If you have an Iphone or an Ipod Touch, there’s a free application available to help with your menu plans.  Dinner Spinner is a small (1.8MB) application that accesses Allrecipes.com’s database of user-submitted easy-to-make recipes. Once you have chosen a type of course, a main ingredient, and the cooking time (it spins like a slot machine), you tell it to view matches, and it finds recipe suggestions for you. Once you make your selection, an ingredient list and nutritional information are provided to assist with your grocery shopping.  The recipes are set up list most cookbooks in that you get a step-by-step instructions on how to cook the dish.   User ratings and comments will help you decide on your choices and may offer suggestions on changes, additions or substitutions  that help you decide exactly what you will and will not like.  You can even mark a recipe as a favorite if you want.

It’s not without its flaws, however.  You cannot access your All Recipes login which is inconvenient if you want to get to a dish that you have  tried before.  Also, some of the ingredient categories are a little random and the print can be quite small.

Overall, I like it and find it useful when I’m at the grocery and just need ideas.  Plus, it’s FREE!  I can’t complain too much.

I think I will plan a week’s worth of meals soon using the app just to see what happens.  It could be interesting?????

It’s Menu Plan Monday time with Laura.  We have a really busy week this week.  Hubby starts teaching his night class again this week, and I am starting a neighborhood Bible study focusing on the book of Esther.  I’m still trying to use up supplies that I have on hand either in the pantry or the freezer.

Monday:  Vietnamese Chicken Curry for Crock Pot Wednesday (posting Tuesday)
Tuesday: Chicken Curry Pitas with spring green salad
Wednesday: Dance and Date Night
Thursday: Arugula, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza for Craving Ellie in My Belly
Friday:  I think the Perfect Ones are coming for a visit! 

I don’t plan for breakfasts or lunches really.  Hubby is in charge of breakfast so I try to have things on hand that are easy for his to fix.  My lunch usually is something leftover, yogurt or a salad.

Have a great week.  Come join me for Crock Pot Wednesday.  Mister Linky will be available by 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

Linked to:
Menu Plan Monday
Tasty Tuesdays
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tuesdays at the Table