Please share with me how you keep your recipes organized...

[StacyMarie]

Well, up until I hit 30, I was not much of a cook. For the past 5 years, I have acquired a TON of recipes that we have tried over the years and a lot of them have become regulars. I have probably over 200 recipes that have either been printed off the computer, ripped out of magazines, copied on a scrap paper, etc. They are all stacked and piled and a HUGE mess. I need some help with suggestions on how to organize these. I don't want to keep them on the computer because what if the computer crashes, then they would be lost. I like a picture of what the final dish looks like but I guess if I found a great way to organize without a picture, I would.

So, share with me your organizational skills for this problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kwelch10377]

I am struggling with this as well. I asked the same question a few months back on here and did get some ideas, but have decided what to do yet.

I have narrowed it down to scanning everything on my computer and getting some binders and putting everything in sheet protectors. I am leaning more towards the binders. While scanning everything would help with getting rid of actual books and pages, I struggle with then having the need to bring my computer in the kitchen and reading the recipes off my laptop. I am a messy cook and I don't have a lot of counter space, so I'm not sure if bringing the laptop in the kitchen is a great idea. I will say that you should purchase a backup hard drive so you can back everything up on your computer (not just your recipes) that would help with your concern about losing everything.

 

[kimblebee]

Up until a few weeks ago I was in the same boat you are. I decided to put all the papers in a binder with sheet protectors. I think that it is the best way to go. I too had a few loose half sheets of paper with recipies scribled on them. I just put a few together in each protector. This way too, if something gets spilled on the paper it is super easy to clean.

 

[Alahis]

I use a file.
A big, old, robust file, with intercalarys (ries ?) with "meat", "fish", "vegetable", "soup", "dessert", "dressing", "appetizers", etc....


I try to make an A4 with the recipe (photocopied, scanned, printed, rewrited,....etc ) with a picture and some comments about it....

My mother has two big files with all her recipe + her "domestic economy" notebook with old-school recipes !

 

[Bethenny]

Right now I have an accordian folder. Each pocket is divided into main dish, side dish, cookies, etc. I need a better plan though. Most of my loose recipes are cut out from Cooking Light magazine, so they're not very neat. I have a few recipe cards and also a few full-sized papers.

I'm thinking of perhaps taking the magazine clippings and scanning them and enlarging them, then printing them out. Though really, I wonder if I can find most of them online and print them. Hmmm, I need to start poking around on the cooking light website. But yeah, I am thinking of possibly putting them in a binder with page protectors.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I have a 3 ring binder. There is no need to scan the recipes. Just slide them right into the page protectors, done. If the recipes are on recipe cards, then it would probably be easier to copy them first so the front and back are on one page.

I have found with projects that get put off there is a reason. That reason is often, "Oh my gosh this is going to take sooooo long," so simplify!"

Buy some tabbed pages, label the tabs: desserts, appetizers.... Add your clear page protectors, slide in the recipes. DONE!!!

Then LATER if you want to "cute it up," you can, but for now it is done.

It also helps to have just one section for "recipes I want to try." That way you have the tried and true separate from the I want to try.

Another tip. Keep some post it notes and recipe books in your car. Then when you are waiting at the doctor's office.... bring in the recipe book and "tab" the recipes you either want to try or know you love. Then go home, photo copy the "tried and true," and the ones you want to try.

 

[Darcy03231]

I put mine in a three ring binder in sheet protectors by category (ie appetizers, soups, salads, casseroles, crock pot, one dish, chicken, beef, pork, fish, dessert, etc.)

 

[arminnie]

I've kept mine on the computer for about 25 years. I used to use a data base program that could print out cards, pages, etc. But several years ago I just converted it to Microsoft Word. It's fairly easy with formatting to keep it alphabetized with an index.

I always record the date I entered the recipe and the source.

 

[dare2dream]

My daughter files recipes in sheet protectors in a 3 ring notebook. As mentioned dividers can be used to identify different categories ie chicken, beef, appetizer, dessert, casserole, etc.

She does something that has not been mentioned with those little recipes clipped from magazines. She glues them on a piece of paper before slipping it into the sheet protector. You can sometimes place several recipes on one page and then you even have the back of the page to use. She sometimes uses construction paper to add some color.

When cooking the recipe the sheet protector is pulled out of the binder and the plastic protects the recipe during cooking.

 

[C.Ann]

Regular recipes: copied over on 4x6 index cards and filed in file boxes by category..

Christmas Cookies: Typed on the computer - on Christmas paper - along with photos of my DGD and I baking Christmas cookies since she was old enough to hold a spoon - in page protectors, in a binder covered with Christmas contact paper..

At least a thousand muffin recipes I have been collecting for about 35 years? Copied over on lined paper - filed by type (apple; bran; blueberry; etc.) - in page protectors in 6 huge binders - the thickest ones you can get..

No matter what you choose, "filing" is the key - so you can find what you want at a moments notice..

 

[arminnie]

No matter what you choose, "filing" is the key - so you can find what you want at a moments notice..

Amen. That's what I like about my computer file. I have it on a server and get access my recipes where ever I am. I can do a search on an ingredient if I have something I want to use up.

It's also easy to email a copy of a recipe to a friend if requested or to print off a copy.

When I see a recipe her on DIS or a recipe site I just copy and paste it into my file with a note as to where it came from.