How do you organize your recipes?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I am wondering how others organize their recipes? My old ones are in a large file box. Now I organize them in my computer. I have files for various things such as casseroles, desserts, main dishes, crockpot, and so on.

How do you organize your recipes?

[cat lover]

I'm stuck on the old fashioned way of organizing them. I have a stack (8 of them) of 3 drawer 3 x 5 metal cabinets; we built a wood cabinet around them with a door opening in the front. Then my cooking magazines get torn apart and put in plastic sleeves and organized into binders by magazine date. Then I have 3 shelves of cookbooks that I have organized by: small paper backs, spiral bound, etc. My fat free and low fat all go into the kitchen cookbook shelf. And on the counter I have a wooden double 3 x 5 box for favorites. Soon I will haveto come up with another method for my favorites! I have a stack I've copied that are in my "to use and decide" file. If we make it and don't like it I just toss it out.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I am getting to like the computer way or organizing.

[cat lover]

I've had two computers "fry" so am a little ????? to do that. I know I could put them on a CD, but then I can't have the recipe in the kitchen with me and would have to print it out anyway. So for now I'm STILL stuck in the stone age!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Me too. That is why I like flash drives, CDs, and the Internet. They give me a way to organize them without all the paper. But, I still have the paper for my older recipes.

[cat lover]

You are more computer savy than me! LOL But how do you use the cd's; I mean don't you have to still print them out when you want to use one?:eek:

[DeBora4BobbyL]

With a CD or flash drive, all I have to do it insert it in a computer and bring up the recipe that I want to use. I read it off the computer screen unless I need a hard cop. Then, I print out the recipe. The cool thing is that it is always on my computer. If it is on a CD or flash drive, then I can also take it to another computer when I go to other places and it is easier than carrying around a box of recipes.

[cat lover]

:eek: LOL; my memory wouldn't carry it to the kitchen! LOL:confused: You know they need to invent a pull down computer with CD drive on it that you can mount under a cabinet like they have all those other things! :eek: May be they already have!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

My kitchen and family room are one large room, so I can do this. In my RV, my table is next to where I cook, so it works out.

[dallasalice1]

:D Organize?????? Whats that mean? At my house its.......well its just not done! LOL I have recipes everywhere & I mean everywhere. Even my bathroom has recipes for homemade scrubs etc.....

All are welcome to come help me cuz I sure wouldnt know where to start.

Central Illinois area; guest room is full of Avon so must give lots of notice to clear out a place for yall to come try & help organize those pesky recipe boxes. I started out collecting by purchasing the cards that are numbered & go into those plastic boxes.:eek: Boy does that give away my age! LOL

Alice

[cat lover]

:D Organize?????? Whats that mean? At my house its.......well its just not done! LOL I have recipes everywhere & I mean everywhere. Even my bathroom has recipes for homemade scrubs etc.....

Alice


I have several 3 x 5 boxes that I keep for other "recipes". I have one for gardening tips, one for craft tips, one for cross stitch saying to crossstitch, and one for cleaning tips. I just go so tired of "looking for them" LOL

When we moved into our retirement home 3 years ago I made myself a promise: organize,organize, and more! Have managed to pretty much to keep to that. That is how my Food recipes became so organized! Sure makes it easy (most of the time LOL) to find the special one I want!:)

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I will say that another benefit to the computer is that if you cannot remember where you filed your recipe, you can use the search feature to look for it.

[Lizzie-boo]

Hi everyone,

I have tried a number of systems -- I guess my system is still evolving, too. I have a red binder (three-ring) that holds all the family favorites. Once it's tried and approved, it goes in there. (I just recently subdivided it into two binders, for sweet and savory as the one was getting way too full.

Then there's my folder system. I use a large four drawer filing cabinet and have folders with all my categories and subcategories. I used to glue the cutout recipes onto pages in large three ring binders, but they got to be so heavy and cumbersome, and then once they were glued in, they really couldn't be organized any further to keep similar items together. So, I'm working on clearing those out and filing them into my folders. I'm not sure this is a wonderful system, but with the volume I have, it sorta works.

Debora, I like the idea of using the computer, but have lost some over time, crashes, software failures, etc. Again, with the sheer volume I have it would take me years to either scan or type them.

Like cat lover, my computer is nowhere near my kitchen, so I too would have to print them out to use them. Sigh!

Thanks for starting this discussion. I'm eager to see what everyone else does too.

Liz

[DeBora4BobbyL]

First, I want to welcome you to MM Lizzie. If you get a chance, hop over to the Welcome thread (http://www.momsmenu.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3557#post3557) so that others will see that you are here or the newbies can meet you! I look forward to talking food with you.

[Coll]

My way to organize my recipes is to toss them into a drawer. LOL. I need the organizer bug to bite me.

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Coll, you crack me up! I have friends just like you. "I know right where they are. They are in that drawer!" LOL

[cat lover]

Oh one day it will BITE! LOL I got bit about 3 years ago,but I STILL keep gathering more recipes and what do I do with them? Well, I have a stack of computer printouts that is about 18" high on a bookcase! LOL

[Coll]

DeBora, that drawer is a mess, but guess what, when I asked Miriam to get me the recipe I posted for the Chicken Croquettes, she knew exactly where to find it.

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Coll, my fil is the same way. Once I cleaned his office and I was careful not to move any of his paperwork. He still had trouble finding things because I had to move them a little to clean. LOL My mil is the total opposite. I always feel like I'm getting the white glove test when she comes to visit. He "junk" drawer in her kitchen is so organized. Everything is in order! I think it defeats the purpose of having a junk drawer! LOL

[Coll]

I'm glad that my sister in law (she raised my husband) never comes for a visit. She is a neat freak and I'm the total opposite.

If you are coming to visit me, come anytime. If you are coming to look at my house, call a couple weeks in advance.

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I'm with you Coll!

[cat lover]

Same here, we enjoy life! I told all my family and friends when we moved that I'm over living to clean! I keep it clean, but white gloves wouldn't necessarily be happy sometimes at my house. you know the old saying~ We have killer dust bunnies! LOL

[Yummys_Girl]

I use the Big Oven recipe software on my computer to organize them and import new recipes I find on the internet.

As I try them I print them out onto 3 x 5 cards and file them in recipe boxes. I like them both printed and on the comp, in case I have computer troubles, I wouldnt want to lose everything

This software lets you print your own cookbooks, as well, so at sme point I may go that route once I have enough tried and true recipes

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Yummy, what does the software cost?

[Yummys_Girl]

I cant remember if the big oven software was 29.99 or $34.95. You can download a free 30 day trial at www.bigoven.com (http://www.bigoven.com)

If you try and like it I think there is a way I can send you a referral coupon for $5 off if I remember right.

I found out about it on the internet and did the trial a few days to see if I liked it. I had to have it. It is so simple and easy to use. I cant imagine being without it now. I have never tried Mastercook but big oven is supposedly much easier to use than Mastercook, from the reviews I have read

[cat lover]

Old fashioned me;I still like the handwritten recipes best of all. I have so may I've printed out from the computer, but once tried I still handwrite them on a 3 x 5 and put it in "my favorites" file. I enjoy using different style 3 x 5 card and designing some of my own on the computer.

Has anyone else ever designed any of their own 3 x 5 cards?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Yummy, thanks. I think I will do it the way I've been doing it for now. I have folders for each dish type (main, essert, and so on). Maybe when I an finished with college. :)

[cgmeyer]

i use master cook 8.0 & big oven 1.8.9

both are good but have slightly different programs. i think big oven is more user friendly.

take care, claudia

[DeBora4BobbyL]

First, welcome to MM. If you have a chance, check out the Welcome thread so that others may meet you. I hope to be able to get to know you and share recipes.

I have heard other people say they use software. Is it expensive and easy to use?

[barbszy]

I have them all over the place.
--a whole bookcase of recipe books in the kitchen. I do have a list in my PDA of recipes I like, what cookbook they're in & the page number, so I can find them easily.
--index cards in 2 drawers in a recipe file box.
--a binder full of clippings, glued to blank pages & organized loosely by type (but that's basically a black hole)
--an "inbox" on top of the fridge with recipes I print out or cut out, waiting for me to try them
--a small (half-size) binder that is my basic working cookbook, along with the index cards
--Mastercook software--but if I like the recipe I make sure I have a hard copy someplace.

It's a really bad "lack of" a system. But it's all I've got :rolleyes:

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, I have so many recipes in so many places too. My computer cannot keep up with all the recipes that I use on a regular basis. But, as I come to need them, they are added to the database. Also, as I test new recipes, I add them too.

[cat lover]

i use master cook 8.0 & big oven 1.8.9

both are good but have slightly different programs. i think big oven is more user friendly.

take care, claudia


Welcome to MomsMenu! I've never heard of big oven; what does it consist of?

[katharina]

I am wondering how others organize their recipes? My old ones are in a large file box. Now I organize them in my computer. I have files for various things such as casseroles, desserts, main dishes, crockpot, and so on.

How do you organize your recipes?

Organize? Recipes are supposed to be organized? Ooops! :o Okay, so I don't really have a good system. I have a number of recipe boxes filled with cards and I keep filling them. I *highly* prefer hard copy to computer copy. I've been online for 12 years now and I just never wanted to put my bajillion recipes on the computer for storage.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Organize? Recipes are supposed to be organized? Ooops!

Too funny!

[raggd3]

Hi all, I just had to read this thread.

I was given a Bakers Rack a while back and decided to put all my cookbooks, recipes etc. on it.

Well, it took days. I had recipes all over the house. But I got rid of some books and thinned out paper recipes.

Now I have cookbooks on one shelf.
Magazine recipe books on another and loose ones in a drawer and one small 3x5 card box to hold favorites.

At least they are all in one place. lol And I can find them.

[barbszy]

After rereading this thread I feel pretty motivated to weed out some of my paper recipe clutter! I actually think that most of what I have saved can just be thrown out.

I also received 2 40-year-old cookbooks from my great-aunt, in mint condition, that I need to find a place for. My cookbook shelves are stuffed.

[raggd3]

To me, cookbooks are like old friends. I hate to part with them. And I'm the kind of nut who can sit down with a cookbook and read it like a novel, cover to cover.

I wish I was better organized so I could write up a Family Cookbook to pass on to my kids. I have numerour recipes that people like, just need to put them together.

[ajrsmom]

To me, cookbooks are like old friends. I hate to part with them. And I'm the kind of nut who can sit down with a cookbook and read it like a novel, cover to cover.



Maryann, I totally agree! My Mom is the same way. I bought her a Betty Crocker cookbook for Christmas and there's a lot of time that when I talk to her at night, she will say that she was sitting there reading that cookbook--and I don't think she has cooked anything from it yet. ;)

That's ok....I just keep reminding her that her daughter would love to have her cookbooks when she is finished with them. ;)

[mamab]

My mom gave me her old cookbook the last time I visited. It was really funny. I could look through and see the pages that were used most often, they had the most splatters. ;)

[katharina]

I also received 2 40-year-old cookbooks from my great-aunt, in mint condition, that I need to find a place for. My cookbook shelves are stuffed.

I have some cookbooks that age, too. I love having them but I find that I never actually look at them anymore with all the recipes available on the net. Where did you decide to put yours? Stored away or displayed?

[barbszy]

Katharina, I will not store them away. Right now they are sitting in the same spot, waiting for me to find a place for them. I do have a stack of 4 (shorter in height) old cookbooks that sits on my dining-room hutch, along with a decorative coffee mug. I have a large shelf unit of cookbooks in the kitchen and these will probably go there--I just have to pick out 2 or 3 other books to get rid of first! LOL!

[mamab]

I have a special shelf for my cookbooks. Unfortunately, it's on the wrong side of the bar for me to reach easily when cooking. But, there's no room on the side closest to the electrical plugs or oven.