Tuesday’s Tips: Organizing Recipes

I’m willing to bet that 2/3 of you that have individual recipes that are just lying around that need to get into some sort of organizing order!  Well, I have a few tips that may just help you. 

BINDERS, BINDERS, BINDERS

• 3-ring sheet, 6-l/2″x8-l/2″, with two recipe pockets on each side (4 total) Plastic pockets with paper “page” in center. Find ones to fit your existing cookbook binders.
• Use sheet protectors!!  I actually do this for many other important documents;)

FILING CABINET AIN’T JUST FOR THE OFFICE!

• Use a filing cabinet. Simply label a header under a general topic such as Pork, Desserts, Seafood, etc, then sublabel folders under them. For example, Desserts are further broken up into Pies, Puddings, Icecreams, etc.  Pork is further broken up into the categories of Mince, Cutlets, Ribs, etc. Then when you get a new recipe,  simply file it into the appropriate folder.

PUT THOSE CD’S & COMPUTER TO WORK

• After you’ve saved an assortment of recipes, try categorizing them in folders and burn them to a CD-RW.  Use a rewrite CD so you can go back and add to it.
• Create a Folder with sub-folders in My Documents.  When you find a recipe, highlight, copy, open up notepad or word, paste recipe, and save!  Then, when you’re ready to use a recipe, simply find it and print it:)

OUTLOOK EXPRESS DOES MORE THAN EMAIL

• While surfing, you’re bound to find recipes that you can email yourself so have a folder designated for those recipes.  Consider adding sub-folders for the different categories of food.

PHOTOS, SHMOTOS!

• Consider using a photo album.  Many recipes come on those cute little index cards.  Simply place it in a slot and viola, you’re done!

OLD FASHION PEN AND PAPER

•  Write down all recipes you’ve used or want to try in numbered spiral index cards. Number is on the top right hand outside corner. Then take the back page of a school spiral 8 1/2 x 11 paper and write down the favorites and ones you want to try with the number book they are in. This makes for a quick location.
• have - a folder of recipes to try and - a notebook of recipes to keep.The notebook is divided into “meat main dishes,” “one dish meals with meat,” “meatless main dishes,” “sides,” and “party food (desserts and dips and stuff).” When you try a recipe,  write down the date you tried it and leave it out on the counter until after dinner. If it turns out good,  move it to the “keep” notebook and put it in a page protector in the appropriate section. If the recipe needs something (more salt, less water, whatever),  write that on the recipe next to the date and put it back in the “try” folder. If it isn’t any good, it goes in the “circular file.”  If you want to use a recipe out of a cookbook,  print it using a scanner/copier so it can go into your “system.”  But the key to any system is to actually DO it. Your own systems might work fine, you just have to put the recipes where they belong when you’re done.

Some more resources for organizing your recipes!

Mom’s Online Recipe Organizer

Recipe Manager Software

Cath Kidston Ltd Recipe Organizer

Recipe Organizer Deluxe Software

Cook’n with Quick and Easy Collection Software

My Recipe File!