CookingByNumbers.com is an ingenious little UK-based site that will put the contents of your refrigerator and pantry into a formula and spit out recipes so you can cook with what you already have. Brilliant!
Tom Tuke-Hastings, the site's creator (and author of The Art of the Vodka Jelly) says "Don't bother going shopping, let's cook with what you have." Amen. This is a great resource for New Yorkers who don't have the energy to shop, but who are committed to cooking in more often.
The only drawback is the list of ingredients is fairly limited (and English... Digestive Biscuit or Tinned Tuna anyone?), so you have to use your imagination a bit. Also, don't expect Epicurious-grade recipes, the site's database is a bit more home-grown.
The software I'd like to see would allow you to build your own database of (your own) recipes and would come knowledgable about standard substitutions (it would remind you that you can make your usual chocolate cake today because you have cocoa powder even though the recipe calls for an absent bakers block).
what a totally fun idea
to kick start yourself, if not for the actual recipes
i suppose you could insert graham cracker or 'nilla wafer where the digestive bix are ...
My favorite on there was "Bacon Suprise" which - suprise! - is just bacon. It was a pretty funny little "recipe."
To get lower brow on you, Kraft used to have a refrigerator search like this. Now it has just been simplified into just searching on ingredients you specify. The results can be frightening. If you choose bacon and peanut butter, for instance, you actually get four scary (look at the photos) hits: http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=recipe&m=recipe/knet_recipe_grid&u1=byingredient&u2=199*60*0*0**bacon*peanut+butter***
oh dear god krista!
i am SO glad i looked at the pumpkin face dip AFTER finishing my lunch!
horrifying!
i sent this to the boy as he has a special place in his heart for cookin' with google (click my name for the link) and his only comment was "thank god there's no recipes for oranges and vinegar!!"
personally, i like me a little citrus-y vinagrette
i guess i know what i won't be making him for dinner tonight!
Don't forget about Cookin' with Google.
http://www.researchbuzz.org/tools/cookin-with-google.shtml
It searches quite a few sites, and the results can range from funny to fantastic.
MarcoPolo, I hadn't heard of Cooking with Google, though I do check allrecipes.com when I have odd combinations in the pantry. Not much there of the healthy, organic, 'slow food movement,' simple is better focus I prefer in my cooking, but I have found a few good recipes in my searches. I recommend you stick with the five star recipes only, though.
Am I revealing my inexperience as a cook here? :)
This is a wonderful concept but the recipes are totally ridiculous.