Jessica Moe

So, after a summer of meals on the go I had decided that when we moved in here and Issa started work, I would be making as many of our dinners here at home as possible. Well, I haven’t always been successful, this whole domestic thing is really a work in progress, but after a couple weeks of mostly chicken and rice (thank you Lawry’s and Rice-a-Roni!) I could tell that hubby was getting a bit bored–hey, you have to crawl before you can walk, ok??

But where to start?  Then, it came to me…You see, the other day I was getting my nails done and there was a Rachel Ray magazine at the station, so while the woman was painting my little piggies, I thumbed through and found a recipe for macaroni n’ cheese.  The ingredients were simple (no truffle or white wine sauce!) and the directions were basic but it was entirely from scratch and–albeit a bit fatty–it jumped off the page with flavor (so much so, the woman in the next chair asked to see it when I was done). I was truly inspired!

I realized that recipes don’t have to be complicated or include exotic ingrediants like Tahitian Mango Salsa…to be good…sometimes all it takes is a little time and effort and a couple basic ingredients in the right combinations….so now the questions are 1) where do I find those simple ingredients? 2) how do I organize them?

Well, lo and behold, I found the answer to both of those questions in one website. www.MealsMatter.com

This website is absolutely AMAZING and features the following:

There is a meal planner that features a view of each week and each day has three ”slots” for meals per day.  If you plan out your meals, and you decide that you don’t want to make “Vegetarian Lasagna” on Tuesday, but prefer to make it on Thursday instead, well you can just change the date and move things around…What’s more, the meal planner will export the ingredients from the recipes in your meal planner to a printable shopping list! And get this! You can input what you have in your pantry so that you can keep track of what ingredients you need and which ones you have already… I know, are you amazed yet??  Well, hang on! There’s more!

Where do these “meal planner recipes” come from??  Well, the next tab on the website allows you to search the database, or contribute to the database…which means that all of the users on the website can contribute their recipes giving you access to thousands of kitchens throughout the country!!  Users can also rate the recipes they have tried, and make comments so you don’t have to waste time–if you don’t want to–trying recipes that might not turn out yummy!

There is also a list of common substitutions and conversions, a quick meal tab that offers suggestions for “kid friendly” “one-pot” “six ingredients or less” and “crock pot” meals…among others…and a meal suggestions tab that plans out special meals for holidays or just “special meal nights”.

Under the “Cooking for Your Family” tab, you will find your personal cookbook! This is where you save the recipes that you love or want to try and you can add your own family recipes here to then export to your meal planner.  Also in this tab you will find information about healthy meal planning!

I could go on and on about how awesome it is.  You can print out the recipes on a 4×6 recipe card, just as I did. I posted it on the fridge and referred back to as I was making the meal–tonight I have a slow-cook lasagna in the crock-pot and MY GOODNESS does it look and smell AMAZING.  Let me know if you want the recipe!  

Also in this website you will find a personal fitness tracker and nutrition tracker which will tell you how much of what foods and activity you in order need to achieve your fitness, weight loss, and health goals….

I am really in love with this website, you should try it!  I think you will be impressed!