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mom2mpr Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Oct 23 2006 at 10:48pm | IP Logged
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How do you do it?
I am between 2 "systems" right now and not sure I like either. I have index cards AND a notebook with plastic pages I can slide the recipes into.
The disorganization is bothering me lately. I like the notebook because the pages can be wiped down and I don't have to copy the recipe--just slide it in. I don't like it because there is no way to find the recipes easily.
I like the index cards filing system-chicken, beef, vegies, holiday, fish, pasta, deserts, muffins, etc. But don't like having to copy the recipes and the cards get messed up and lost! I also have a card in front of each section with cookbook recipes and page numbers to help me out--no copying that way.
Looking for more ideas...thank you.
Anne
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 23 2006 at 11:09pm | IP Logged
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I'm guessing the notebook is a 3 ring binder? you can get the tabbed page seperaters fro the binder.. then you can still use the index card filing system (beef, chicken, veggies etc) with the tabbed binder.. then just move your recipes to the correct space when you add them to the binder.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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mom2mpr Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 6:54am | IP Logged
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Yes, but my notebook will be HUGE!! It may be what I have to do but it will be a big transition, I don't have a filing system with the notebook and a lot of the recipes will have to be redone and then put in the book. I have 3-4 recipes in one page(and glued to paper to boot) But, I may have to invest this time-
Anne
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Servant2theKing Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 8:06am | IP Logged
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I second the tab dividers and three ring binder concept. We recently did an overhaul of our recipes, while copying family favorites for our adult daughter. I still have index card recipes, and I have also added a 4 in. three-ring binder, with tab dividers, for recipes I find online, etc. For either system, keep a plastic page protector and a binder clip attached to the outside...when you go to use a recipe, slip it inside the attached plastic, so your recipe pages stay nice and clean! For the outside of the recipe box, I used a page from an old photo album, which can accomodate small or large index cards. I clipped the plastic sleeve to the front of my recipe box, and the lid of the box slips right over the binder clip. Another advantage to the plastic page protectors and binder clips is that you can hang the binder clip on a cup hook, nail or cabinet hook wherever you happen to be using the recipe, keeping it off the counter and at eye level.
Organizng recipes would be a nice activity on a dreary winter day. You might even decide to share some favorites with a few friends, for an old-fashioned recipe exchange! Hmmmm...Loveliness of Cooking?
__________________ All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 10:22am | IP Logged
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you can always do several binders too.. so you don't have to handle a really large binder.
I have a little recipe book.. it was my moms and I haven't found any like it.. but it doesn't hold all that many recipes.. what I use it for is to hold my special recipes.. ones that I use over and over all the time or ones that I need for holiday baking and the like. Most of the time I can just grab this little book to use.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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MamaJen Forum Rookie
Joined: March 04 2006
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 12:20pm | IP Logged
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I've got a post up on my blog about my "Kitchen Binder". I keep my menu plans, favorite recipes, and a "reference" section for things like measurement equivalents, spice substitution charts, etc.
Kitchen Binder story Part 1
I am thinking that as I refine this concept, I am going to end up with 2 binders. One to keep on my desk that contains all our favorite recipes - things I'm likely to cook in a monthly period, kwim? In here will also go my menu plans, shopping lists, pantry inventory, reference section, etc. Then, I think I'll create a second binder, where I'll keep holiday recipes, recipes I want to try in the future, old family recipes I want to keep but don't often use, etc. That way, the binder on my desk doesn't get too big and is easy for day-to-day organization. But, with the second binder, I will have a place to keep other recipes, too, without making either binder too cumbersome.
You could always have a desk-top binder and then a index card system for the other stuff - whatever works for you.
These are some great ideas, I LOVE talking about all this household management stuff! :-)
MamaJen
mommy to 4 boys (9.5, 7, almost 6, and 4)
Aquinas Academy Adventures
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 1:09pm | IP Logged
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I have 12 binders, one for each month. The contents have been culled from years of subscriptions to food mags (I finally stopped last year). Then the REALLY successful ones are supposed go to my food blog, but then I haven't been keeping up with food blogging lately, so the system needs to be improved somehow.
__________________ stef
mom to five
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mom2mpr Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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Curious--does anyone use computer programs?
Anne
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MamaJen Forum Rookie
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Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 9:40am | IP Logged
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I tried for several months to utilize a computer-based system. I have a PDA that I love, and I discovered a computer program that would let me upload everything to my PDA - I was so excited, thought it would work great. And, really, it *is* a great program (RecipeWorks). But, I found it SO combersome and time-consuming to input all the information, get the computer to "talk" with my PDA,etc - I just ended up not using it at all. Finally decided that it wasn't me, it was just the difficulties of the computer program and threw in the towel. So I created my simple 3 ring binder system. Which so far is working SO much better for me. Not quite as much fun as all that technology, lol! But definitely more useful on a day to day basis for me.
Just my experience - anyone else think differently?
MamaJen
mommy to 4 boys (9.5, 7, almost 6, 4)
Aquinas Academy Adventures
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 9:48am | IP Logged
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mom2mpr wrote:
Curious--does anyone use computer programs?
Anne |
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Mine is still a work in progress. I'm using a computer program (MasterCook) as the basis, but I'm printing out into a binder. My computer isn't in the kitchen, and I end up having to print out what I want, and then I'm printing the same recipe several times.
So I'm working on the family cookbook, with a binder that has organizational tabs, to organize the recipes and save on paper. ;-)
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 11:13am | IP Logged
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if you go to downloads.cnet.com -- there are several options that you can try before buying, or try the shareware which are free. i've tried three or four of them in the past and didn't find anything really that worked for me, so i stick to my binder-and-blog system. almost everyone i know who uses a software recommends master cook though. there also used to be a joy of cooking software that has the joy of cooking cookbook in it AND a feature where you can add your own recipes. i used to have it here but ended up not using it much so i pitched it.
__________________ stef
mom to five
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Patty Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2005 Location: Kansas
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Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 1:45pm | IP Logged
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I have a recipe notebook and I love it! I use the plastic page protectors as well. I bet your notebook won't be as huge as you think, IF you put in it only the recipes you really use periodically. Also, some things I've made a lot I don't use a recipe for...spaghetti, potato soup, baked salmon, lots of things really.
Perhaps you could keep special recipes (hoidays) in a separate notebook.
Patty
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
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Since I share recipes online.. I've got a folder in my email for recipes.. then I can c/p to/from online and have access there.. can sort by title or date to find something.. can print it out if I want a hard copy to use.
But it's just a normal email draft, no special program.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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ElisabethGrace Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 17 2005 Location: Texas
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Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 10:59pm | IP Logged
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I am currently using several binders with page protectors, divided into sections like a cookbook to store recipes.
I have binders for recipes I want to try, tried and true recipes & bulk cooking/OAMC recipes.
Angela
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Oct 26 2006 at 12:14am | IP Logged
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I keep recipes on my computer in Word, with different folders for main dishes, side dishes, desserts, etc. My computer is located in a nook adjacent to the kitchen, so it's very convenient. I don't even print out the recipe. I just read it from the computer screen.
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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