STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

LA Gal · Kenneth Cole

How do you organize/store your recipes?

jessallen · Nine West

Thank you so much for posting this question! I've been trying to find a good way to store my recipes as well. I have mine in a file folder and it's a HUGE mess. Hopefully someone has some good ideas!!

Alikat · Kate Spade

I have a recipe box that I keep index cards in. My mom gave it to me for Christmas a couple years ago with some family recipes printed out on index cards. I don't update the box as much as I should, though!

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

I'm bad, I just shove all my recipes into a shoe box. Every time I want to find a recipe, I have to look through the whole box.

mikacat · Coach

i store them in a stainless recipe box with recipe cards with dividers in it.

If it is a recipe someone emails me, i get off the net or a magazine -- I cut it and tape it to a recipe card. Not very pretty I know, but functional.

wicked · Coach

I copy all of my recipes onto index cards and store them in a recipe box. I also use a two-pocket folder for recipe pages I rip out of mags.

laken1 · Hermes

I bought cookbook software. NEVER DO THIS!! It is completely impractical. You either have to print out your recipe or have your computer in the kitchen - I myself have a laptop so I can do that, but I'd rather not. Since I've put recipes into the software, I haven't used recipes in there yet. So I will be getting ideas from here as well.

ETA: I do have several blank cookbooks & when I find a recipe I love I put it in the book. My issue is with the recipes that I "collect" & haven't tried yet.

-- Edited by laken1 at 23:08, 2005-12-15

relrel · Marc Jacobs

i have a manilla folder of the recipes that ive stolen from my mom. the woman who gave birth to me and my love of food however, has a much better way of doing it. she does the box with index card thing and scrapbooks. it's much easier to do it the scrap book way though, specially if you read cooking magaizines or print stuff off of the internet. just buy the larger three ring binder scrapbooks (like school notebook size) and put your recipes in there. she keeps little post it notes too in there that helps her. like for instance, if the recipe is for three dozen cookies but she usually triples it then she just writes down the new numbers on a post it and slides it in next to the recipe. or like "dough is sticky, use pam on hands for rolling". when you want to make something, you just pull the page out of the binder (three hole punch remember, just click it open) and it's ready to go and you don't have to try and lug a cook book around or hold your page open. plus, you can't get yucky stuff all over the actual paper recipe page because it's behind those plastic sheets. brilliant, yes? yeah, my mom is awesome.

oh yeah..for even better organizational purposes, just buy those little seperator things they sell at staples, ya know, the things with the tabs that you write on...christmas cookies, soup recipes, fancy appetizers, etc.

-- Edited by relrel at 23:20, 2005-12-18

curiouscookie · BCBG

relrel - I like your mom's way of organizing.

I am on the lookout too and love the idea of the clear plastic - smart to keep out the mess :>
In my search for a new system I came accross a suggestion to keep 2 folders/boxes,
1. For recipes not yet tried,
2. For the ones that have been tried.

I would also organize it by type as suggested ie Bread, Soups, Appetizer, etc and also add sections such for regional/international cooking.

Anyone have any ideas on organizing electronically?

NCshopper · Hermes

We have a manilla folder with all our recipes in it too.

Relrel's mom's method sounds perfect. I think I'm going to have to do that. Thanks Mrs. Relrel!!!

erin · Chanel

i used to have a word file on my computer, but that computer died and i didn't back it up, so now i am back to paper. i bought this really cute binder from borders that says "recipe book." it has dividers for different sections (baking, appetizers, etc) and an adorable image on the cover:

i am trying to find it online, but i can't.

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

I started cooking a 5 - 6 yrs ago when I first moved out. Every recipe was from the internet! I'd print out the recipes and started collecting them in a 3 ring binder (a la school student). I then put dividers in by section - Beef/Chicken/Desserts/etc...

It fits well in with all my other cookbooks which I have accummulated, but I go back to my binder the most often. Also, if you use iVillage, Food Network, or epicurious, they have recipe boxes you can save your faves. SO when I ruin a copy, i just go back to my "box" and print a fresh copy!

Some people also use plastic cover sheets and wipe down when dirty.

MissMee · Kate Spade

I have a book that I got as a shower gift from the hostesses that all the guests participated in by adding a recipe to it. I think it was from Hallmark or something, but it has pages for writing recipes, sections that look like a photo album, and sections that have pockets. There are dividers that are labeled for basic stuff like Appetizers, Main Courses, Sauces, Beverages, etc. and then there are stickers and blank dividers for making your own. I should get a bigger one, but this one serves its purpose.

I also think a photo album w/ the slots would work pretty well. The slots are a good size for holding index cards or things you cut out of mags.

Ally S · Kate Spade

I use a three ring binder and page protectors as well, it really works out well. I also use tab dividers to seperate the recipes. I have them labeled chicken, beef, seafood, appetizers, etc.

llegs · BCBG

I'm a little haphazard myself, but I'm working to tame the beast that I call my recipe pile. I'm a recipe addict. In fact, I collect cookbooks. I've got quite a few cool ones including one I found at an antique store from the '20s. Anyway, I've now started my own cookbook - it's a three ring binder that came with dividers and recipe sheets. As I try new recipes from the "pile" I add my very favorites into the book. By the time it's full I'll have one rockin', very personal collection.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

Ally S wrote:

I use a three ring binder and page protectors as well, it really works out well. I also use tab dividers to seperate the recipes. I have them labeled chicken, beef, seafood, appetizers, etc.

ditto.