It's Fall but these loose-"leaf" recipes are outta control
My letter-sized, loose-leaf, computer printed recipes are nearing a pile nearly two and a half inches deep. Anyone have any suggestions for or links to an awesome (read: not boring Office Depot binder) way to store them?
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19 Comments:
I converted the bulk of my printed/torn recipes to the computer years ago. If you still want something 'hard copy', why not create a book via Shutterfly or similar? You can add graphics, notes, etc...really personalize it. Also turn it into a gift...
finewinendine at 4:46PM on 10/30/09
I just use file folders. Not very creative, but it works for me.
CJ McD at 4:54PM on 10/30/09
I'm with finewinedine on this one. Go digital!
Onepot at 4:54PM on 10/30/09
I do the binder thing because I need a hard copy to make the meal and the computer is in the back of the house. How do you use digital in that case. There is a television in the area is that a possibility? I am so not a computer person, I don't even text.
DELICIOUS at 5:03PM on 10/30/09
I just make a bookmark folder in my Firefox browser personally. With many subcategories: salads, fish, comfort foods, try me's
But if you're transferring receipes perhaps these will help:
- go digital with Cook'n Recipe Organizer 8.2
- Ina Gartens Barefoot Contessa Recipe Organizer
- Pepperpot Recipe Organizer
- Propped up easel style Umbra Portochef (pretty small tho)
- If you can transfer to cards try Bon Apetit Binder
hungrychristel at 5:16PM on 10/30/09
I've started handwriting recipes that I find online rather than printing them out. Last time I moved, I took an afternoon, sifting through my HUGE pile of recipes, kept the ones I liked and either hand wrote them into my notebook or just taped them onto pages.
This is my *favorite* cookbook now - and although it's not very organized, and it's got TONS of stuff spilled on it, it's got character, and I know where ALL of my best recipes are stored.
ec_washington at 5:30PM on 10/30/09
I used to just set the laptop on the counter, but I've accidentally sent more flour onto that sucker than I will admit to my boyfriend (who actually owns the laptop). Shhhhhhhhhhhh!
My binder is absolutely boring, but I put the printouts in page protectors and keep a Page-Up thing on my counter. That way you can just wipe it down if you splatter or spill stuff on it (which is why I haven't "just gone digital" with my recipes either). The DIY book things seem nice, but my personality is a dangerous combination of lazy and cheap, and the binder/page protector makes for easy additions to the book as well.
joyyy at 5:32PM on 10/30/09
joyyy, that is how my binder is handled, with page protectors. I do purge it a couple of times a year, when I have too many new ones. I use dividers for chic. meat, seafood, etc... I am now actually up to 2 binders and think I need to purge again soon.
DELICIOUS at 5:43PM on 10/30/09
I have 2 sturdy 3-ring binders with wipe-able covers- one for baked goods (breads and things) and desserts, the other for meals. It holds computer print-outed recipes and clipped recipes from magazines or wherever - they all go in clear plastic page protectors. The binders have pocket things on the inside of each cover and that's where I stash the recipes I haven't "filed" yet on a page.
The system works for me because it's humble, usable, and corrals my disorganized self into some kind of order.
moibec at 6:25PM on 10/30/09
Mine are in page protectors in my binder. I need a bigger binder, though!
Or more binders. @moibec-I like the organizing idea. Some day I may have the time to do that with my recipes.
soozm32 at 6:51PM on 10/30/09
I keep my computer-based recipes in a folder on my harddrive, and print off disposable copies when I need them.
benbenberi at 9:42PM on 10/30/09
I don't understand the concept of keeping that many recipes. I probably have 6 or 7 recipes that I ever look at with any regularity, they are for things that I found to be flawless and didn't want to futz with. Having hundreds of recipes sounds crazy to me, unless they are in the form of cookbooks. Of course it may just be my A.D.D. talking...
Pavlov at 9:54AM on 10/31/09
i use a binder too. the recipes that i love & use often, i write out by hand on white lined paper. i also have a section of recipes that i haven't tried yet. (depending on their success i either add it or chuck it.) interesting articles and pictures go in there as well. plus, recipes i think my family or friends would like end up being compiled there until i mail them off. i really enjoy decorating the cover....currently i this incredible photo of greasy fried chicken resting on brown paper-think i got it out of gourmet at some point. always makes my hungry looking at it tho! (the other side has a ridiculously yummy ass cupcake photo)
gastronomeg at 10:35AM on 10/31/09
If you are on a Mac, there is a program called YUM which is really good. I've been using it for years to organize my own recipes. I have yet to find an application that has as many useful features without cumbersome bells and whistles.
As for all those magazine tear sheets & clippings....I recently scanned them all and saved them as PDF's so I could retain the original photos, comments, etc....it was a project I had been putting off, but finally just bit the bullet and just did it.
2qrs at 11:14AM on 10/31/09
I use binders as well..with dividers for different categories. Expanding on Meg's idea...there are binders with a clear sleeve on the front where you could slip a picture in the front to decorate it...they are available at office supply stores. You could also decorate it yourself ala scrapbook style. I don't know of any cool ready made binders like that..but I'm sure a web search would turn something up!
I'm like you though...I have a good size stack of recipes to go through, organize & purge as necessary!
mepolo at 12:29PM on 10/31/09
A few months ago I started using MacGourmet Deluxe. Plenty of bells and whistles there for a modest price. I've copied in recipes from all sorts of web sites & blogs, even SErs.
The shopping list feature can be adapted to use as a freezer or pantry inventory. This was one of my "must haves", along with a meal planner function.
whoot at 3:31PM on 10/31/09
I bookmark anything interesting I see online. I used to write all mine down on recipe cards and kept them in one of those little tin recipe boxes, but then I recently started a blog so that they're stored somewhere and so that I can share what I'm making with friends.
yayfood at 10:10PM on 10/31/09
I use a binder for the ones I want to be sure to keep and that I won't know where to find again. But I use it less and less. It's so easy to search for a recipe online, and I usually have a good idea of whether it sounds like it will work.
lemonfair at 8:47AM on 11/01/09
@mepolo: "there are binders with a clear sleeve on the front where you could slip a picture in the front to decorate it..." Yep, exactly. The binder has a clear sleeve on each side that you can slide stuff into, plus it's wipe-able. Any office supply store has them. In fact, this little thread made me go thru my binder again this weekend & tidy it up, so thanks! :)
gastronomeg at 10:44AM on 11/02/09