How do you organize your recipes?

[Anonymous]

I've been trying out recipes with my family for the past year to create a monthly meal plan. Now I have a bunch of recipes (in addition to the ones that are old favorites or seldom use). Years ago I tried to print out on recipe cards, but I'll never keep up with it. I just got a bunch of 8.5x11 plastic sleeves in order to write or paste them on card stock and put in a binder. But before I embark on this, I'm wondering what ideas others have for doing this. What format do you use and how do you actually organize the recipes (by meal or region or type)? This is my goal this year! Right now my system is a pathetic jumble in two manila folders: recipe favorites and recipes to try. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP, this is exactly what i have though i do not print them on cards but on regular letter size paper. This is comfortable cause i can get out the recipe easily if i need to, and when i am cooking the sleeves protect from water / staining.

[Anonymous]

I have a bunch of manila folders in an accordian file. Each folder has a basic category: meat, chicken, fish, pasta, chocolate, etc (about 10 folders). I just rip out magazine articles or print out recipes on line and stick them loose in the folders. I use a nice file organizer set that I got at a bookstore so it doesn't look like a regular work accordian file.

[Anonymous]

NP here, I still use the cards. I've been wondering if there is a software program that would help with this?

[Anonymous]

We use the plastic sleeves, and we got a numbered set of dividers and put them all in a binder sorted according to type - casseroles, fish, meat, poultry, appetizers, desserts, vegetables, etc.

[Anonymous]

7:35 here - we also print out the recipes from whatever website we are using, so the 8 1/2 x 11 paper goes into the plastic sleeves.

[Anonymous]

I use a computer program.

[Anonymous]

I save all mine on allrecipes.com. I organize them under folders of the main ingredient: Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Pasta, Seafood, Breads, Dessert etc

[Anonymous]

MACGOURMET.
It's completely revolutionized my cooking files. You can upload recipes from various sites, you can include pictures of your finished dish, add notes, cross-reference other side dishes or accompanying dishes, search by key word / entree type / ingredient...
Love it, love it, love it.

[Anonymous]

Def want to try MacGourmet. Right now I have a binder and also save recipes on the food network site. You can even add your own there.

[Anonymous]

OP again, I have some recipes saved on epicurious, but I usually like a hard copy. Sounds like the 8.5x11 sleeves is a good way to go, thanks!! I'm off to check out MacGourment now, never heard of it! Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

I have a good number of recipes saved as Google docs. The advantage is that I can look them up from any home with an internet connection. And if I find a recipe I like while perusing the web at lunch, I can save it while on my work PC and have it available at home that night without remembering to print and bring it home.

One day I'll print them all out on letter-sized paper, punch holes and put them in the recipe binder we received as an engagement present. It has dividers for apps, meat, poultry, desserts, sides, etc. After I do a wedding album and baby book....

[Anonymous]

I'm really interested in MacGourmet. It sounds like several of you recommend it. Yes?

[Anonymous]

I have five or six binders, each designated with its own category:

Weeknight Dinners
Special Meals (for entertaining, or Sunday dinner when we have time to mess around)
Breads, muffins
Desserts, cookies

I also have a separate binder for holiday stuff (meals, Christmas cookies)

When I find a good recipe I three-hole-punch it and put it in the relevant binder.

We plan out our meals for the week on Sunday mornings, referring to the Weeknight Meals binder.