Well, if you're like me, you have recipe cards, newspaper clippings, post-it notes etc thrown in a basket on the kitchen counter. I do have one shelf in the kitchen that is devoted to cookbooks and that stays pretty organized; I've set up my own notebooks with catagories that pertain to what we like, but when I print a "good one" off the computer, or someone hands me a copy of one, I toss it into this basket and about once a month I sort the pile and make an effort to try some out. Our favorite meals (that need to be written down) are usually at the top of the heap, since we make them more often. I never really got used to keeping them in a 3x5 box. I still use the cards, but store them in the notebooks.

I remember seeing an interview with Julia Child and she has all her recipes catagorized and in several filing cabinets in her office. I can't even imagine having that many! I wonder how many she's actually tried?

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), October 19, 2001

Answers

I used to keep mine in a recipe box but after it ws filled, I spent several weeks, putting them into a big binder, I used alphabetical dividers, and glued or taped them on cheap looseleaf paper. Now when I get a new recipe I just put it in the pocket of the binder and after I've tried it I stick it in the proper place.

Julia Child has probaly tried all of them! My favorite quote of hers is, "The nutritionists are ruining our food!"

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 19, 2001.

I like the Taste of Home and Quick Cooking magazines and keep the card-size recipes in recipe boxes. Then I have file folders of recipes to try or that don't fit in the file box. Well, I'd better admit that I have a couple of large shoeboxes of clipped and not filed recipes too. But those boxes were recently reduced from many boxes - on the road to being organized. I like your basket idea, Charleen!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), October 19, 2001.

Mine is black, about a foot wide, 10" deep and 1 3/4" high when it's closed.

When I open it I see a color screen. My recipe box says "Dell" on it. ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 19, 2001.

Good one Gary, glad to se you posting, hadn't read anything from you for a while!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 19, 2001.

Yep, Gary! I've got all mine on the computer as well. Sure does make it easy to find what you're looking for!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 19, 2001.

I use the binder method-when I see recipies I want to try I stick them in the pocket, then later tape them into a catagory.

Does anyone else have this problem-I see a recipe that I think will be really good and I try it and my family just looks at me like I've searved them sheep's brains or something. If I just go in the kitchen and throw stuff together, they gobble it down. I guess its not a problem, it just takes the fun out of looking at cooking Mags.

-- Kelly in Ky (ksaderholm@yahoo.com), October 19, 2001.

I have a 3X5 box with clippings, cards, notes, etc. I have not tried them all. I think I'll make it a fun winter for us and have at least one thing out of the box at each meal. Then if we like it, I'll put it in a binder. And until that's done, I'll try to forget that there is any such thing as allrecipes.com!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 19, 2001.

Aren't the recipes on the can?

-- Just Duckie (Duck@spazmail.com), October 19, 2001.

I have a recipe box only for those that have been tried. All others go into a folder til approved.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 19, 2001.

What does it look like!? A mess!

-- Ardie/Wi (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.

I would love to put all my receipes in my computer, But I don't think I would have the time to put 10,000 receipes in mine....Radar

-- Bob (snuffy@1st.net), November 20, 2001.