OAMC Macro - last updated 9/18/19
You will need to have Excel to run the spreadsheet. I am using 2010. I don't know how backwards or forwards compatible it will be to other versions, but you should give it a try.
When you open the spread sheet a yellow bar will pop up asking if you want to enable editing. You should click enable editing to allow yourself to use the sheet.
After you enable editing, another yellow bar will pop up asking if you want to enable content. Once again, you should enable the content. This will allow the macro that creates the lists.
When the spreadsheet opens, it should be on the 'Shopping List' tab. If not, got to that tab.
To create the shopping list, prep lists and a meal plan, enter the recipes you would like to make into the green cells in column A. Only write in the green cells. You can browse the recipes available in the 'Recipes' tab. The location of each recipe (mostly websites) is in the second row under the name. You can learn to enter your own recipes here.
There are a couple of important things to note when entering recipes into the green cells.
1. Spelling matters. Everything must be correctly spelled or the macro will not be able to find it.
If a "Not Found" pops up in column B when you run the macro, that either means the recipe next to it in column A is misspelled or not entered into the 'Recipes' tab. In this case I entered "Savory Muffin" instead of "Savory Muffins". Even though the error is minor, the macro can't find it unless it is spelled exactly as it is in the 'Recipes' tab. This includes white space after the recipe name. If you're having trouble with the macro not finding a recipe and it looks like they are spelled exactly the same, check to see if there is white space after the recipe name in the green tab or after the recipe name in the 'Recipes' tab.
Edit 9/18/19: I replaced the "Not Found" column with a multiplier. If a number pops in column B, then the recipe is spelled correctly. If the recipe name is not spelled correctly then a "#N/A" will appear in column B. You can read more about the multiplier in column B in Multiplier Reminder.
2. Do not leave blank spaces between recipes. The macro looks up the recipes starting with what is in cell A2 and then continuing down the cells in the A column. A blank cell indicates to the macro that it is done and it will not continue looking up recipes after a blank space.
Once all your recipes are added, click the big, yellow 'Create Lists!' button and your lists will be generated!
There is no need to delete any content in the list areas. The macro will delete all old content before writing the new.
So, let's go over what your shiny, new macro just created for you.
1. Categorized Shopping List as seen above. All of the items from all of the different recipes have been combined to create a single list item. i.e. If you have four recipes with carrots, the list gives you the total amount of carrots you need to buy instead of listing carrots four times. You will see in column N there is an 'Uncategorized' category. When items show up there it means the macro doesn't know where to put them. This is not something you want, and you can learn how to fix it here.
The 'Staples' category consists of items I commonly have in my pantry, so I can check to see if I have enough before shopping. I highly recommend going through the entire list at home before you go to the store and crossing off things you already have.
You can at this point add things to you grocery list by typing them into the empty cells below each category. Do not change the cells in row 1. Changing the cells in row 1 will throw off the macro.
2. Prep List conveniently located in the 'Prep List' tab.
In column A you have a list of everything you plan to make in your OAMC. In column E you have the location of each recipe. The most useful part of this tab is columns J through Q. This tells you what needs to be sliced, shredded and chopped on the first day of your OAMC. I print out this section and then check off everything as I prep it.
Columns T through Y list which recipes use which pieces of major equipment in my kitchen. This helps me plan my cooking so I don't need the same item for two meals at once. You can ignore this if it is not useful to you.
3. Meal Plan in the 'Meal Plan' tab. This tells you what you have in your freezer, how many batches of each meal and what you will want to have on hand when you serve it.
I like to print this one with the amount blank. I then put how many containers I have of each meal in the freezer. When I take a meal out of the freezer, I place a check mark in the used column. Once I have checked off all the amounts for a specific meal, I cross that meal out to indicate I no longer have that in the freezer. Columns D through H are a list of items that I would like to serve with the meal. i.e. If I have chicken fajitas, that list will indicate that I want tortillas, avocados and salsa for serving. I place this list on the fridge so I can easily tell what I have in the freezer and what I will want to pick up at my weekly shopping for meals during the week.
After running the macro, you can add meals to this list. I do this when I still have meals in the freezer when I do my next batch of freezer cooking, so I have a consolidated list. When you enter more meals, columns D through H will automatically fill with the list of what you will need to serve the meal. Just keep in mind that the list you enter will be erased the next time you run the macro.
The components section is not populated by the macro. Sometimes I will roast a whole chicken, shred, portion and stick it in the freezer. Or I will have extra sauce that I made for something. I write these down in the components area to help me know what I have in the freezer that is not a full meal.
4. Current Recipes in the 'Current Recipes' tab. The format the recipes are stored in for the macro in the 'Recipes' tab can be a little awkward for looking up ingredient amounts, requiring lots of scrolling. Plus the recipe is a single batch and not multiplied up to the amount you're making. To make the cooking process more convenient, the macro puts all the recipes entered into the shopping list into one place in the 'Current Recipes' tab for reference. It also multiplies the recipe and the containers and creates an easy to read ingredient list.
I have color coded the tabs for convenience:
Red - indicates that you don't need to enter anything into this tab. Everything in that tab is created by the macro. You can add things to the lists that are created in these tabs, but they will all be erased when the macro is run again.
Yellow - indicates that this is a database tab. This is where the macro draws its information from to create the lists. You modify these when you want to add new recipes.
Green - indicates that these tabs don't have anything to do with the macro. They neither give input nor receive output. I use them for brainstorming.
Gray - indicates the 'Shopping List' tab where you enter recipes to make and run the macro.
WOW!!! That was long. I realize that seems overwhelming, but I think if you use the recipes I have already entered, it's actually pretty easy to use and a powerful tool. Please feel free to let me know if you have questions or suggestions. Good luck!
Next up: The 'Recipes' Tab
Please also read: Safety and Freezer Cooking
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