Free Recipes, Easy Meals and Special Dinners @ iChef

I just got my first iPod (4Gb iPod Mini) and started looking for ways that I could use it for more than just listening to my favorite tunes. After searching the web I came across some really great cooking tools for my iPod and other MP3 players. Some of these are audio based and can be run on most MP3 players and others are text based and are specific to the iPod's Notes application.

Audio Tools - Podcasts

One of the first things you do when you get your iPod is install the iTunes software on your Mac or Windows PC. Even if you don't have an iPod or MP3 player, iTunes will give you access to some great audio programming that you can listen to on your computer. You can download it for free from Apple at http://www.apple.com/itunes/.

Podcasts are radio programs that you download and listen to on your computer, iPod or MP3 player. There is a wide range of podcasts available ranging from individual ramblings to professionally produced radio programs.

The latest version of iTunes (version 4.9) lets you browse through and subscribe to some 3,000 free podcasts in various categories. To access the podcast directory you click on the Music Store menu option and then click on the Podcasts store. Then you can check out the Food category to see a list of 20 or so food related podcasts. If you see a podcast you like, you can subscribe to it and iTunes will keep your computer up to date with the latest programs. I really enjoy listening to The Radio Kitchen and KCRW's Good Food.

Text Tools - Emeril's Recipes2Go, iShop

The iPod has a text based feature called Notes which allows you to browse short text notes on the iPod screen. The screen is not very big so you may need to squint a bit to view it. You can create your own notes on your computer, link them in a table of contents and download them to your iPod.
One of Emeril's staff has done just that to create a collection of 1000 recipes called Recipes2Go and Recipes2GoToo that you can download at
http://www.emerils.com/fun/stuff4ipod_downloads.html. He also has the addresses and phone numbers for his restaurants and some meal plans for download to your iPod.

Another text tool for the iPod is the iShop grocery list. This one isn't a Notes application but a collection of 300 grocery items that you can use to create your own grocery shopping list. You can download iShop at
http://www.silvanti.com/Freelance/iPodDevelopment.htm. iShop uses the playlist feature of the iPod and may be compatible with other MP3 players. You create a special playlist for your own grocery list and then add items from the master list of 300 items to your list.

If you have used any of these tools or have your own favorite podcasts please add your comment to this blog.