Say Mmm

How to use Say Mmm, a free, online meal planner and shopping trip organizer.

Start by adding recipes. Instead of typing out the actual recipe, I just link to the recipe online (most of mine are on this site, or others like allrecipes.com). I would start with adding about 10 recipes, and playing around with it a little bit. Add 10 things you will be planning to make in the next week or so, so you can get a realistic picture of how this works.

After you save the recipe or link, it will take you to the "other info" page. Fill out as much as you want here. The CRUCIAL thing is that you do the shopping list part. Items in that recipe that you usually have on hand, or things you need to buy for that recipe specifically, this is very quick, and so important for the ease of menu planning and shopping!

Also make sure you add recipes like Oatmeal, and Pb&J's...not that you need a recipe, but you want to enter the food items needed (oats, bread, jam etc) to show up on your shop list!
 
Then from the Home tab, create a checklist, under the shop/my lists section at the top. You can only create one list unless you pay to get the advanced program. (I find the free one quite sufficient). I called my list Weekly, but call it what you want. Start adding items to that list that you buy on a weekly or monthly (ie: frequent) basis. Like butter, milk, coffee creamer, eggs etc. (you can add non-food items too, like razors and toothpaste). You will use these when compiling your shopping lists.

Once you have a few recipes to pick from, start your weekly meal plan. Click on the plan tab, and start adding meals for lunch, dinner, breakfast, snacks, etc. When a week is showing at time, click on the date to see all 5 meal slots for the day, click on cook, and the My Ideas link, which will pull up a list of your meals, recipes, or places (fave restaurants). Once you've added everything for the week (quick and easy!), you're done!

Click on the shop tab, and select the week you are working with for the correct lists. Your shopping list is ready and waiting!! On the "buy" side, delete items you don't actually need to buy this time, and by clicking on an item from the "check on" side, it will add it to the "buy" side. All of your meals should be listed with all ingredients needed!!

Towards the bottom of that screen is where you can add items from your checklist, simply by clicking on them.

When you print your list, it organizes everything into sections/aisles, to make your trip more efficient.

This is only a basic guide to get you started. As you do this, you will get familiar with it all, and figure it all out - there are MANY nifty features (dining out, costs for food, assigning food items to specific stores), that you can play around with!

Tuna Noodle Casserole

From: Kraft Recipes

4 cups egg noodles, cooked, drained

1 pkg.  (16 oz.) frozen peas and carrots

2 cans (6 oz. each) tuna, drained, flaked

1 can  (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/3 cup milk

3/4 lb.  (12 oz.) Velveeta Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

HEAT oven to 400ºF. Combine all ingredients except onions in 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with foil.
BAKE 45 min. or until heated through; stir.
TOP with onions.

PERSONAL NOTES: I use real cheddar cheese (grated), not Velveeta. And I only put in peas, not carrots

Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Ice Cream Maker Time: Approximately 25-30 minutes
Servings: Ten 1/2 cup servings
Ingredients:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup shaved dark chocolate
1/4 cup cherries, halved and pitted (fresh Bing cherries are best, if using canned - be sure to drain syrup)


Dissolve sugar in milk With a whisk.
Add heavy whipping cream.
Pour this mixture into your ice cream maker.
Churn in ice cream maker about 20-25 minutes or according to manufacturer's instructions.
Add shaved dark chocolate and cherries to churning mixture.
Churn for an additional 5 minutes.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Chill Time: 2 - 24 hours
Ice Cream Maker Time: Approximately 25-30 minutes
Servings: Ten 1/2 cup servings

Strawberries
16 oz fresh strawberries (1 pint)
3 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar

Ice Cream Base
1 cup milk
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Strawberries
Wash, stem, and slice strawberries.

Combine strawberries, lemon juice, and 1/3 cup sugar in a small airtight container.

Place strawberry mixture in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Leaving the strawberries, in the fridge longer will enhance the flavor.

Ice Cream Base

Mix milk and sugar, allowing the sugar to dissolve (mix about 1 -2 minutes with a hand mixer or whisk).
Drain strawberries, adding juice to milk mixture. Set strawberries aside.
Stir in heavy cream and vanilla.
Pour mixture into your ice cream maker.
Mix about 20-25 minutes.
Add about half the strawberries to ice cream mixture (use the other half as a fresh berry topping!).
Mix 5 minutes more in your ice cream maker.
Helpful Hint: If you'd like a more "intense" strawberry color, simply add a few drops of red food coloring until you achieve the color you desire.
Serving Tip: Just like a cherry on top completes an ice cream sundae, strawberry ice cream looks great when served with a plump, ripe strawberry on top!

Cake Batter Ice Cream

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Chill Time: at least 2 hours
Ice Cream Maker Time: Approximately 20-25 minutes
Makes: 1 1/2 quarts
Servings: Ten 1/2 cup servings

1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup cake mix
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 to 1/2 cup sprinkles


In a saucepan over medium low heat, combine milk, sugar, and cake mix.
Stir constantly until mixture starts to bubble.
Remove from heat and cool completely in refrigerator (about 2 hours).
Stir in cream and vanilla.
Pour into ice cream maker.
Mix approximately 15-20 minutes or according to manufacturer's instructions.
Add sprinkles to ice cream.
Mix in ice cream maker for 5 more minutes.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Ice Cream Maker Time: Approximately 20-25 minutes
Servings: Ten 1/2 cup servings 

1 cup milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 - 1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips or 4 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate

Dissolve milk and sugar using a wire whisk or hand mixer (mix approximately 1 -2 minutes).
Stir in heavy cream and peppermint extract.
Pour mixture into your ice cream maker.
Mix about 15-20 minutes.
Add chocolate to the ice cream mixture.
Mix 5 minutes.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

More recipes here

Philadelphia Style (no eggs)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ice Cream Maker Time: Approximately 25-30 minutes
Makes: 1 1/2 quarts
Servings: Ten 1/2 cup servings

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract


Cream peanut butter and sugar together, until well mixed.
Stir peanut butter mixture and milk together until smooth and sugar is completely dissolved (use a whisk or hand mixer).
Add cream and vanilla and stir well.
Pour mixture into your ice cream maker.
Mix until thick about 25-30 minutes or according to manufacturer's instructions