...and back on to food...

Just thought I'd share some GREAT websites that has been helping me menu plan, as well as show my favourite recipe books:

http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/
Has recipes for leftovers, as well as tips for keeping food fresher and longer. I've used this site to find out about portion sizes and what dates on food actually mean. I learned that I was serving waaay too much food (I had lost the ability to actually judge what a "normal" size meal was). I also learned that I can eat food that is past its "Best Before" date.

http://www.mealopedia.com/
Creates a weekly menu plan and associated grocery list based on your preferences. There is also a recipe finder where you can search for recipes based on ingredients you may already have in your home. Recipes also come with a suggested wine type (so not label but the type of wine, like Pinot or whatever)and are also rated by mealopedia forum members.

http://www.destitutegourmet.com/index.php
Site containing principles for creating frugal but very yummy meals. This site really is intended to promote Sophie Gray's Destitute Gourmet Recipe Books, but have some very helpful info.

http://www.taste.com.au/
This one has a bit too many ads for my liking but I think my ethical consumption stance makes me hypersensitive to it. I'm sure most people wouldn't notice. This site draws on many recipe magazines that you see out at the shops. You can search for ingredients by recipe categories (eg. slow cooker recipes etc) or by magazine. There is also a "How to" section on this site that sometimes talks about how to make food last longer.

And now my favourite recipe books:



Yep, I got one of Sophie Gray's books and I have to say its fantastic. The recipes are so simple and most of it I had eaten in my childhood! I think somewhere along the way, I had forgotten how to cook simple meals and somehow have ended up thinking simple = takeaway or pre-packaged food. This book has been great for me to get a reality check.



This cookbook is an oldie but a goodie. I've had this from when I moved out of home and I love love trying out the recipes in here. Easy to read and easy ingredients to source.



This cookbook is my absolute favourite. Most of the recipes are complicated and the ingredients are also hard to source (you may have to substitute), but when we want to truly treat ourselves, we turn to this book.

Anyway, that's it for me. I need to go and cook dinner now. Tonight we're having home-made burgers on wholemeal bread with baby spinach, and a side dish of brocolli and cauliflower with cheese sauce.

What are your favourite websites and recipe books?

(Related previous posts: How do I raise my children in a consumerist culture?)