recipe organization tips?

[Sara Noel]

How do you organize your recipes? I'm horrible in this area. I tend to print them off and then fold the paper in half and place it on the side of the microwave. lol I was thinking of using my old coupon file to put them in.

[DJ1972]

i have a binder filled with clear plastic sleeves, when I print a recipe I put it in the binder...that's as organized as I get lol.

[MarshHen]

I do the binder thingy as well. I buy the cheap ones from the dollar store, fill them with page protectors and place recipes I print out back to back. I have one for each recipe cat., and the recipes stay clean and neat when I use them. It's the only solution that I've tried over the years that will work for me.

[baxjul]

I use a binder, and I have my mother's recipe box. I keep the box on the counter, just cause it reminds me of mom!

[AmyMCGS]

I have tons of computer-printed recipes, but now I more or less keep them organized into two seperate groups: to try, and favorites that I'll make again. Within those two groups, I break them down and sort them. I blogged about this a while back, see that entry for more details: http://www.villageblogger.com/cookin...anization.html

[McD]

A lot of people are starting to make recipe scrapbooks now too.

[tervsforme]

I LOVE to cook and I used to subscribe to at least 10 cooking magazines. I used to rip out the recipes I liked and wanted to try because I couldn't keep all of the magazines. I have file folders labeled with each category and have the recipes stored in there. I liked the idea of separating them by the ones I've tried and liked from the ones I haven't tried, so I think I will find something to separate them within the file folder. Thanks!

[Nada.Leona]

My mom gave me a pretty little journal. When I find a recipe I like, I write it out on scrap paper and make it. When and I both give it the thumbs up, it gets written down in the pretty journal. Then I have it forever. I've got my cornbread recipe, my doughboy recipe, my homemade beans recipe, etc. in there.

[pkellyc]

Organize recipes? You mean the paper folder that they were in? The one I dropped on the floor, scattering the recipes everywhere, that I then scooped up, and threw into my cabinet?

[Mom23boys]

I also use the binder method. Anything I print off the internet, tear out of magazines, or someone writes down for me goes into the binder. If we don't like it after tried it, the recipe is removed and tossed in the trash.

[Libby]

Organize recipes? You mean the paper folder that they were in? The one I dropped on the floor, scattering the recipes everywhere, that I then scooped up, and threw into my cabinet?

Hahahahaa!

I too use a binder with page protectors however I have so many that I need go through them and purge what I once thought Id like to try and ones I did try and didnt like vs the new ones.

[BornInSeptember]

I think the important thing is to only keep the recipes you like, and to keep them organized in specific groups. I always rate each recipe, If I know it is a definite favorite and a keeper, I print a full sheet sized copy and put it in our favorite recipe binder. Even if I have a card, or have it in a recipe book, I still make a copy and put it in the binder. I throw out the card and check off the recipe with a note that it's "in the binder". My goal is to get rid of all recipe books and cards. I don't need them if I have the binder and allrecipes.com! The binder has these dividers:

cookies/squares (things that are good for packing in lunches)
desserts/candies (pies, cakes, cupcakes etc)
breads/muffins (pizza dough, quick breads, breadmaker, biscuits etc)
salads/vegetables (any side dish with veggies in it)
appetizers (stuffed mushroom caps, spinach dips, drinks etc.)
poultry
beef/pork (other meats as well get stuck in this section- seafoods)
breakfast/brunch

This works so good for us, because I know any recipe that is in the binder is one I will make over and over again and never lose or get tired of.

beef
other meats (seafood, pork etc)
breakfast