Yummy Holiday Recipe Apps

Yummy holiday recipe apps

By Bev Bachel for Tech Connect

 

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Whether your holiday meals are great feasts created entirely from your own imagination or potlucks in which everyone contributes a favorite dish, deciding what to cook can be a challenge. Just ask Diane Fluin of Eagan, Minn. She’s the author of Diane’s Food Blog, where “food and fun come together.” Yet even she struggles with what to serve for Thanksgiving and other holidays.

“Making dinner on a weeknight can be challenging enough, especially if you have to take into account the needs of picky eaters,” says Fluin. “But cooking for holidays is another thing entirely, especially if you’re serving people with wildly different tastes and expectations.”

There’s no shortage of holiday recipes out there, but finding the ones that are right for you — and those you’re feeding — isn’t always easy. “Obviously you should start with ones that look good and taste great, but don’t stop there,” Fluin advises. “Also think about your budget, how much time you have and your level of expertise in the kitchen. A recipe that’s right for a seasoned chef may bring a novice to tears.” (Fluin knows of what she speaks, as she’s had her share of cooking disasters, which you can see for yourself on her bloopers page.)

Cookbooks or popular cooking magazines such as Food Network Magazine or Bon Appétit can provide inspiration, but many holiday cooks have turned to quicker, more user friendly mobile apps, instead. Here are three popular ones that can help you find recipes based on the diner profiles of those you plan to serve.

1: Traditional

Try: In the Kitchen
Cost: Free (Google Play and App Store)

Featuring some of the Food Network’s biggest stars like Emeril Lagasse, Giada De Laurentiis and Rachael Ray, this app comes with an extensive database that’s easy to browse. You can also search by keyword, dish type, or even your favorite Food Network chef. For Thanksgiving, the app features a special page of traditional favorites — everything from turkey and stuffing to mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Recipes come with user ratings, difficultly levels, cooking times and more, making it easy to find the perfect dish, whether you’re seeking a side you can whip up in seconds or an entire meal that will impress even the most discerning of diners.

2: Gourmet

Try: Epicurious Recipes
Cost: Free (Google Play and App Store)

This holiday season, if you’re looking to impress the most sophisticated palates and prefer professional recipes rather 3 Apps that help you feature image - Copythan user-submitted ones, Epicurious is the app for you. It features thousands of recipes from Bon Appétit and the now-defunct Gourmet magazine. Search by holiday such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, or browse by cuisine, dish type or dietary considerations. As you’d expect, the app is beautifully designed, and features gorgeous photos of most recipes. The app also features voice-activated instructions for a hands-free cooking experience.

3: Vegetarian

Try: How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
Cost: $9.99 (App Store)

This one-stop vegetarian recipe app is jam-packed with more than 2,000 delicious, uncomplicated and meatless recipes, along with plenty of hands-on advice from award-winning cookbook author Mark Bittman. So whether you’re looking for a way to please health-conscious omnivores or vehement vegetarians, this app offers everything you need to make delicious holiday dishes like wild rice with chestnuts, grits gratin with arugula, potato latkes seitan and mushroom loaf. Even the most seasoned chefs will appreciate the apps no-nonsense cooking guidance, as well as its helpful how-to illustrations. An added bonus if you’re sharing holiday-meal responsibilities is the ability to email recipes to others.

Regardless of the app you choose or the recipes you serve, keep in mind that the most important thing this holiday season isn’t what you cook, it’s the time you spend with family and friends. Enjoy!


Freelance writer Bev Bachel lives in Minneapolis and uses her phone to talk, text and email friends and family around the world. She’s the author of What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go For It!

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Yummy Holiday Recipe Apps
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