How do you organize your recipes?

[Nirak]

My spices are under control, but my recipes, that's another story! My big project for when the kids go back to school is to organize the 1'high stack of computer print outs and back issues of CL into a reasonable system. I love my 4x6" cards, but I think I am going to have to go to a binder system. However, I dread converting all those old cards. I'm kind of half-in, half-out of two systems. And, I don't want to do it all on the computer, because I don't want to have to print everytime I want to cook and my computer is at the opposite end of the house. Any tips?

[crc77]

Hi!
I was in the middle of just this thing yesterday! My kitchen table was covered at least an inch with papers, old mags, printouts etc. I've been putting this off for years and have finally reached my breaking point trying to find old recipes. It always seemed an impossible task:confused: I've been using Julie Morgenstern's Organizing from the inside out and it's great! I also quit worrying about getting it perfect the first time!!! (I think this was the big breakthru.) What I did yesterday was sorted that impossible pile into categories- veggies, French etc. Then I had a 2" binder (a nice, durable kind with D rings) and put the mag articles and printouts in there. Pamphlets and appliance booklets went into an accordian file. The recipes I already had on 4x6 index cards stayed in their box. I'll see if this works- having a binder and index box- if it doesn't then I'll know why or what is driving me nuts and can then find another solution. I can't really see taking the time to recopy or whatever- plus friends still share recipes on the index cards and I tend to print out alot. I also "purged" before I put the stuff into the binder- This was hard but I did toss stuff. Oh- the recipes that are keepers went into the binder. The "to trys" were organized but kept loose in folders. Let me know what you end up doing!
cheryl

[Peggy C.]

I've been putting this task off for a rainy day, well it's pouring in Cleveland today....guess I should leave work sick so I can do this...

I'm also 1/2 index cards and 1/2 binder, broken down into main dish, salad, appetizer etc.

[Jasmine-Rose]

I'll be working on the recipes after I get the spices under control. Meanwhile, here's a suggestion to speed up the process for some of us who have 8.5x11.0 papers, clippings and index cards: Why not tape the clippings and index cards to an 8.5x11.0 sheet of paper and then put in a binder? Saves typing them into the computer just to get everything to a consistent size. When I tackle this I plan to do that and to put the sheets of paper in those plastic sheet protectors. Index cards with writing on both sides can then be taped just at the top and when in use, slipped out of the protector so the card can be flipped over. The sheet protectors will also help keep the recipes clean and reduce wear. Now the big question - how do I handle the index and rating system? That's a project for another day!

[BlueMoose]

This is also on my list of things to do. I'm planning on putting all of my print outs in a binder. I'm still in the process of putting my favorite keeper recipes into the computer. I make print outs of those and keep them in a binder also, so I don't have to turn on the computer every time I need a recipe.

[gertdog]

I tear out magazine pages that have recipes I want to try. The pages are sorted into an accordion file by type of dish, as mentioned above (main dish, pasta, salad, veggie, dessert, etc.). Then when I'm menu planning I sift through the file's contents and pull the recipes I plan to use. Recipes that work well get typed into Mastercook. Recipes that don't work go into the recycling bin.

I do have a large binder as well... sometimes there's an entire article that I want to keep, and those are stapled, slipped into sheet protectors, and placed in the binder. I just have way too many loose pages with recipes on them to use a binder for all of them!

Jasmine-Rose, my computer is at the other end of the house like yours, and so I do occasionally have to print out a recipe to use it. I'd like to come up with a more efficient system, but I do like that I'm slowly building up my own cookbook of tried and true favorites in Mastercook. I can also share those recipes easily with friends.

[KValley]

Earlier in the summer I finally organized my BB printouts and recipes from other (not CL) magazines that I had cut out.

I put them in a 3-ring binder, slipping each page into a sheet protector.

My categories: Main Dishes; Main Dish Salads; Beans; Vegetables; Breads and Desserts

I still have to go through a slew of recipes I or friends have printed on recipe cards. I have a feeling most will get tossed as I haven't looked at them in many years.

[LaraW]

You are all too organized for me....

I have a bag that came from of all places Franklin Covey (my ORGANIZER no less!) and I have all of my clippings, plus blank cards and my recipe box in there. I have been trying to get the clippings recipes onto the cards.

One thing that I have had trouble with in the past is that we try a lot of new recipes. While that is good, sometimes we have something that's really good and we can never find it again. I bought a notebook full of blank pages, and whenever we have something that is worthy of the index, we write down the name of the recipe, when we had it, and where the recipe is located. Then we can find it again. I got the idea from a book my grandma has that is a similar thing, but it is called "Where in the world is that recipe".

One other thing I have been doing is writing in my cookbooks. This was really hard for me, especially with a mother who is a librarian, but it really works well for us. We just will write a comment about whether or not it was good, how time consuming/fast it was, and if we thought that it would be good with some other ingredient I can make a note for another time. This has been useful for when I need something that is easy, I can flip through my book looking for a comment.

[gertdog]

Lara, I had to laugh when I read your post about writing in cookbooks!

I too was brought up to respect books. "Don't dog-ear the pages, and never ever write in them."
But I do write in my cookbooks, and it's really helpful. I note what we liked and didn't like about the dish, what changes I made or should make next time, etc. I do try to write lightly, in pencil, though! :o

[Angela]

I'm very organized with everything in my life (sometimes I feel I'm anal about it), so my recipes are all in a specific order.

I have a recipe box, recipes I haven't tried yet are in the front of the box in no particular order and tried and true recipes are in their place--main dishes, vegetables, desserts, etc.

I have a 3-ring binder for all the CL recipes that I've torn out (I use to keep all the issues, but after subscribing for 5 years there got to be too many!). The binder is organized into the same catagories as my recipe box.

But I still occasionally can not find a recipe I'm looking for :rolleyes:

[hendsl]

I never went the binder route.
I have many (100+) cookbooks. When I try a recipe and it is a keeper (in a cookbook), I flag it with a post-it flag, make notes next to the recipe, and add it to the list of keepers in the front of the book (this is like my own personal index).
When I see a recipe I want to try in a magazine I tear it out and file it in my recipe card box. I have a big recipe box- Longaberger holds cards 4x6. I keep the tear outs to a minimum (not enough room). If I absolutly love the recipe I copy it on a recipe card. If it doesn't meet the family standards, it is thrown away. At the front of each section within the recipe box I have a card with all my favorite recipies and where they are. For example, I might have 15 different recipies for chicken casseroles from 15 different sources. They are all listed on this card. In otherwords I have an index to all of my favorite recipies within my recipe box. I hope this makes sense.

[Jewel]

You know, Cheryl has a great idea for me!! I never thought of an accordian file! I have waaaay too many computer printouts for binders. Just the idea of sitting down and trying to put each recipe in a protective sleeve and placing it in a binder is enough to send me to the tequila bottle...

But on the other hand, the bottom drawer in my kitchen is a total mess, and trying to find a 'favorite' recipe in that 6" high stack of paper is crazy! I've often sat down on the kitchen floor with a dog on either side wondering what the heck I'm doing down there, trying to rifle through and find that dang Chicken Enchilada recipe that "I know I just saw a week ago"! I don't have the patience for the binders, but I MIGHT have the patience for the accordian file! I need to stash those pieces of paper somewhere quickly to get rid of them, and I need to be able to grab them quickly too...If I had the files set up as Beef, Chicken, Soups, Pasta, Veggies, etc, I would have a MUCH smaller pile to grab and rifle through! Not nearly as organized as you binder people, but much more organized than I am now!!

Thanks for the idea, Cheryl, I'm off to Office Depot after work!! :D

[amcleod]

Gawd, I should be working but this is much more fun!

I got a rolodex that fits 4x6 cards for my recipes. I keep them in alpha order by main ingredient. Of course, I still have some computer printouts/recipes ripped out of magazines that aren't in there though. some of them because they are too long to fit on a 4x6, others because I am lazy

For the people who are at half cards and half binders - an idea just occurred to me about using binders and having 4x6 recipe cards. You could use sheet protectors for those long recipes that haven't made it to the cards yet...and you could get photo album pages for the 4x6 cards! I am talking about the photo album pages with pockets - they come in 4x6 sizes. I think I may convert to this system!

[crc77]

Jewel- You're welcome! I get so many great ideas from this list that I'm so glad to give back.

Now that Rolodex idea is intriguing....:D

Cheryl

[Nirak]

I will definately incorporate the index into my "new" system. That will help keep track of cookbook recipes I like and don't want to overlook when I am planning. One thing I have done in the past is instead of copying a recipe for a friend I type it on the computer (formatted to print 4x6), because chances are I'll have another request sometime. I also want to do a better job of keeping an "entertainment" diary with what I served, how it was received, and who was there. I used to be able to remember all these details, but not lately! this is my key project for the fall, so I'll let you know how it goes!

[MKSquared]

4 x 6 index cards will fit into photo archiving pages! You can slip the cards into the spaces that photos go into, and the pages (if they're not punched already) can be 3-hole punched and go into a binder.

After that, use index dividers to organize them into different categories.

:-)

[sneezles]

No one ever told me I was suppose to be organized! I think of a recipe and I just sort of know where it is, book, magazine, stack of printouts, whatever...and when that fails, as it happens quite often, I just come back here and something else will catch my eye!

[crc77]

I like the idea of an index, too. I did Thanksgiving last year and did write everything down but come to think of it, I don't recall seeing it in that pile as I organized.:confused:
My biggest problem is keeping up with being organized. I can get organized but never invest the time or energy to maintain. Cleaning up- yuck!
Cheryl

[CHRIST1NE]

Talk about anal... I'm way out there... I need help..... and obviously have way too much time on my hands!

Anyway, here is my system:

I can't bare to cut up my CL's so I now get double issues - one to keep in the CL binder (I tend to read them like novels) and one that I can cut up. I got the past issues on e-bay.

I have two three ring binders. One is "What's for Dinner" and the other is "What's for Dessert" each is divided into appropriate catagories.

One section is each book is for copies of the Monthly CL index. On that, I highlight the recipes I want to try in yellow and the recipes I have tried and will repeat in green. If it's a dud, it gets crossed off.

If the recipe is a keeper, I cut it out and put it in the appropriate section of the appropriate book. I also have little post-it's beside the recipe with hints and thoughts for next time.

I have the cumulative index from 1996 - 2000. I combined all of the years together and then divided by catagory. Then each index is put in the front of that section of the book. For example I have Desserts broken down into 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and it is in the front of the desserts section in the "What's for Dessert" book. The highlighting system is the same as above - yellow to try, green have tried and will repeat and crossed off if dud. When CL posts the index for 2001, I will add it to multi-year index.

Then I either type the tried & true recipes into Mastercook or get them off the board if they have ben posted.

That way, I have a backup system - God forbid something ever happen to my books, they are on the computer and vise versa.

It actually makes meal planning alot easier. If I'm in the mood for chicken, I look through the chicken section of the "What's for Dinner" book and look for yellow if I want to try something new or green if I want something good.

Another section in my book is for special occasion menus. I get the menu ideas off the board and things that I have done myself. That way, whnever I have a dinner party, all I have to do is pick a theme (casual, elegant, BBQ etc.) and everything is outlined. And because everyuthing is in Mastercok, I can print a shopping list and scale the servings if I need to.


Told you I was out there - do you believe me now :)

[Peggy C.]

I also want to do a better job of
keeping an "entertainment" diary with what I served, how it was received, and who was there.


Great idea.....:D
ps how do I get the persons name that I quoted to show up?:confused:

[JennyFal]

I'm vaguely familiar with Mastercook. Could someone please describe it to me & let me know how you like it. Can you add your own recipes to it? I searched for it at Amazon.com & they have a Mastercook Cooking Light version and a Mastercook 6.0. Thoughts about these two???

[cjm]

This is an "on-going" question/project for me and my recipes. Every time this subject gets asked I always get great ideas...ie indexing "Favorite Recipes" and also "Entertainment Diary". I'm in the process of creating a 3 ring binder/cookbook.

I would like to add one comment regarding writing in your cookbooks...I have a hardback cookbook that belonged to my grandmother (from the WWII era). She once-in-awhile would make comments or adjustments to her recipes - writing in the cookbook. It is a real treasure (to me) having her comments in her own handwriting!!!!!!

cjm

[Little Bit]

I've got most of my favorite recipes on 4x6 index cards, and use some photo albums to hold them. I use some relatively cheap ones, (Made by Pioneer photo Albums) that are mostly vinyl. I print out a label in big stylish letters to tape over the "Photo Album" words on the front cover. I found mine in a few photo shops. My favorites hold 96 cards, but that larger style seems to be discontinued, so I've bought a bunch of the smaller ones. Not as comprehensive, but hey, I've got all my Soup recipes in their own holder!

I use sheet protectors in a binder for magazine pull outs and computer printouts, but usually transfer real keepers to an index card, with the recipe transposed into my own 'secret recipe file code' so it's easier to follow.

The thing I have trouble with are the recipes from the internet. I've got a HUGE file on a ZIP disk that's nothing but recipes, with an entire Cooking Light subdirectory, LOL!

[megclark]

I also use the accordian file method. I place recipes from magazines and print outs from the internet in there. When I use one and I like it, I place it in a notebook and write any comments I need next to it. If I don't like it, it goes in the trash!