Feeding Frenzy

By Lauren

February 24, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this

I started a recipe collection in Word on my computer. For old family favorites, I had to type them in. For recipes in magazines, I go to the magazine’s website and copy the recipe and paste it into Word. For other online recipes, I do the same. This helps me to search in Word by title or ingredient to find the recipe I am looking for. I’m happy so far but I probably don’t cook as much as you do.

By R

February 24, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this

Same as Lauren, for recipes I find online or have e-mailed to me. I have folders organized on my PC. For recipes I don’t have in soft-copy, though, I tried for a while to get them typed up but as it stands now we have a kitchen drawer full of hard-copy recipes, in no particular order. Sometimes that leads to grabbing a recipe for a future meal that I otherwise have forgotten about - but that’s mostly just a good rationalization for disorganization.

By Stan

February 25, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this

I do the same as above. Keep some electronic copies of must haves. I’ve been meaning to create a simple database in Access, so I can search it easier, but haven’t gotten around to it.

By Angela

March 9, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this

I definitely feel your pain. I have this same problem. Between recipes I mark in cookbooks, those in magazines, and things I print out or flag/bookmark on the web, I feel I am drowning in “recipe things to do” and can’t get these resources organized. I have tried it all - binders with sheet protectors, file boxes, random piles, etc. and, like you, ran out of shelf space one day. For me it’s a guilt thing. I feel bad for not utilizing and taking advantage of all the great ideas I just know are in each issue! After becoming exhausted with trying to keep up cutting out and filing recipes to try, I have a new strategy. I have let go of the guilt and no longer feel I “have” to read and use each issue.

Because I subscribe to three magazines that come monthly, I resigned myself to the idea that I will not ever get to read them all completely and cull recipes from each. A new batch will just come the next month, LOL. So now when I read one I take time to really enjoy, perusing articles and flagging things, and at the end of the month I make a list of those I truly think we will, actually, make someday. This goes on a sticky in the front of the issue. Anything I print or tear out gets filed in an accordion file (organized by month, because I like seasonal cooking). So far, so good. I’m slowly culling back through my binders and tossing that system, preserving only the ones I really think we’ll try and enjoy. Meanwhile, the actual magazine only gets kept for one year. After a year, I will toss, toss, toss because I figure I will not have time to go back. I will just replace last year’s with the new year’s issue. That’s all I’ve got room and (I’m learning!) time for :)

Hope this helps, and I look forward to reading others’ ideas.

By Angela

March 9, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this

PS I meant to add - I do NOT keep mine electronically, because I already spend way too much time on the computer. But that is probably a great solution for folks who aren’t already at a desk all day.

Happy cooking!