My mom always had a metal box full of handwritten recipe cards, but that just doesn't work for me. I want something larger so I can print recipes from my computer or save pages from Cooking Light magazine. For me, three-ring binders and plastic sheet protectors are the way to go. I can wipe away spatters and shuffle recipes easily.
One of the things I love about sheet protectors is that you can slide in blank paper as a background, so even tiny recipes fit well. (See that little blue oval below? That's a sticker from a spaghetti squash that gives cooking directions.) The background paper also makes it easy to add notes. I love adding notes to my recipes -- tips for making it turn out right, spice variations, serving suggestions, etc. I believe that making notes has made me a much better cook than I would be otherwise because I remember what I've learned.
I take the time to type my favorite recipes into my laptop so I can always have my best recipes with me when I travel. This way I also have backup copies of those recipes and can share them easily with friends. The online folders for the recipe files on my computer match the headings I put on my binders. That helps me find things quickly and easily. Staples office supply store now offers index pages for three ring binders with movable plastic tabs that can be placed either on the sides or on top. I find putting tabs on top makes it much quicker and easier to find my way inside my binders.
In case you are curious, here is a closer look so you can see my headings. The beauty of the binder system, though, is that I can easily change things. For instance, I'm trying to pay more attention to the glycemic index when I cook, which means serving more protein. The number of chicken and turkey recipes is climbing, so I'll probably make a "poultry" section soon.
I have an awful lot of cookbooks, but I realize I only use a small handful of them. I keep The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook, The Joy of Cooking, and a few others close at hand. With the other cookbooks, I find that if I take the time to photocopy the best recipes and add them to my binders, I use those recipes a lot more.
How do you keep your recipes organized?
I've been struggling with this somewhat, although it's probably much easier for me generally since I only cook for one. When I come across a recipe online that I like, I email it to myself and move it into a folder in my gmail account specifically for recipes. Then I can go in at my leisure and print it out. I need to figure out an easy way to organize printed recipes, though, because like you I make notes and adjustments to almost anything I fix. I like the binder idea but have no storage space at all, so I'm not sure where I'd keep them. Maybe just storing them on my hard drive for now.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, this reminded me that you also had recipe binders when we lived in Maryville, and then I remembered the no-bake dessert made with Chips Ahoy, Starbucks frappuccino, and cream cheese. I smiled thinking how sophisticated and worldly I felt making it. It tasted dang good, too, but not as good as herb butter and bread from your breadmaker. Such good times!
Jenny