diff --git a/.template-env b/.template-env
deleted file mode 100644
index afcae33..0000000
--- a/.template-env
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-# THIS IS A TEMPLATE .env FILE. MAKE A COPY OF THIS FILE NAMED .env AND MODIFY VALUES AS NEEDED.
-# For more info on each variable, see https://neurobagel.org/infrastructure/#set-the-environment-variables
-NB_GRAPH_USERNAME=DBUSER  # REPLACE DBUSER WITH YOUR GRAPH DATABASE USERNAME
-NB_GRAPH_PASSWORD=DBPASSWORD  # REPLACE DBPASSWORD WITH YOUR GRAPH DATABASE PASSWORD
-NB_GRAPH_DB=test_data/query
-NB_RETURN_AGG=true
-NB_API_TAG=latest
-# To allow requests from browser tools like the query tool 
-# deployed locally with default port settings; edit as needed for your setup
-NB_API_ALLOWED_ORIGINS="https://localhost:3000 http://localhost:3000"
-NB_GRAPH_IMG=stardog/stardog:8.2.2-java11-preview
-## ADDITIONAL CONFIGURABLE PARAMETERS: Uncomment and modify values of the below variables as needed to use non-default values.
-# NB_API_PORT_HOST=8000
-# NB_API_PORT=8000
-# NB_GRAPH_ROOT_HOST=~/stardog-home
-# NB_GRAPH_ROOT_CONT=/var/opt/stardog
-# NB_GRAPH_ADDRESS=graph
-# NB_GRAPH_PORT_HOST=5820
-# NB_GRAPH_PORT=5820
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6239e01..b68931c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ git clone https://github.com/neurobagel/api.git
 
 ### Set the environment variables
 Create a file called `.env` in the root of the repository to store the environment variables used by the app. 
-This repository contains a [template `.env` file](/.template-env) that you can copy and edit.
+See the Neurobagel recipes repo for a [template `.env` file](https://github.com/neurobagel/recipes/blob/main/dev/template.env) you can copy and edit.
 
 To run API requests against a graph, at least two environment variables must be set: `NB_GRAPH_USERNAME` and `NB_GRAPH_PASSWORD`.
 
@@ -65,31 +65,22 @@ To run API requests against a graph, at least two environment variables must be
 The below instructions for Docker and Python assume that you have at least set `NB_GRAPH_USERNAME` and `NB_GRAPH_PASSWORD` in your `.env`.
 
 ### Docker
-First, [install docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/).
+First, [install Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/).
 
 You can then run a Docker container for the API in one of three ways:
 #### Option 1 (RECOMMENDED): Use the `docker-compose.yaml` file
 
-First, [install docker compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/).
+First, [install Docker Compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/).
 
-If needed, update your `.env` file with optional environment variables for the docker compose configuration.
+Refer to our [official documentation](https://neurobagel.org/infrastructure/#launch-the-neurobagel-node-api-and-graph-stack) for instructions on using the template configuration files from our [recipes](https://github.com/neurobagel/recipes) repository to spin up a local Neurobagel API and graph backend with Docker Compose.
 
 **TIP:** Double check that the environment variables are resolved with your expected values using the command `docker compose config`.
 
-> :information_source: **Note: Deploying the Neurobagel query tool**
->
-> When you deploy the API locally with `docker compose`, 
-> you will only spin up the graph backend and the API service. 
-> If you want to use the graphical browser query tool
-> as a standalone service for your local API, 
-> you will have to deploy it manually.
-> Please refer to our [documentation for details](https://neurobagel.org/infrastructure/#as-a-standalone-service).
-
-Use Docker Compose to spin up the containers by running the following in the repository root (where the `docker-compose.yml` file is):
+Use Docker Compose to spin up your API and graph containers by running the following in the directory where the `docker-compose.yml` file is):
 ```bash
 docker compose up -d
 ```
-If you want to ensure you have the latest images use the command below:
+Or, to ensure you have the latest images:
 
 ```bash
 docker compose pull && docker compose up -d
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d78b0bb..0000000
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-version: "3.8"
-
-services:
-  api:
-    image: "neurobagel/api:${NB_API_TAG:-latest}"
-    ports:
-      - "${NB_API_PORT_HOST:-8000}:${NB_API_PORT:-8000}"
-    environment:
-      NB_GRAPH_USERNAME: ${NB_GRAPH_USERNAME}
-      NB_GRAPH_PASSWORD: ${NB_GRAPH_PASSWORD}
-      NB_GRAPH_ADDRESS: ${NB_GRAPH_ADDRESS:-graph}
-      NB_GRAPH_PORT: ${NB_GRAPH_PORT:-5820}
-      NB_GRAPH_DB: ${NB_GRAPH_DB:-test_data/query}
-      NB_RETURN_AGG: ${NB_RETURN_AGG:-true}
-      NB_API_PORT: ${NB_API_PORT:-8000}
-      NB_API_ALLOWED_ORIGINS: ${NB_API_ALLOWED_ORIGINS}
-  graph:
-    image: "${NB_GRAPH_IMG:-stardog/stardog:8.2.2-java11-preview}"
-    volumes:
-      - "${NB_GRAPH_ROOT_HOST:-~/stardog-home}:${NB_GRAPH_ROOT_CONT:-/var/opt/stardog}"
-    ports:
-      - "${NB_GRAPH_PORT_HOST:-5820}:${NB_GRAPH_PORT:-5820}"