I guess I could abbreviate it to “PO” because that’s what Ken was when he found out about the mistake I made. Not really … he doesn’t get upset about stuff like that. And for those wondering, it wasn’t a life-altering mistake or anything … we’re not going to lose our house or cars or anything, it just made things a little difficult in a stressful time. It’s all taken care of now, and life goes on.
When we took apart the hutch and moved it into the breakfast nook, I moved all of my cookbooks into it. But as me and my mom were moving them, I remembered a recent post I read on Organizing Junkie about donating cookbooks you don’t use. The idea was met with a little resistance among some women, but I am NOT attached to cookbooks. I have a few favorites, and I do tend to collect the old Southern church cookbooks since they have the BEST comfort food recipes, but I could easily do without a few of the other ones. In addition to my paper cookbooks, I also have a virtual cookbook on Delicious, as well – you can check it out if you want.
Anyway, I decided to try to consolidate my most-used recipes into one binder. Since this will be a binder I use often, I bought a pretty one on clearance from Target.
The first page is a print-out of my Google calendar menu plan for the current month.
Then, I have all of my recipes divided into the following sections: appetizers, beef, bread, breakfast, cakes, chicken, cookies, dessert, fish, pasta/rice, pork, salads, soups, veggies.
I used clear page protectors since cooking is messy.
Or maybe I’m the only messy cooker out there? ;)
I plan to |1| print all of my recipes that are stored online and then print them as I save them, and then |2| go through and type up the recipes from the 4×6 cards my mom made me when I moved out on my own, and then |3| go through my cookbooks and type up the recipes I want to keep so I can donate the books I don’t need anymore.
So this is potentially a HUGE project that I’m not going to finish today, but I’ve made a good dent in it.
My ultimate goal is to end up with a binder (or 2) of recipes that I actually use … so if I find a recipe, make it, and end up not liking it, it goes in the recycle bin.
Now it’s your turn … how do you organize your recipes?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Your binder looks fantastic and so organized. My recipe organization project started out like yours but I didn’t get very far….they’re still in piles and in all sorts of different sizes. I think being consistent is the key.
Wow. I am inspired Keli! I have a mess of cookbooks and recipes and a binder literally STUFFED with loose tear outs from Real Simple and other places I’ve grabbed recipes from. I have a favorites folder with links saves and I have a virtual cookbook on Real Simple. I’m a MESS! Now I need to do something about it!
I always get so inspired by your blog. I love the recipe binder. I so need to do that too. Yes, my pages will be in page protectors too. :0)
Good lord, woman…you are SO DANG ORGANIZED!!!!! Will you come over to my house and give CPR to my recipe disaster zone?
I agree with Heidi, your blog is inspiring! Maybe I will finally do something about it after all… : )