Recipe engine system and method

1. A method for providing electronic meal information associated with a meal requiring at least two recipes to a user, the method comprising:

storing, on one or more processor readable media that are operatively coupled to one or more processors, at least one database comprising at least:

electronic user information representing levels of cooking skills respectively associated with a plurality of users;

electronic recipe information including information representing a plurality of food recipes;

electronic recipe attribute information including information representing respective attributes of a plurality of ingredients for the plurality of food recipes;

electronic process information including information representing processes associated with the plurality of recipes; and

electronic time information including information representing time associated with the processes;

providing, by the one or more processors, a web site linked to the Internet that includes at least: a first prompt for electronic food information representing at least one characteristic of a meal; a second prompt for electronic available ingredient information representing at least one ingredient that the user has available for the meal; and a third prompt for electronic time information representing time;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the first prompt, first electronic food information representing a characteristic of the meal;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the second prompt, first electronic ingredient information representing ingredients in possession of the user;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the third prompt, first electronic time information representing at least one of starting time and ending time, and further representing an amount of time available to the user for preparing the meal;

selecting, by the one or more processors, at least some of the electronic recipe information for a plurality of recipes, wherein the selecting is based at least on the first electronic food information, the first electronic ingredient information and the first electronic time information; and

calculating, by the one or more processors, at least one of a starting time for preparing at least one of the recipes associated with the meal, and an ending time for preparing at least one of the recipes associated with the meal, wherein the calculating is based on at least some of the electronic time information and at least some of the electronic user information; and

generating, by the one or more processors, electronic meal information that includes a time schedule for preparing the plurality of recipes and further includes an electronic list of ingredients for each of the plurality of recipes and further includes a starting time for at least one of the plurality of recipes, wherein the electronic list includes the difference between ingredients in the electronic meal recipe information, and at least one ingredient in the electronic ingredient information, and further wherein the electronic meal information includes selected recipe attributes for the ingredients in the electronic list.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating, by the one or more processors, the electronic list to at least one seller of ingredients.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving from the computing device, electronic payment information for paying for ingredients; and

purchasing, by the one or more processors and from the at least one seller, ingredients identified in the electronic list, wherein the purchasing occurs as a function of the electronic payment information.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing in the web site an attribute prompt for electronic preferred meal attribute information representing at least one preferred attribute for the meal; and

receiving from the computing device, in response to the attribute prompt, the electronic preferred meal attribute information,

wherein the generating the electronic meal recipe information further includes selecting at least some of the electronic recipe information that corresponds to the electronic preferred meal attribute information.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing in the web site a time prompt for electronic preparation time information representing a time when the user can make the meal;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the time prompt, the electronic preparation time information; and

generating, by the one or more processors, an electronic schedule for performing each of the processes for the meal as a function of at least some of the electronic process information, at least some of the electronic time information, and the electronic preparation time information; and

providing the electronic schedule to the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic meal recipe information includes a plurality of recipes for the meal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing to the computing device a prompt for electronic feedback information, wherein the electronic feedback information represents at least one description of the meal after the meal was made.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing in the web site a user-description prompt for electronic user information representing the cooking skill level of the user; and

receiving from the computing device, in response to the user-description prompt, the electronic user information,

wherein the generating the electronic meal recipe information further includes selecting at least some of the electronic recipe information that corresponds to the electronic user information.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing in the database electronic seller information representing at least sellers of ingredients for the plurality of recipes;

generating, by the one or more processors, an electronic shopping list that corresponds to the electronic list, wherein the generating identifies a plurality of sellers of ingredients in the electronic list, and selecting at least one of the plurality of sellers according to the price that the at least one of the sellers offers the ingredients for sale; and

providing the electronic shopping list to the user.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selecting at least one of the plurality of sellers is done according to a geographic location of the at least one of the sellers.

11. A system for providing electronic meal information to a user, the system comprising:

one or more processor readable media;

one or more processors operatively coupled to the one or more processor readable media;

at least one database stored on the one or more processor readable media, the at least one database comprising:

electronic recipe information including information representing a plurality of food recipes;

electronic recipe attribute information comprising information representing respective attributes of a plurality of ingredients for the plurality of food recipes;

electronic process information including information representing processes associated with the plurality of food recipes; and

electronic time information including information representing time associated with the processes;

the one or more processor readable media having instructions for causing the following steps to be performed by the one or more processors:

providing a web site linked to the Internet that includes at least a first prompt for electronic food information representing at least one characteristic of a meal; a second prompt for the user to submit electronic available ingredient information representing at least one ingredient that the user has available for the meal; and a third prompt for electronic time information representing time;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the first prompt, first electronic food information representing a characteristic of the meal;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the second prompt, first electronic ingredient information representing ingredients in possession of the user;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the third prompt, first electronic time information representing at least one of starting time and ending time, and further representing an amount of time available to the user for preparing the meal;

selecting at least some of the electronic recipe information for a plurality of recipes, wherein the selecting is based at least on the first electronic food information, the first electronic ingredient information and the first electronic time information,

calculating, by the one or more processors, at least one of a starting time for preparing at least one of the recipes associated with the meal, and an ending time for preparing at least one of the recipes associated with the meal, wherein the calculating is based on at least some of the electronic time information and at least some of the electronic user information; and

generating electronic meal information that includes a time schedule for preparing the plurality of recipes and further includes an electronic list of ingredients for each of the plurality of recipes and further includes a starting time for at least one of the plurality of recipes, wherein the electronic list includes the difference between ingredients in the electronic meal recipe information, and at least one ingredient in the electronic ingredient information, and further wherein the electronic meal information includes selected recipe attributes for the ingredients in the electronic list.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to communicate the electronic list to at least one seller of ingredients.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:

receiving from the computing device, electronic payment information for paying for ingredients; and

purchasing from the at least one seller, ingredients identified in the electronic list, wherein the purchasing occurs as a function of the electronic payment information.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:

providing in the web site an attribute prompt for electronic preferred meal attribute information representing at least one preferred attribute for the meal; and

receiving from the computing device, in response to the attribute prompt, the electronic preferred meal attribute information,

wherein the generating the electronic meal recipe information further includes selecting at least some of the electronic recipe information that corresponds to the electronic preferred meal attribute information.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:

providing in the web site a time prompt for electronic preparation time information representing a time when the user can make the meal;

receiving from the computing device, in response to the time prompt, the electronic preparation time information; and

generating an electronic schedule for performing each of the processes for the meal as a function of at least some of the electronic process information, at least some of the electronic time information, and the electronic preparation time information; and

providing the electronic schedule to the computing device.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the electronic meal recipe information includes a plurality of recipes for the meal.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to provide to the computing device a prompt for electronic feedback information, wherein the electronic feedback information represents at least one description of the meal after the meal was made.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:

providing in the web site a user-description prompt for electronic user information representing the cooking skill level of the user; and

receiving from the computing device, in response to the user-description prompt, the electronic user information,

wherein the generating the electronic meal recipe information further includes selecting at least some of the electronic recipe information that corresponds to the electronic user information.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processor readable media further have instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform:

storing in the database electronic seller information representing at least sellers of ingredients for the plurality of recipes;

generating an electronic shopping list that corresponds to the electronic list, wherein the generating identifies a plurality of sellers of ingredients in the electronic list, and selecting at least one of the plurality of sellers according to the price that the at least one of the sellers offers the ingredients for sale; and

providing the electronic shopping list to the user.