In search of CL recipe organization tips...

[michellemseymour]

I always find recipes I want to try in each issue of CL. My current organization method is outdated at best...I cut out the recipes and put them in category envelopes (i.e. shrimp, vegetables, pasta). Now I have overflowing envelopes and it's overwhelming. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to organize and keep track of recipes cut from CL magazines?

[browneye]

Here's my method:
1. Get new CL issue in mail
2. Read it backwards (from Back to the Best, then the Index, then to the health related articles)
3. Mark up recipes I want to try in the Index
3. Carry it to bed
4. Lose it under the bed
5. Dig out last months issue from the pile of cookbooks and magazines on the end of the kitchen table and read it instead.
6. Get on the BB and read recommendations.
7. Read a review on a good recipe in this months issue.
8. Tear through my house looking for this months issue.
9. Stack all CL's in a pile on the living room floor.
10. Locate this months issue and make the recommended recipe.
11. Lose the issue again.

As you can see, I need some MAJOR help with personal organization.
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Sorry can't help.

[LGBurns]

Here's a previous thread on this subject: http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/003943.html

[Lynn B]

My method(s) are far from perfect, probably not even really worth sharing!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif But basically it is something like this: read magazine cover to cover (like a novel, I take my CLs to the beach! Really!) Use posty-notes to flag recipes to try. When I make something that we LOVE and I will definitely want to make again, I photocopy that recipe and those recipes go in a special recipe box.

However, that doesn't even begin to address or resolve my ongoing dilemma of the misc. reams of paper (w/ OTHER recipes to try) that I am accumulating (at an especially alarming rate ever since I found this BB!) They are just stacked willy-nilly, here and there in an embarrassing no-method-at-all-to-the-madness random fashion! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

But one thing I do know is that I NEVER tear anything out of my magazines!!! OHMYWORD! I just could not do that!!! Add that to my (ever-growing) "Quirks/Phobias" list!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Lynn

[This message has been edited by Lynn B (edited 05-02-2001).]

[Mbart]

browneye, we must be twins separated at birth! I laughed and laughed when I read your organizational system. I join you in your plea for an easy and efficient system!!!

[KValley]

browneye You are hysterical! Thanks for the guffaws emanating from my office- my dog is worried and wondering what the heck is going on
http://www.harrythecat.com/Smiley/a13.gif

Came back to say that after several years of cutting out recipes, I am now keeping a simple list on my computer of the recipes from each month that I want to try, and ones that I have tried, with a small notation (good, bad, ugly- whatever). This works for me, because I am always forgetting which issue a certain recipe was in... I contemplated creating a database, but that's just too complicated. Then I buy the Annual cookbook and throw out the previous year's issues.

I am considering MasterCook...

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-02-2001).]

[Darlin]

Browneye: I LOL!! This is how I organize my CL magazines!!!!!!

[schuh]

Ditto, Browneye http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Sometimes I get around to clipping recipes and filing them in a recipe box (I have a separate box for "light" recipes). But it gets me in trouble on this board because I don't know what issue the recipes come from. Not the best method but I'm out of room to store magazines. Nightstand, under the bed, cookbook shelves, three magazine racks, etc. are full.

[kima]

Loved your post Browneye and boy can I relate!
As a result of this BB I have a huge and evergrowing pile of recipes printed from here. I have no system yet for filing them so there they all sit. When I decide I want to make one ofthem I have to go through every one - sometimes I tear up the whole kitchen looking. They are my cookbook bookcase, in a cupboard and by my bed. Sometimes I just give up and print off another one. I have decided my fall and winter project will be to sort through them and put them in folders!
Thanks for the laugh. Sorry I can't be of more assistance. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[KitchenWitch]

My husband used to laugh at me. I would pull out 1000 books and fluttering pieces of paper looking for something to make. I would wade through all the things that I had tabbed before and found 80 more things that I would say "remind me to try". Only to go through the same ordeal again, and again and again. I finally made a spread sheet with the recipe name, which book it was in, page number and approx difficulty level. Also added a column for rating that way I could add the ones that we really liked to MasterCook cookbook. Now as soon as I buy a new cookbook, I add anything I want to try to my list and have a quick option on those what's for dinner nights. For all those tips/tricks and recipes from the net, I have a binder that I call my web book.

[catharine]

Browneye, you are too funny http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I began reading your numbered list and thinking to myself, hmmm...that is an.... um.... interesting system. I just started to crack up when the magazines made it under the bed. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Ha, ha, ha. Thanks for the levity.

My system began as a system, and is now anything but. I have two binders...there are vague categories but there are too many to fit in one binder so now there are two random binders (ugh).

I used to photocopy recipes and that got to be too much, so then I cancelled my subscription. This wasn't really a solution. I am back, and now I have tons of old magazines plus the new ones stacked on the kitchen table with flags all over the place. I don't want to put the magazines back on the shelf because then they will get lost on the shelf again and I won't do anything with all of the recipes I want to try.

My husband seriously suggested putting a desk in the kitchen, since he has this odd notion that one is supposed to eat off the kitchen table, not use it for storage. Yeah...he is strange like that.

I vetoed the desk idea. Now what? I think the solution lies in having more time/money/energy/meals-in-a-day to try all of the recipes. I have told my friends that I would be happy if I could cook all day, every day (or most days). I'll let you know if this plan ever happens and how it works out http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

For now, I think I have motivated myself to put the magazines away (for the time being) and do something will all of the recipes I copied off of this board and into various files.

[Darlin]

Browneye: Thought I'd let you know.....I related so to how you "organize" that I printed off your response. My husband found the copy still in the printer, read it, and thought I had written it. Pretty funny, huh??

[KathrynY]

Another ditto, browneye! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I must tell you that from reading this BB and the CL web site I was convinced that my May issue had arrived in the mail and I had somehow misplaced it, so I SCOURED the house this week looking for it since I wanted to try the Chocolate Mousse recipe. I was mighty testy when the magazine didn't turn up, thinking I was going to have to buy a replacement copy. Imagine my surprise when my May issue showed up in my mailbox yesterday, two weeks later than usual!

I have MasterCook, but can't ever find the time to type the recipes in, and I'm too cheap to subscribe to CookPac, although the egroups mentioned in the previous thread look promising. Thanks, LGBurns for that link.

[jazzyjas]

I can't be much help in organization but I just wanted to put in a plug for the Century 21 easle back recipe binders -- I love these and just found them again and I'm ordering a bunch so I can have one for each catagory of food -- entree, sides, deserts, etc They dont have them on the web site but if you contact them they will be more then happy to send a catalog

Jas

[SHERRY]

jazzyjas, what are the century21 binders...do you mind posting a link or #? Thanks http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[carolyn.1]

jazzyjas I'm also interested in these century 21 binders.
Carolyn--

[michellemseymour]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions...I would be interested in knowing more about the Century 21 binders...sounds like that may be the system for me!

[Deedy]

Browneye: I have to agree. I thought I was the only one who put their magazines under the bed!! Then, if I take one down to the kitchen, very often I forget that I did that and there I am....under the bed again, sneezing like crazy, and looking for that certain issue!! I drive myself nuts!!