FAQ

Do I need a subscription to use QQM?

Not unless you would like to access the site ad-free. Become a member and access a totally ad-free site with a yearly subscription fee ($20/year), plus members also receive 20% off on their first order in the QQM Store.  There is a lifetime subscription available ($89) if you'd like to be FOREVER ad-free! Otherwise you'll have to tolerate those commercial messages. ;)

Can I rate the recipes, comment or share these with others?

We welcome comments on the blog and look forward to hearing your feedback on the recipes—anyone who has an account can comment. There is also a ‘share this’ option on the blog entries, the recipe of the week and the sample recipes. Please help spread the word via twitter, digg, Facebook and any other outlet that you and your friends use regularly.

QQM depends and relies upon your feedback to help make this site the best it can be for everyone. From the items that you regularly search for to foods that you need help with, your commentary and interaction helps everyone. We do ask that you be respectful and courteous and please stick to the topic (or recipe) at hand.  Please send me tweets on twitter and post questions or comments on Facebook—I look forward to chatting with you!

Do you have gift cards for sale?

Yes! We offer gift coupons in yearly and lifetime amounts in the QQM Store. After selecting the increment, we’ll mail the custom certificate (free shipping) in an attractive envelope to the recipient. Alternately, you may also choose to have the gift mailed directly to you for personal gift-giving.

Where do your recipes come from?

All QQM recipes are originals. Some are from my recipe box. Some are from yours, added to the site through the Submit Your Recipe feature. Other times, just like you, I’m faced with a refrig and a cupboard and no-real-plan. That’s when I let my mind do what it does best: come up with a fast, usable solution with the ingredients on hand.  And that usually means creating a whole new dish. 

Sometimes eating out can also be an inspiration to me: I’ll come home and figure out how to create a faster, easier (but just as delicious) version of a dish. If a recipe was inspired by a cookbook, magazine or news clipping, the original source will always be credited or mentioned.

What is your food philosophy?

Over the years I’ve experimented and explored and cooked up many-a-meal, from vegan to macrobiotic to PA Dutch and low-carb fare. With both carnivores and vegetarians in my immediate family, it’s definitely been a learning experience to please all palates. QQM aims to use as many whole food ingredients as possible—but ones that the average American has access to in their kitchen. Forget artificial flavorings, seasonings and preservatives. QQM aspires to start with regular ole basics: beans, meat, eggs, olive oil, vegetables, and cheese. Food in as close to its natural state is encouraged—and food that cooks quickly is even better.

QQM recognizes that food is so many things to each of us. Comfort. Connection. Family. Security. And stress. With the fast pace of modern life, it’s one that fast food and take-out has stepped in to fill in a big way. While even QQM relies on fast food occasionally, that’s how we aim to keep it: once-in-a-great-while. Helping out when in a tight pinch. Certainly not as an every week meal solution.

QQM wholeheartedly embraces smart Mediterranean living suggestions—read more about QQM's Food Philosophy here.

Do you have a cookbook?

No, not yet. The whole idea of being able to search for and find what you can make with what’s on hand is not a concept that fits as well into a book as into a website. Therefore, I’ve first designed the website and am investing the time and money in making it the best it can be to meet users’ needs. That’s not to say that there aren’t  cookbook ideas floating around in my head—it would be awesome to have some QQM cookbooks on the shelf too. Stay tuned!

Will my kids like the recipes on your site?

Everyone—even the non-pickiest of eaters—has preferences and favorites. In the family-friendly, everyday basic approach of QQM, we aim to offer foods that most kids will like. We want to make food appealing. Forget unusual or hard-to-find ingredients. Forget squid, roasted hazelnuts, sushi and artichokes (but hey, some kids DO like 'em). We don’t do gourmet and don’t follow any one specific culinary track. We offer sensible eating for everyday folks—kids included. And if your kids don’t do broccoli or zucchini, there’s probably something else (that you’ve got on hand) that they’ll like.

Do you accept user recipe submissions?

Yes -- the new Submit Your Recipe feature is ready for you to use! I look forward to trying your favorite quick lunch, dinner and snack recipes.

Do you offer snack or breakfast ideas?

Not yet. I have plans to launch additional categories in the coming years. Right now, I've started with and focused on main dishes and side dishes (with some desserts thrown in) because that’s where we all need the most help (with some chocolate to tie it all up!).

Have any additional questions that aren’t answered here?

Please contact me at or tweet me @quickmealhelp or stop by the QQM Facebook page.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
Christine