Bluepoppy - I realized the link I sent was for Lulu's paperback books. They do hardcovers also. Lot's of options out there to create fun memories for friends and family. A little something to do in those winter months when the forum dies down!

I have my own 3" notebook binder that I started this year. I put index tabs in it so I can find my recipes more easily. I'm with the others though on the safety issues on canning. They know much more than I do that's for sure and I don't want to try and re-invent the wheel so to speak. I had all my canning recipes filed in one tab called canning of course in my old cookbook but this year I have really gotten into it and needed MUCH more space! So I had some 3" notebooks and made me one. I have a section on how to, on high acid foods and low acid foods I found on one of the sites Carol, Linda Lou, and Dave suggested. Also found some information on the Ball site and added it there so it would be more handy for me as I am canning. On one of the sites I even found a graph like thing with the pounds and the times for canning several foods. That will come in really handy. I've been printing out recipes that are approved on here as well for my personal cookbook. I want to get my daughter which is really good at making pretty covers and things on the computer to make me a slide in cover for the front of my canning cookbook. OH and another thing, like I have done with my cookbook I made years and years ago with a notebook as well, I use the plastic sheet protectors for each recipe. I found a box of 200 of them at Sams Wholesale warehouse last year. This protects my recipes from getting food on them. I also can take out each recipe I am using and lay it on the cabinet so it's more handy. Just some ideas I have came up with over the years for my cookbooks and canning book.

Great site and great idea! I have one problem with it though, that background. I found it very difficult to read text on it. It just really bothered me. Thanks for the info. It's a great idea.

Thanks guys! Grainlady - you are just a font of information!! I keep copying and pasting your little "gems" into a separate document that I then keep in front of the "breads" section of my three ring binder where I keep all the recipes I collect - keep them coming! Unfortunately, the bread's already long eaten so I don't have any pics! Sorry - I'll remember to take some next time! I just made two free form round loaves. Off the top of my head, the recipe I used called for 1 1/2 cups oatmeal and 3 cups of all purpose flour. I simply used 1 1/2 cups oat flour instead of the oatmeal. So there was 4 1/2 cups total flour. I used 1/2 cup honey because of the other recipe calling for 1/2 cup maple syrup. It was my first time making it and since I wasn't following the recipe exactly I figured I'd just do it and see what the results where. It made two small to medium loaves of bread. It seemed to rise fine - I'm no expert bread maker by any means, but it did double in size for the first rise, then I halved it and made the two loaves and let them rise again. I read the Pig's label and theirs had oats, flour, yeast, and cider and I think that was about it. The recipe I used had the two flours, the yeast of course, milk, butter, and the honey. I'm one that likes "heavy" bread tho. I'm after a hearty, dense bread. I like lots of fiber and whole bits of seed and groats and things in my bread. Chewey center and crusty outsides. I've gone to the When Pig's Fly store a couple of times myself when we take a trip up to Kittery. The 7 grain one is my favorite, but I also like the oat & honey. I love their apple, chocolate, orange pistachio cranberry, the olive and red pepper - hell, I love every one I've ever tried! I try to not eat too much bread because I'm trying to watch my weight and I could easily sit down and polish off a loaf of good bread all by myself and be perfectly happy. But I do have the "taste" for it now so I do plan on making some now and then. I'll try to keep it to a couple times a month so I can fit in my clothes tho!! Lisa