It seems that there is no one cookbook or meal planning system that is the end-all solution to the "What should we make for dinner?" question. There are bound to be recipes in each that take too long to prepare or that involve ingredients that are not readily available or that just don't look appetizing. That's why it helps to have several different systems and cookbooks to draw upon when you're lacking inspiration.
Lily on the Fly: Hearty Meals for Hungry Families is one such system. Essentially, it's a "deck" of color-coded cards that feature main dishes, side dishes, and desserts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The system also comes with a 7-slot magnetic card holder that you can stick on your refrigerator for easy access to the next 7 meals on your list.
The cards are cute, colorful, and very handy. Each card features the recipe and a photo of the completed dish on one side - and a convenient shopping list of ingredients on the back side. The ingredients are divided by "section" (i.e. produce, frozen, meat/poultry, etc.) of the grocery store to make your trip even less stressful. Plus, each card features helpful tips and potential side dishes or accompanying drinks/desserts.
Some of the recipes (Southwestern Black Bean Soup, Black Forest Cheesecake, Western Taco Salad) were delicious and easy-to-prepare. Some of the recipes were decent (Cheesy Potato Soup and Lisa's Toffee Graham Treats). And, of course, there were a few (Bar-B-Que Rib Packets) that we didn't like. Of course, you're palate might tell you otherwise, but that's the beauty of having multiple systems. You're sure to find something that looks good to YOU.
Overall, the Lily on the Fly system offered recipes that were fast, family-friendly, and extremely easy to make. Many of the recipes allow you to prepare part of the meal the night before or, better yet, were simple "throw all of the ingredients in a Crock Pot" recipes.
Plus, Lily on the Fly just introduced a new product last week - blank cards so that you can personalize the system and add your favorite recipes!
P.S. Lily on the Fly, it would be great if you introduced "add-on" kits in categories like "vegetarian" or "healthy/organic" to cater to different families dietary preferences...and it would be awesome if the cards could fit into a standard recipe box! Thanks for creating such a fun system!
WIN IT! One winner will receive the Lily on the Fly Starter Kit. To enter, browse the Lily on the Fly website. Come back here and tell me the 3 'on the fly' steps to using Lily On the Fly prior to Thursday, Jan. 31, at midnight. The winner will be contacted and announced on Friday, Feb. 1. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATE * The winner is #1 Shelly. Congratulations!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, and cook on the fly.
Plan, shop and cook!
Plan, shop, and cook on the fly. Easier said than done, right?!
Plan, Shop, and Cook...all on the fly. I'd love to win!
Plan shop and cook on the fly!!!
Plan Shop Cook! FLy !
dansan826 at yahoo.com
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly Ahhh...SO me!! Thanks!!
stbaisch AT yahoo.com
Plan on the fly
Shop on the fly
Cook on the fly
Plan,shop and cook on the fly! This would be so great to have
!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly.
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Plan on the Fly, Shop on the Fly, Cook on the Fly!
Camille
http://www.snaphappymama.com
Plan, Shop, Cook! Thanks for such a useful giveaway.
Plan On the Fly, Shop On the Fly and Cook On the fly
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly.
You need to plan on the fly, cook on the fly and shop on the fly - and I sure could use some help organizing myself enough to achieve this!
Plan, Shop Cook.What could be
easier
Plan on the fly
Shop on the fly
Cook on the fly
Sounds like my kind of system!
Gosh I'd love to win this! Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly. Thank you! ~ :)
You need to Plan on the fly, Cook on the fly, and Shop on the fly.
Plan, Shop, Cook!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly. Thanks for the contest!
Plan on the fly, Shop on the fly, Cook on the fly
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly!
What a great system.
Thanks!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly...
Win on the Fly
Plan on the fly, Shop on the fly, Cook on the fly.
1: Plan on the fly. 2: Shop on the fly. 3: Cook on the fly. These sound great
Plan, shop, cook...sounds easy enough- just can't get it to work..I NEED those cards:-)
Plan, Shop, Cook...I can do that!!!
Plan, shop, and cook. This sounds like a fun system!
Plan On the Fly.
Shop On the Fly.
Cook On the Fly.
plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly!
I would LOVE to try this; plan on the fly, shop on the fly and cook on the fly!!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly...
plan on the fly, shop on the fly, and cook on the fly. :)
Plan on the Fly.
Shop on the Fly.
Cook on the Fly.
blogged ya:
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/tuesday-edition-of-contests-galore_29.html
I could so use this! I'm always trying to figure out what to make for dinner in between all the activities.
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly , and cook on the fly
Plan on the fly
Shop on the fly
Cook on the fly
cyph0r13(at)gmail(dot)com
I simply utilize the meals complete within fifteen minutes know what I need keep book in the car then its possible to plan, shop and cook on the fly of a minute because when in drive through windows Its a blessing for reading and simple planning sarah woods [email protected]
plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly.
thanks for the entry!
Plan, shop, cook (on the fly)!
kelli (at) pfrog (dot) net
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly , and cook on the fly
plan, shop and cook, of course!
Plan, shop, and cook!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly and cook on the fly!
Plan, shop, and cook- all on the fly!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly. Thanks for the contest!
plan, shop and cook. Thank you for having this.
Plan, shop, and cook on the fly.
Looks like a great system!
My sister could sure use this. Her kids are always scheduled to be somewhere.
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly and cook on the fly! My family is always on the run, so having something simple and easy to use would be wonderful. [email protected]
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, and cook on the fly!
Plan, shop and cook on the fly. Would love to win this for my hungry family.
Plan , shop, cook great order
[email protected]
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, and cook on the fly! :)
cbdulrich[at]yahoo[dot]com
Plan, shop and cook on the fly. Looks like a smart system; I'd love to check it out.
1. Plan On the Fly
2. Shop On the Fly
3. Cook On the Fly
LOVE this!!
~melody~
Plan, shop, cook...all on the fly! : )
I have another giveaway going on as well...
Caryn
1-Plan on the Fly; 2-Shop on the Fly; 3-Cook on the Fly. Thanks for the offer; it sounds like a great system!
plan shop cook
Plan, Shop & Cook
Plan, shop, cook....
Looks like a neat system!
Plan, shop and cook on the fly=). [email protected]
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly
There you go!
Since I'm not in the US I can't win but thanks for the heads up on that cookbook. Sounds cool! You always find the neatest stuff!
Oh by the way...I'm back in the blogosphere!
plan, shop and cook on the fly
Plan, shop, and cook on the fly
Plan, Shop, Cook! all on the fly!
PLAN, SHOP & COOK on the fly.
PLAN, SHOP & COOK on the fly.
plan, shop, cook on the FLY. Sounds fabulous :)
Plan,shop and cook on the fly
plan
shop
cook
Cool idea!
Plan, Shop, Cook
Plan, Shop, Cook! Another great giveaway!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly, wow, this would really come in handy! It would be great to have the plan & shop in my purse or the glovebox for the quick grocery store stops!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly.
Looks like you need to plan, shop & cook on the fly - neat idea.
Plan, Shop. Cook
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, and cook on the fly! I have been searching for something like this but could never find anything. I pondered briefly about making such a system on my own before realizing that would never happen. Thanks for the giveaway!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly , and cook on the fly. Love this!
Plan, shop, and cook. Looks like a great little system. Thanks for the giveaway!
1: Plan on the fly. 2: Shop on the fly. 3: Cook on the fly. These sound great for our family; thanks! [email protected]
plan shop cook
Plan, Shop & Cook. Please enter me!
plan, shop cook.
Plan, Shop, Cook!
Plan on the fly, shop on the fly, cook on the fly. Thanks!