One of the few magazine subscriptions that I have is for Vegetarian Times. It was one of the first things I did when becoming more vegetarian in my diet. Without it, I don’t think I would have made it, not knowing all the yummy recipes available that don’t require meat. One of the issues I have with the magazine, is an easy way to extract – store – catalog – and use recipes from each issue.

The Recipe Assistant would be every food magazine lovers companion. It would allow a person to easily extract and use the different recipes from each issue. It could:

• Scan the barcode of the issue and populate the application with all of that issues recipes.
• Help you build a grocery list of all the ingredients you need.
• Cross reference other recipes that use similar ingredients, so you know what else to make with that 2 cups of left over almond milk.
• Sync with your magazines advertisers and give you coupons for items in your grocery list.
• Walk you through each step of your recipe, and provide a timer, ready to go, for that 30 minute bake time.
• Help you build a breakfast – lunch – dinner calendar of all the food you plan to prepare for the week.
• Flag your favorite recipes, and offer suggestions.

I know other recipe applications have come out. But, I haven’t seen one with this kind of synergy. The goal would be to interface as much as possible with how a person uses a food magazine, and facilitate the processes of making each meal from it.