Windows 7: Can I choose what goes on the start menu and recent button?

As soon as i click on the start button there is a list of recent software (this 1st list and not the longer list that shows up if there longer). Is there a way of showing what one wants to go there and what one chooses not to show there? At present I am often R-clicking and choosing "remove from this list" With Windows XP Microsoft's had TweakUi which would do this.

Also ever since I believe Windows OS was introduced (or soon after) on the start menu there is a "Recent Items" button. I find this to potentially be extremely useful but as is now useless. that is to say very useful if one could choose what can go there and what should not go there. I mean I work on some Office documents and then I look at some photos and stuff and on this menu there is now a load of image files and the ones I would want to open, my office files, are not there (or hidden). Can this be tweaked as well?

Thank you