Receipe book?

**momof2inpa** · 07-19-2007, 11:01 PM

I am thinking about making a receipe book for my hubbys family for Christmas (yes- it will take forever so I am starting it now!).

I was deciding between receipe cards or a book type form and I decided that a book form should hold up longer. Does anyone know where I can a blank receipe book or any ideas on how I can make a nice one? Thank you!

**wanderinggrandma** · 07-19-2007, 11:26 PM

If you have a Kinko's around your area, they will put those plastic spines on books for a reasonable cost. Use cardstock so the pages are sturdy. I love family cookbooks or church cookbooks. I think that is a wonderful idea.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 07-20-2007, 09:19 AM

When I made mine several years ago I used a regualr 3 ring binder from Office Depot. Got one with the plastic covering so I could decorate the front of each family members. Then I used the plastic sleeves. Typed the recipes on the computer and printed them out. Mde notes on them like: Great grandma used to cool this in the basement or mom always made these in the summer and raised the dough in the hot van in the driveway. I also went throught my family photo albums and made copies of family cooking pics. Things like my babysister (42) sitting in her high chair covered with Sunday night spagetti. Old pictures of grandma making cookies in her kitchen (she's been gone 12 yrs now). Also included several photos of the whole family sitting down for special meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Has really made the book a heart felt family tresure. The slip in sheet covers are nice too because they keep the recipes clean. The notebook is sturdy enought to stand on the counter and theirs room for additions in later years. A word of advise. Put yourself on a time table. So long for gathering recipes, so long for photos and give yourself a week to assemble everything. Guarentee I'd get everything liad out to assemble and someone would need me or the phone would ring, etc... Finally got up late one night and worked throught the night to finish it. But my sisters and nieces loved theirs.
We also staged some photos. Took other grandma whos now 90 and put her in the kitchen mixing up martzipans and took pictures of her. Took kids and put them in helping with things. In years to come these will be great memories as it was a fun day the kids (her great grandchildren) will never forget.

Laurie in Bradenton

**nuisance26** · 07-20-2007, 09:57 AM

~I gave recipe books as gifts a few years back. I used photo albums that held 4x6 photos. I got them at the dollar store. I copied my recipes once by hand onto pretty recipe cards and then scanned and printed a bunch on my computer. Then I cut them out 4x6 and slipped them into the slots. I also included simple homemade aprons with the books. I like Laurie's books alot better and I'd have done that too if I'd had the time. Sounds really nice!~

**momof2inpa** · 07-21-2007, 08:40 AM

Thank you everyone! I went to Walmart yesterday and got 3 ring binders and the seperating sections and got some cute scrapbooking paper from Joannes fabric (they were on sale for 16 cents! and I had a coupon!). I need to find the appropitate sized 4x6 card holders though (all the ones I found were too small for the binder or too large). I was thinking about going to kinkos to get the books made but I found cute single picture holders that would be cute for a recipe card holder so I decided on the binders.

I don't have many pictures of my hubbys family so I will add little comments to what I know or have heard stories of. I started to decorate the outside of one and I gathered up a few of my receipes that I know they would enjoy and I will start getting their receipes next month- I have got to try to do this with out them knowing what I am doing! Or should I let them know what I am doing so I get a better response?

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 07-21-2007, 08:58 AM

Suggestion for getting recipes from folks:

#1 - I made that item the other night and DH said it wasn't right how do you do it?

#2 - You remember that item you made whenever I'd like to try it what's in it?

#3 - I'd like to surprise DH by making that item how do you do it?

#4 - I'm looking for a good that item recipe don't you have one?

I ran into the same problem with old pictures of family members but after I gave the cookbooks as gifts several people came forward with ones I didn't know about and we added them. I also mentioned to everyone after the gifts were given that I was looking for more pictures. After the fact doesn't hurt it saves the memories.
Good Luck!

Laurie in Bradenton

**momof2inpa** · 07-22-2007, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Laurie in Bradenton

Suggestion for getting recipes from folks:

#1 - I made that item the other night and DH said it wasn't right how do you do it?

#2 - You remember that item you made whenever I'd like to try it what's in it?

#3 - I'd like to surprise DH by making that item how do you do it?

#4 - I'm looking for a good that item recipe don't you have one?

I ran into the same problem with old pictures of family members but after I gave the cookbooks as gifts several people came forward with ones I didn't know about and we added them. I also mentioned to everyone after the gifts were given that I was looking for more pictures. After the fact doesn't hurt it saves the memories.
Good Luck!

Laurie in Bradenton

Thanks Laurie!!

I actually tried to call my MIL yesterday to get a few receipes off of her and thank goodness she was not home since I was going to tell her I am putting together a cookbook and needed some receipes! I think that was God's way of saying- don't do that! So far I have 7 receipes hand printed for everyone (only 1 is from my hubby's grandma that passed away earlier this year- that is the only one I have!) and only 68 more to go! I think I may ask his mom for her cookie receipes so I can try to make some myself before Christmas (I will say for dd's birthday party at school!).

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 07-28-2007, 01:39 PM

As you write up the recipes from relatives don't list the recipe as Grandma's Chocolate Cake. Put down more information for futrue generations, like Grandma Pearl Ludetke's Christmas Cookies. By really personalizing it the book becomes that much more of a family heirloom. Also with your pictures tell not only the who, but the where, when and why.
Like for Norman Rockwells Thanksgiving picture you might say, " Thanksgiving Dinner at Nana Wilkowski's home in Crivitz, Wisconsin on Nov. 23, 2007. The devil may be in the details but so is the value.

Laurie in Bradenton

P.S. Sorry it took me so long to remember about this detail, but I'm getting older and things get forgotten easier. lol