How to ?

[Ssinha63]

Hi,
Am new here. How could I create my menu using my own recipes? I wanted to create categories and then add the name of the dishes I pla to make...
Thanks

[duonyte]

There are two menu areas on this site. On this one you can add whatever you like, and there is a thread in the Menus forum on how to manage them http://www.food.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=344401

If you are asking about the Meal Plan - that can be populated only with recipes that are in the database (This is the one you see when you click or hover the blue box to the right of your icon.) (The regular menu function can be accessed by clicking My Menus when you open the blue box - it's under your personal info in the right hand column).

[:(]

Ssinha63 wrote:
Hi,
Am new here. How could I create my menu using my own recipes? I wanted to create categories and then add the name of the dishes I pla to make...
Thanks

If you create a menu on the Meal Planner, you can only have them in one group (for that day). It is your personal weekly menu and no one else can see it but you.
You can add recipes from their page- just click "add to menu planner" and when the calendar shows up, click on the day. You can also add your private recipes to your planner without publishing them here by adding to menu planner on the recipe page. You can also add any other item by clicking the arrow to the top right on any particular day in the planner and writing them in.

If you want to create a menu with categories, when you are on a recipe page, click "add to menu". If you don't want to add it to a menu you already have, then click "new menu", then name the menu, and save. The recipe will go in there.
Once you have the menu open, you can click "new group" and below, a new group will appear. If it does not, try refreshing the page. Sometimes it doesn't show up at first, so don't keep clicking "new group".
Once the "New Group 1" shows up, if you click on those words, you will be able to retype a new name and save.
Down at the bottom, you can click "reorder items" and move the little hand to drag a recipe into the category you want it in. Then click finished.
You can also reorder the categories in the menu from the bottom of the page.
If you want to add your own recipes:
If you haven't uploaded them, you can "add an item" like "Mom's Apple Pie" and that name will appear in the menu and you can move it where you want.
If you do upload your recipes, you do not have to make them public to be in the menu, as you can add them from your private recipes.
But- unless you have at least one published recipe in the menu and no private recipes, you cannot make the menu public and share. I suggest if you have a private recipe and want to share the menu, either make the recipe public, or just type in the name as if it was not on the website.
If you do want to share your menu with the public, don't forget to change it to "public" at the top. You can always change your mind later and make it private, or even delete it if you tire of it.
hth

[Ssinha63]

Great...thank you both and have a very happy valentines day....