Any resources for meal ideas instead of just recipes?
May 13, 2013 9:03 AM Subscribe
So we clearly have the recipes question taken care of, but I need help with constructing meals.
I'm looking for resources that will suggest a main and a few accompaniments to go along with it. All too often I try a great new entree recipe, only to fall back to the same old side dish choices. I know there are heaps of side dish recipes out there, but I have trouble conceptualizing what would work well with the separate entree recipe. I'm thinking if I see more of the whole "meal" ideas, my understanding of what flavors and dishes go together can expand and help me do more of the mixing and matching in the future.
I would certainly be open to resources that help with the concepts rather than the actual execution of flavor matching, but I'd prefer to learn practically then move out into the conceptual.
Restrictions: None on the food side (possible MeFi first?), but no crock pot on the equipment side.
I'm looking for resources that will suggest a main and a few accompaniments to go along with it. All too often I try a great new entree recipe, only to fall back to the same old side dish choices. I know there are heaps of side dish recipes out there, but I have trouble conceptualizing what would work well with the separate entree recipe. I'm thinking if I see more of the whole "meal" ideas, my understanding of what flavors and dishes go together can expand and help me do more of the mixing and matching in the future.
I would certainly be open to resources that help with the concepts rather than the actual execution of flavor matching, but I'd prefer to learn practically then move out into the conceptual.
Restrictions: None on the food side (possible MeFi first?), but no crock pot on the equipment side.
There are some meal planning resources out there --
Saving Dinner and Nourished Kitchen come to mind.
Everyday Food (now defunct, but back issues are probably available) did this, as does Martha Stewart Living. I don't watch much food tv anymore, but I know that Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals used to do full meals.
I often get ideas by looking at restaurant menus -- especially ones that take into account seasonality and some of it is preference. I know that if I'm making a spicy curry, I like bitter greens to offset the sweet creaminess of the coconut milk, and a salad with cucumbers to offset the spiciness.
Now that I shop more at farmer's market, I use less recipes, and I just cook what looks good, and it always manages to go together.
posted by hrj at 9:14 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Saving Dinner and Nourished Kitchen come to mind.
Everyday Food (now defunct, but back issues are probably available) did this, as does Martha Stewart Living. I don't watch much food tv anymore, but I know that Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals used to do full meals.
I often get ideas by looking at restaurant menus -- especially ones that take into account seasonality and some of it is preference. I know that if I'm making a spicy curry, I like bitter greens to offset the sweet creaminess of the coconut milk, and a salad with cucumbers to offset the spiciness.
Now that I shop more at farmer's market, I use less recipes, and I just cook what looks good, and it always manages to go together.
posted by hrj at 9:14 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Here is my current favorite cookbook: a month's worth of delicious, interesting meals. The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria. Is he the molecular gastronomy guy? He is! But this is the opposite of El Bulli, its the meals he would feed the staff before service. Timelines to prepare the meals so it all gets on the table hot is also included. And gorgeous pictures. I want to live in this cookbook.
In general the desserts are the most time consuming so just throw an espresso on a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you are all set.
posted by shothotbot at 9:35 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
In general the desserts are the most time consuming so just throw an espresso on a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you are all set.
posted by shothotbot at 9:35 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
What I have to offer isn't really about flavor matching, but another important component of a meal: the visual one. Looking at a plate with macaroni 'n' cheese, cauliflower, and a poached chicken breast with béchamel sauce isn't going to make anyone go "Yummy!" So think about color and presentation as well as flavor.
posted by Dolley at 9:38 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Dolley at 9:38 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
This might be overkill to what you're looking for, but I was using The Fresh 20 meal subscription service for a while. It basically gives you a menu plan for a week, including mains, sides, and sometimes desserts, as well as a full shopping list. It was definitely pretty helpful as far as making sure I got balanced meals and tried new recipes. I quit using it because (as a person living alone) it was too much work to make five separate meals and so now I just make sure that I make a protein, vegetable (or three), and (sometimes) a starch. There are other similar services as well, including some that give you vegetarian, paleo, clean eating, etc. options.
I also just bought Elizabeth Andoh's Washoku Kitchen book. It's focused on Japanese-style recipes, but gives some great tips for how to plan meals around color and taste harmony. Maybe grab it at the library and read through the introduction for some ideas.
posted by athenasbanquet at 9:44 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I also just bought Elizabeth Andoh's Washoku Kitchen book. It's focused on Japanese-style recipes, but gives some great tips for how to plan meals around color and taste harmony. Maybe grab it at the library and read through the introduction for some ideas.
posted by athenasbanquet at 9:44 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
My Mom's meals were: Protein, Starch & Vegetable. I start by choosing vegetables or veg. dish to start, then decide on accompanying protein and starch. So, green beans sauteed w/ bacon over noodles, or sliced tomatoes, broccoli, steak, baked potato, or asparagus risotto and sauteed boneless chicken breast, or spinach salad w/ tuna, and garlic bread. I start with the veg. 1st and make big portions of the vegetable(s), to bump up my nutrition. Now that I'm an empty nester, my meals are less complete, so I try to spread the components over the day's meals, still focusing on vegetables and fruit.
posted by theora55 at 10:39 AM on May 13, 2013
posted by theora55 at 10:39 AM on May 13, 2013
Also, you can subscribe to Mealime, and they'll send menus with a shopping list & recipes. I haven't subscribed for long, but I've liked the menus so far.
posted by theora55 at 10:48 AM on May 13, 2013
posted by theora55 at 10:48 AM on May 13, 2013
You might find The Flavor Bible useful. It has dictionary-style entries for various ingredients and then a list of other ingredients that go well with the main entry. It doesn't really suggest side dishes (just ingredients that pair well), but you might find that the list of ingredients prompts you to think of specific side dishes that you know how to make.
posted by crLLC at 11:20 AM on May 13, 2013
posted by crLLC at 11:20 AM on May 13, 2013
Something I do for out-of-the-ordinary sides is look at restaurant's on line menus.
Being in NY, you have a ton of resources.
posted by JABof72 at 1:07 PM on May 13, 2013
Being in NY, you have a ton of resources.
posted by JABof72 at 1:07 PM on May 13, 2013
Woman's Day Magazine has/had a monthly calendar with a dinner menu for each day. I haven't read an issue in quite a while, so I can't say if they still have them - but they were good for suggesting veggies/starches to round out the main.
posted by sarajane at 1:28 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by sarajane at 1:28 PM on May 13, 2013
Check out a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The dough sits in your fridge then, voila, fresh hot breads for dinner.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:49 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:49 PM on May 13, 2013
bonappetit.com, saveur.com and epicurious.com ALL have menus on their websites as well as individual recipes. And i've never gone wrong with bonappetit.com. mmmmmmmmmmm.
posted by TestamentToGrace at 5:53 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by TestamentToGrace at 5:53 PM on May 13, 2013
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A meal should consist of Meat, Veg, Starch and a Salad.
If you're having Pasta with meat and a veggie sauce (pesto, marinara) then a salad is all that's needed, since the pasta dish comprises the first three items.
If you google: Weekly Menu Planner, you'll get a bazillion sites, some aimed at shopping and saving, other aimed at including more veggies. Everyone has one.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:13 AM on May 13, 2013