Recipe Book Makeover

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I have been busy moving all of my recipes from an old binder to a new one. It is pretty fun actually. I have found a lot I want to try again, some I am throwing out due to unhealthy ingredients, and rewriting some with the changes I make in my head! This way the kids can follow them without me saying, "Leave out this and change that etc..."

I bought a huge 3" binder so that y=should last me for several years. It has been a neat project so far.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 22, 2002

Answers

Melissa, I like looking through my old recipes and the ones I've found in magazines, net, etc. I use a 3 ring binder as well, which is currently a work in progress :) When I put recipes in the binder I put them in the plastic sheet protectors. Ones from a magazine I just tape or glue on a standard size piece of paper. Old ones handed down from my grandmother I retype and print out, so everything is standard size. Isn't updating recipe books a fun thing to do!

-- Polly (jserg45@hotmail.com), March 22, 2002.

This is something I REALLY need to do. It just seems overwhelming to me. Do you tape them on paper? Give me some pointers, maybe you will help me be brave enough to start.

-- Marci in NE Ohio (Marci@amazinggrazefarm.com), March 22, 2002.

You've motivated me. I dread this task but knowing others are out there sharing my pain will keep me going!!God BLess

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), March 22, 2002.

I tape the ones I can, and others I am rewrting on college ruled notebook paper,which I have many packages of. It is already hole- punched to fit the binder. It owuld be nice to put them in the page protectors, but they are kind of expensive around here. I did get those divider pages and am putting them in between letters.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 22, 2002.

I agree, Melissa, those page protectors can be expensive. When I first started out I just had a few and would put in all recipes in a certain category. Now I have found a source where I can get 60 for under $4.00 so I don't feel that is too bad.

-- Polly (jserg45@hotmail.com), March 22, 2002.


What I do with the page protectors is definitely put a blank sheet of paper in between, so that you have a nice white ground to paste the recipes to on both sides. Another solution is the old sticky photo albums (that are bad for photos) but they are a bit bulky for the amount they hold.

Melissa, I have to laugh, because I thought this thread was about making over recipes to have less fat, and when I see those columns, I take one look at the low-fat version and make the original!!!

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 22, 2002.


That's what I've been doing the last week or so. I've bought 2-3 "healthy" cookbooks, and have been weeding out some of the others. I've also been tossing a lot of recipe cards and clippings that I've saved, due to the high fat/calorie content. But I'm keeping the family favorites regardless. Many recipes can be changed to some degree to make them healthier and the rest I'm not going to worry about as they are usually only served on holidays or other special occasions. I don't see an occasional splurge as being life threatening if we're eating healthy the rest of the time. I have found myself tossing a lot of recipes though. :)

My filing system is pretty simple. I keep a file cabinet with dividers for different categories like you would a recipe file (beverages, desserts, main dishes, etc.) When I clip a recipe out of a magazine it gets tossed into the file and that's what I draw from when wanting to try something new. If it doesn't qualify as a "keeper" it goes directly to the wastebasket. Clippings I save go into a large magnetic page type photo album, which I categorize using those little stick on index tabs. Recipe cards that are keepers (mostly family favorites) go into a big photo album which has the plastic see-through 3x5 pockets. I use the index tabs to categorize this also.

So other than my recipe books, I have my file of untried recipes and the 2 photo albums. Oh, and I keep a little pocket type photo album with a few basic and "must have" recipes in our camper.

-- Lenette in OR (kigervixen@webtv.net), March 22, 2002.


After inheriting an Aunt's cookbook I was delighted to find her favorites had stars or comments next to them. Since then, I have been trying to do this and to write the favorites in the front cover.

That way when I make brownies--I dont' have to wonder where I got the recipe or make the wrong recipe in the right cookbook!

It's nice to think that someone will enjoy my favorites after I'm gone. Our Aunt had good taste and I think of her always when I make her favorites!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), March 22, 2002.


If your recipe books are in good shape (as in might pass for new), and you don't feel it is worth it to sell them (used bookstores are hardly worth the driving time, because they can be sooo picky), either donate them to the library or save them for the occasional emergency gift (like for the teacher in the other thread--still can't get over the blatant asking for one! Tacky, tacky, tacky.).

Wrap ahead of time and use a post-it to note the title on it. That way you're always prepared.

Another option is when you upgrade your computer, save your old one just to input recipes--I'm not sure what the best recipe programs are for this, you can even use File Maker I think--takes up less space than books, you can pay your children to do it if you don't like to type, and you can then create custom cookbooks for family gifts (Aunt Mary's recipes, for example, after someone has deciphered the handwriting!).

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 22, 2002.


been trying to get my mom to put all her recipes in the computer so i could create a cd for everyone in the family, and old family pictures too. no luck so far.

-- steve (stevetamara@mindspring.com), March 22, 2002.


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