Would you believe that for the longest time, I was tediously writing down recipes by hand whenever I wanted to cook something new? All my recipes are jotted down in a spiral-bound notebook. My organization skills in the recipes department is nil. I’m usually pretty quick to jump on the technology bandwagon, but with stuff like this, I’ve been slow to the game…
Imagine my surprise when I discovered Pepperplate, a meal planning and recipes app that singlehandedly converted me from a pen-to-paper girl to app fanatic. The best part is, this app is FREE, and you can access it from both your computer and your phone (available on both Androids and iPhones).
This app is great for saving recipes, and makes it so easy to transform your recipe list into a grocery shopping list too. It even has a calendar that lets you plan out your 3 meals a day every day of the week (I don’t use this feature though – I prefer a visual on my kitchen whiteboard).
You’ll need both a desktop account, as well as the phone app, in order to unlock its full potential. You can view recipes on your phone easily, but you can’t add recipes on your phone. However, whatever recipes you add through your browser should auto-sync onto your phone as long as you have that option turned out.
I love that there are already so many supported, compatible sites that integrates easily with Pepperplate, so if you want a recipe from any of the supported sites, all you have to do is copy/paste the URL and the full recipe gets imported. The ingredients and quantities automatically get populated into the shopping list section too.
Sites supported on Pepperplate
Easy interface
I love that I can log in to my account from any web browser, copy and paste the recipe URL, and have it synced to my phone… so by the time I hit the grocery store or am about to prep for dinner, all the instructions are right there at my fingertips!
Have you used Pepperplate or any other recipe app for your mealtime needs?
kiwi / 511 posts
This intrigues me, I am also a paper and pen gal to some extent. I plan my menus usually a week at a time sometimes further out, but I keep a Family menu on my fridge (it is a portrait printout of a word doc with 8 rows and 4 columns). I can list the meal, cookbook and page number on it for easy reference for whomever is starting dinner (either me or DH). If it is a printout of a recipe then that recipe gets pulled out and put into my hanging file of “this weeks recipes”.
We use the Our Grocery app that was reviewed here on HelloBee and like it a lot. It does allow you to add recipes and you can add the recipes to your shopping list easily. Right now I have two recipes one for chili and one called “Dairy Staples” because we buy the same amount of yogurt, milk, cheese, deli meats (not dairy but in our store the same aisle) and OJ. I keep meaning to add more recipes maybe I will do that this week.
Edited to add one con would be if all my recipes were on the computer. I do get a fair amount of my recipes online and I bookmark the site but print out a version because I am messy cook there is no way I want my phone or computer near the kitchen. I did it once and well it took a while to clean out the computer
fortunately it was just some baking powder and nothing liquid but it was not fun.
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
This looks amazing since it covers nearly every location where I source recipes. Thank you for sharing it!!
blogger / clementine / 998 posts
Ks awesome. I’m even worse than you – I scribble recipes onto index cards with just ingredients and no directions and then often lose the cards. This app looks great but my stupid ipad1 is too old to handle it.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
This is one of my favorite apps!
guest
Another great site for meal planning/grocery lists is http://www.mealdays.com very similar to this one and very user friendly. Also helped me mix up my weekly meal routine with some new ideas. Anything that makes it easier! Thanks for posting your find.
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
Ooooh! This sounds interesting.
olive / 64 posts
I’m very excited! I just got the app but I’m wondering are you leaving auto synch on? Is it draining your phone battery faster? Just curious. I hate charging my phone all the time!
guest
Theresa – I sync Pepperplate to my iPad and I have it on auto-sync. I don’t notice any drain on my batter at all. I’ve been using Pepperplate for awhile and I love the grocery list aspect. I use my iPad in the store and just check items off. I even customized the grocery aisles to match my store so everything is in the right order and groupings. Great website and app!
blogger / pear / 1563 posts
I haven’t used this, but I have a good friend that does and loves it! Thanks for sharing!
blogger / nectarine / 2687 posts
this looks and sounds amazing! must try!
GOLD / grapefruit / 4555 posts
You really know how to sweet talk a girl into trying something new! I have a terrible habit of writing a recipe down then losing the sheet it was written on just when I need it only to have to frantically search for the recipe online again! At least you have (had?) enough sense to write it in something that can’t mysteriously walk away. Can’t wait to try it out!