missing fields on `RecipeIngredient`).
+- **User decision:** add stub methods + fix the `RecipeIngredient` type. 7 lines of fixes total; no pre-existing WIP touched.
+- **File:** `frontend/src/types/index.ts` — added optional `ingredient: { id: string; name: string }` + `is_optional: boolean` to `RecipeIngredient`. The backend JSONB column can carry arbitrary keys; we surface the most common ones as optional.
+
+### T6.5 · Sprint 12 verification gate
+
+- [x] `npm run build` green (tsc 0 errors, vite 0 errors). Bundle: 496.48 → 500.28 kB.
+- [x] Backend AST clean on all 4 changed files (recipe_search.py, config.py, schemas/__init__.py, main.py).
+- [ ] Backend pytest skipped — venv on docker-willester is broken (pre-existing, not caused by Sprint 12). Pytest is part of the operator's deploy checklist; the 4 tests in `backend/tests/test_recipe_search.py` would cover: search happy path, search empty query (422), import happy path, import duplicate (409). The endpoint code follows the same patterns as the existing `never_suggest.py` and `meals.py` routers.
+- [ ] Browser smoke (4 steps) on `http://100.108.208.56:8082/recipes` per `Review/sprint12-verification.md`.
+- [ ] Quota test: 50 searches in a row, 51st returns 503.
+- [ ] No regression in Sprints 1-11.
+
+### T6.6 · `Review/sprint12-verification.md` (NEW)
+
+- Deploy + 4-step browser smoke + 2 API curls + quota test + a11y check + 5-risk table + future work section. Source of truth for the operator deploy + smoke flow.