Hello
Sorry to hear about your knee problems! I slightly dislocated my right knee when I was in high school and it has been annoying ever since, so I kind of know what you're going through.
Unfortunately, I have no suggestions for recipes aside from insisting that you read the food labels when you make choices and weighing food. Calorie counting might be best for you? There is a phone app called My Fitness Pal that you can log your food on and keep track of your weight loss.
For exercise, is there any way you could look online or buy a book for strengthening exercises? I'm not a big fan of treadmills and I've stayed away from them because of the very same problem you are having. Is it safe to walk around your neighbourhood for 30 mins? Or could you slow down your exercise regime until your knees get stronger? Or (lol) would exercising to a work out video be easier? There are some online and links for them are on this forum (under exercising, I think!)
with your journey