Could anyone please help? I am drowning in a sea of recipes and want to organize them. I have already thrown out a lot, but have so many left. It is boggling my mind, and I don't know how to save them so that I can locate them fairly quickly. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Ann from So. ME
I see that you've got a bazillion backlogged ideas, but I am chiming in to second (or 3rd or 4th) the binder idea.
I have a binder that my Grandmother started when she clipped recipes, some have her additions and ideas on them. I then organized many a times my mother's collection and now have my own. My Mom has a baking book (with my teenage writing still on it) and a cooking book.
My Mom gave me the idea a while back, when I see a recipe I like, take it out right then. I would dog ear the page, then forget and throw away or forget what recipe I wanted. Now I pull out, if there are several on a page, I take a pen and X through the ones I don't want, then store in a bag beside my couch. When I feel inclined, I buy a lot of glue sticks, get out some pretty binder paper (bought for these occasions), get my paper recycling basket and start away.
I categorize into main dishes, side dishes, then further for baking (I love baking). I then put on the page in a sort of order, all chicken dishes for example. Then into the binder with a protective sheet (makes it easy when you are cooking you only take out 1 page and it's protected from spills). When I like something I write so on the recipe, or what I didn't like, or additions etc. If it's really yucky, the glue stick makes it easy to rip out.
Hope that helps. (10/15/2007)
By Michawn
I keep my recipes in a magnetic sheet photo album. For the ones I have written or cut out or from friends, I have them dated with the name of person I got it from. They are not organized. Well maybe an organized mess. But at least I know exactly where to open to what I want.
This is one thing my kids will fight over years from now. It has about 60 huge pages with 20 or so empty. I have had it 20 years, so only the best recipes are kept. (10/15/2007)
By Ariela
Besides my favorite recipes which I keep in a binder with plastic sheet covers, I have folders: From Newspapers and Magazines, From Friends and Other Cookbooks, From the Internet, From the Mail, etc. Often I can remember which type of place I got a recipe from and I go to that file. It's also great to stash recipes from various sources until I get to try them. (10/16/2007)
By Beth
I use Outlook Express. In "My Documents", I have one folder named Recipes. Then in that folder I create sub-folders with names like: Beef, Chicken, Seafood, Deserts, and whatever else you want to include.
I am on Yahoo recipe groups as well, as there are loads of recipes on the Internet. I quit cutting them out a long time ago. When you see a recipe, cut and paste into word processing and save to Recipe Folder and save in the appropriate sub folder. This way, if you are looking for a recipe open your Recipe Folder. Saves a lot of time by not thumbing through lots of books. A big plus, you can go to your recipe on the computer and make changes or delete it.
Books are a lot of clutter, we have found. (10/16/2007)
By Syd
I'm the same, I love collecting new recipes to try. My method is to use a filing cabinet. Simply label a header under a general topic such as Pork, Desserts, Seafood, etc, then I sub-label folders under them. For example, Desserts are further broken up into Pies, Puddings, Ice creams, etc. Pork is further broken up into the categories of Mince, Cutlets, Ribs, etc. Then when I get a new recipe, I simply file it into the appropriate folder. Good luck. (10/18/2007)
By Cathy from Townsville, QLD
I use a Rubbermaid bin and lots of recipe cards. Once I try a recipe from a book, magazine, or a friend, it then gets its own recipe card. To keep my recipe cards clean when I am cooking I just slip it into the freezer bag at the front of my bin. (05/30/2008)
By littlebird
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