What’s cookin?
By Meg Rivera
THE kitchen is always a comforting place to be in. The proverbial heart of the home, where good food as well as good advice can always be dispensed.
I must have missed out on the good advice bit, because on more than one occasion I have royally messed up a few meals. I remember accidentally dumping spaghetti into the sink while draining them. On top of that, nobody told me that it was not okay to reboil noodles that had fallen into the sink. We all had instant noodles for supper that night.
This week, we look at three apps that demystify the steel and chrome intricacies of the kitchen. These apps help you put together simple and easy meals without any major accidents. These are also great for those who are just starting to get a handle on cooking; university kids, I’m looking at you. With any luck, these should help you avoid your own version of the spaghetti disaster.
App name: Del Monte Kitchenomics
App developer: Digify, Inc
Available on: iTunes, Google Play
Easy to use: Yes, particularly if you’re new to the techie game.
Overall comment: I remember leafing through old copies of the Del Monte Kitchenomics cookbooks when I was a kid. They were volumes of sage cooking advice, tried and true recipes and a repository of knowledge that rivalled many a grandmother. Now take all of that and chuck it into an app; that’s what this one offers. The recipes feature old Filipino favourites and East meets West fusions. The app also features a shopping list that you can sync across devices, a handy unit converter and a QR reader that allows access to recipes featured in the GMA TV show. Not bad for a free app. Four clicks out of five.
App name: Jamie’s Recipes
App developer: Zolmo
Available on: iTunes, Google Play
Easy to use: Yes, but be sure to watch the video tutorial you get when you first open the app.
Overall comment: The free version comes with a “taster pack,” or a collection of 13 free recipes for you to try. You pay for the rest, which comes in collections that draw from Jamie Oliver’s previous cookbooks or TV series. The app lists down equipment, yield and an instruction video but it’s not much more than that. Three clicks out of five.
App name: All Recipes Dinner Spinner
App developer: All Recipes, Inc
Available on: iTunes, Google Play
Easy to use: This is already preloaded with some recipes, but you need an allrecipes.com account for more functionality and to add your own favourites.
Overall comment: There’s a reason why Allrecipes is a staple for foodies looking online for inspiration. Recipes are mostly contributions from the website’s members, so you know they have been tested properly. The app also features a shopping list, but as far as I can see it doesn’t sync to your other devices. This is good on its own, but it does depend on an existing membership for you to enjoy its full service. Three clicks out of five.
