In the jungle of frameworks out there, I've come to the conclusion that I cannot simply decide on a framework without considering the type of application / site I want to create. I think I need a little help with determining this one.

* This site is graphics heavy, with all of the content presented in a small `<div>` in the centre of the page, surrounded by graphics. The graphics around it should preferably be loaded only once.
* The site will allow users to log on with their account and choose from a number of pre-made food recipes, or create their own. Then they can press a button to have the site generate a week or two of dishes.
* The users will need their own control panel where they can customize stuff as wallpaper, dishes, labels etc. As well as browsing recipes, adding ingredients, and looking up which dishes they can create with the ingredients.
* As mentioned, all of this data is supposed to be presented inside a square in the centre, so we need a system of jQuery panels. I was thinking of dynamically adding content to this square as needed. For example, emptying the content and adding new content to it when clicking links, etc.
* We don't need any community per se; the possibility for discussion can be explored in a separate, external site.

I should mention I am more of a designer than a programmer. I get stuff pretty easily, but fear I don't have the capacity to create a framework like this from the ground up. I do know a bit of Visual Basic, but I'm not so good with C# syntax. I've never even touched PHP, but my partner has. He's also somewhat familiar with Java. 

Basically, we need a framework that's easy to understand and get up and running.