Review and Giveaway: Relish! Meal Planning Services CLOSED

I don't know about your household but we seem to have the same meals night after night. My husband would be happy rotating buffalo wings, pizza and steak for eternity. And my son's standards are so high he'd make Chef Gordon Ramsey cower. I'd like to be more adventurous in the kitchen but when it comes to family meal planning, I feel like I fight a losing battle. Time is of the essence and I never seem to have enough to devote to gourmet dinners. I lack the creativity and expertise to come up with unique entrees and sides all on my own. Especially those that will please the boys' picky palettes.

So when I was invited to review a new online weekly menu planner from Relish!, I felt as if my prayers had been answered. Run by a team of moms, I knew they were on to something.

Relish! offers complete meal planning services, with printable grocery shopping lists and recipe storage and organization. Each week, you simply choose five entrees and one dessert that appeal to you, as illustrated below:



With the click of a button, a comprehensive grocery list will be tabulated for you to take along to the store, so you won't forget any essential ingredients, along with all of the recipes and instructions to prepare a delicious, healthy meal. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy right?! Best of all, all dinners are kitchen-tested and take 30 minutes or less to prep! Below is a sample grocery list:



Relish! also assists you with "dime-and-dash" express meals for families who want a quick and inexpensive alternative to fast food, as well as monthly freezer menus to prepare for those times you just can't get to the store - or, like me, you're just burned out and need a cooking break. You also have the option to upload your own favorite recipes so you can mix and match old and new staples. Playing hostess? Not a problem! Relish! allows you to customize your serving size and their "This and That" feature offers tips, advice and suggested menus for events of all kinds including cocktail parties, holidays, date nights, seasonal or themed parties - even school lunches.

I have to say I am very impressed with Relish! The site is easy to navigate and incredibly user-friendly. And the service is invaluable! The entrees range from somewhat exotic (Paprika Tilapia over Parmesan Polenta) to traditional homestyle (BBQ Chicken Pizza) so you are sure to find something that everyone under your roof could enjoy. They incorporate various food groups to create nutritious, colorful meals. I found the handy dandy Recipe Legend especially useful so I could quickly and accurately find meals labeled Kid-Friendly, One-Pot/Crockpot, Vegetarian or Low Calorie.

We've made several meals from Relish! with excellent results. Our favorite thus far has been the Spaghetti and Baked Meatballs with homemade Garlic Cheese Bread. The prep was relatively easy and the ingredients were things I already had on hand. It only took me a half an hour to make and it really tasted great! My husband went back for seconds and Nate was licking his fingers from the tasty meatballs. This will definitely be a meal that we adopt for good.



I also love the holiday entertaining ideas, which are going to be perfect for our upcoming Christmas party. I've already printed some of the recipes so I can make a sophisticated, home-cooked gourmet meal that tastes as if it were catered.

The only potential drawback to Relish! is the price. The subscription fee of $7/month may turn people off initially since the economy has many families pinching their pennies. However, over time, the subscription can easily pay for itself. Relish! dinners and sides cost less than $85/week and by sticking to a list, you can surely save more than $7/month. For the cost of two lattes, you can gain access to creative, time-saving meals that are good and good for you. How many cookbooks would you have to buy to get a collection this concise?

Bottom line: I would definitely recommend Relish! menu planning to get you out of your dinner rut. You can shop just once a week, get organized and save money in the process. What's not to...well...relish about that?

BUY IT: You can purchase a subscription to Relish! on their site by clicking on the Subscribe link. Just in time for the holidays, you can also give a gift subscription to that busy mama you know who is in desperate need of some help in the kitchen!

For those of you on a gluten-free diet, you will want to check out their sister site, www.GFreeCuisine.com.

WIN IT: One lucky winner is going to win a 1-year subscription to Relish! That's a $58.80 value!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): What is your biggest meal planning challenge? Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile or if you are not a blogger!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

3.) Add my blog button and/or my holiday button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry for each)

4.) Enter any of my other current giveaways and leave a comment telling me which one(s) you entered. (1 entry each)

Giveaway will end on December 17, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. Contest open worldwide. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a free one-month subscription from Ann at Relish! to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. Your experience may differ.