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Such good intentions..... I'm going to cook this, bake that, etc. Then you get a glimpse of the big pile of recipes shoved in a drawer (or several drawers) and your eyes cross. You don't know where to start....it's too overwhelming.
But, by following these few easy steps, you can get organized, have a great feeling of accomplishment, AND get re-inspired in your cooking.
Electronic Organization Pinterest is the champ here. You can create many different types of boards and keep all your recipes in one place. When you want to cook, just pull up the recipe on your tablet or print it out and you're ready to go.
Paper Organization If you prefer to look at a written recipe like I do (preferably one I can easily read while I'm in the middle of a cooking blitz), here are my easy steps to get them organized, in one place, so you can get cooking!
I have two types of recipes - Keepers & Recipes To Try. If something is successful, it goes into the Keeper arena. Otherwise, I just toss the "oh that didn't taste as good as the picture looked" ones.
Supplies
I've included affiliate links below just in case you prefer to shop in your PJ's and not leave the house :)
I've included affiliate links below just in case you prefer to shop in your PJ's and not leave the house :)
Binder Get view binders so you can slip decorative scrapbook paper into the front/back
Sheet Protectors 8.5x11 with 3 holes
My favorite Plastic Dividers These are hole punched, easy to label and have a great slash pocket on each tab (this is where I put the Recipes To Try). No sense in giving them their very own sheet protector and filing them until they prove to be Keepers.
Step 1
Write the categories you want on post it notes and
separate all your recipes into those categories.
(This is also a great time to weed out any recipes you know you're never gonna make).
(This is also a great time to weed out any recipes you know you're never gonna make).
Step 2
Label each Index Tab.
(I used my favorite Epson Label Maker
).
).
Step 3
Decide which recipes will be Keepers or Recipes to Try.
Step 4
Put all your Keepers into sheet protectors and file them behind each category tab.
Put all your Recipes to Try into the front slash pockets of each category tab.
Put all your Recipes to Try into the front slash pockets of each category tab.
Step 5
Slide your scrapbook paper into the front and back covers of the binder and cut a strip to go down the spine. You can also add any customization you want to make it your own.
- If you're really industrious, you can Type Up all your Keepers (in the same font/size and add a picture if you want). That way they're easy to read (and easy to share if someone asks for a recipe).
- If you have recipes you want to include from Cookbooks, just scan them or type them up and put into your binder.
- Old Family Recipes where you want to preserve the memory that goes with that recipe (I really love the ones handwritten by my grandma or the ones typed on an old manual typewriter). You have a couple of options - put the original into a sheet protector or scan it and put the print out into your binder.
There you have it. All your recipes in one pretty little binder that's easy to get to. Then, if you want to try a new recipe, simply pull it out of the specific Index Tab, add the ingredients to your shopping list, and get to cooking. If it's a hit, you can move it into the Keepers sections. OTHERWISE, just toss it.
