Aside from those on my computer, I keep my recipes in a card file....an oak one that holds 3/5 cards but is 14 inches long so it holds lots of cards!
Linda C

Mine are kept in 3-ring binders. Over the years my collection of T&T recipes has grown to the point where I have a binder for each for savory recipes and one for sweets. Within each binder I can then use dividers to define each category by type of food, appetizer, salad, etc.

I mostly use the full page format for each recipe because I can then make my notes on each recipe, which also include who I served it to. I love being able to take out the plastic protector sleeve with the recipe and sticking it to the cupboard door, and not having to worry about a stain getting on some important measurement. I'll never go back to a recipe box. Not practical at all.

When I started compiling the book (it started out as one, LOL) I vowed to only put in recipes I had made and liked, but know all know how that goes! I'm sure you intend to only pass on recipes that you've tried.

I think your idea of the gift of the recipe collection for your daughter is a lovely one and I'm sure she'll undoubtedly treasure it and pass it down to her family, along with memories associated with the food.

A friend of mine made similar recipe books for most all of her family members. She started a while before Christmas, though and typed each recipe attractively so the format and font of each was the same. Although that was nice, personally I'd just like to have the collection, no matter how it looked.

Be sure to let us know what you decide and how she likes it.

Well, I'll tell you how not to do it... the way I do, which is horrible.

First, I don't have any cookbooks, so the internet is my cookbook.

I print the recipes out and keep them on top of my microwave right on the original computer paper I printed them on. Just loose. Some of them don't even have a title. I've been printing pictures of a sample of the end result (from google images) with the recipe lately. It's just awful sifting through them all to find one recipe, and when I spill ingredients it stains the paper and printer ink runs.

I keep meaning buy a 3 ring binder with dividers and page protectors and re-type them all, but always forget. When I remember I don't feel like doing it. It's one of those things that doesn't really bother me until I need a recipe.

Good luck! I'm sure to glean some tips from this thread. I do think a 3 ring binder would be easier than a box.

I do pretty much like maxmom. If I see a recipe I want to try (usually if it got raves), I copy and paste it into WordPerfect. I have different categories there--like a cookbook has; i.e., pork, chicken, cookies, pudding, vegetables and sides, etc. I also put all the favorites from my recipe box on the computer.

When I get several pages, I print them out. I can get 3 recipes (usually) to a page using size 10 font. I put them in the plastic sleeves and put them in a binder. I have each category separated by those colored tab sheets. At first I wasn't wise enough to type where I found the recipe. Now I do so I can thank the original poster.

I have 3 binders now. One just for breads, cookies, cakes, pies, candy, pudding and breakfast and one for appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, sides and crockpot. The third is all low-carb from when DH was doing the Atkins diet. I need a fourth--one is getting really full.

It's handy because if it gets spills on it you can just wipe it off. If I'm making it for the first time, I'll take the sheet out and write a remark--either a change or "make again"--something like that. Then I know I actually made it. ;-o

Thanks everyone!
Okay....so here's what I'm picturing.......is it a 3ring binder that usually is used for pictures? I can't find those anymore, but all my old ones allow for about 4-6 pics per page. The pics slide in one side.
When you say they are in a plastic sleeve, and then in a binder......do you mean each recipe is in its own sleeve, or the whole page? Sorry I'm being so dense.
I'm like you vacuumfreak.....the top of my microwave is a mess with recipes! I'd love to organize though (the story of my life! lol!)

My daughter wanted some of my older recipes ... I wrote them down (with notes), she typed them up, took them to Kinkos and had them laminated and put them in a 3 ring notebook.

Me ? I have cookbooks (a lot) that have stained pages from years of use :)

I use my kid's old 3 ring binders from school. I bought plastic sleeves from Staples with 3 holes punched in. I print out the recipes and slide them into the sleeves. The recipes are smaller than the sleeve so you don't have to punch holes in them.
I just had to separate the binders with one for desserts. It seems to work well.

The "plastic sleeves" are called Sheet Protectors. I bought a pack of 80 for $3.69 at WalMart not too long ago.

I do like Maxmom and jillq. I print one recipe per page and insert two pages (back to back) in one sheet protector, and then use a binder with dividers.
I do this for tried-and-true recipes.

For recipes that I WANT to try, I print out one recipe per page and then insert it in a duo-tang. Each category has its own duo-tang (costs 10 cents at Staples). When I try that recipe and like it, it then goes into a sheet protector and my binder.

Thanks again.....but a few more questions: So my options with the 3 ring binders are: slide individual recipe cards into slots in a plastic binder page which can be removed, or is there a system whereby I can protect each individual small recipe card and also put it in a binder sleeve.......or I can make each sleeve have just 1 recipe (perhaps a larger page that includes pics and notes). Have I got it right? I guess I need to go to a store and just look through their plastic sleeves and binders and get a better image of what to do! I do like this idea more than just a bunch of unprotected recipe cards stuffed in a box! And I have leftover 3 ring binders from the kids' school projects, that have a sleeve on the front that you can put a picture/label, etc in, which would be cute. Thanks for your help here. You're giving me great ideas!

Catherine, check your Hallmark stores for recipe binders that you can fill in. I received a couple of these for my B-day and as I find new recipes (which I just cleaned out 3 drawers in my kitchen) of things I want to try, I make them and if they are liked I write it the book. I have some that have cards that will come out and I also have ones that you just fill out the whole page. I made one of these for a friend who is newly married and filled up some of the pages with stuff that I have made that her and her husband like and there is still blank pages for her to fill in as she learns how to cook.

Here is a link that might be useful: hallmark

I have some of all of the above:
3 ring binder with T & T recipes (no sleeves..WITH stains...LOL).
Stack of loose recipes (most from here) that are yet to be tried.
And an old expanding file box thing that I keep purely for sentimental reasons. It has some of my first recipes that I got from family members or friends. Some in their handwriting, some in mine.
Cookbooks with notes scribbled in and plenty of stains!

The binder is a work in progress. Each section has a table of contents handwritten and added to as a new recipe "makes the binder" so at least I can flip to the cookie section and scroll down the list to find the one I want. Page numbering is by section, not the entire binder so as I add a page, I just add it to the TOC for the section.

Most of mine are printed one recipe per page in 14pt. font.
That way I don't need my glasses to see them! LOL.

Works OK. Sheet protectors would be better, especially for a gift! Include extras in the back.

Deanna

Minsue.....thanks for that link. It looks good. There is a Hallmark store around here, so I'll check that out!
dgkritch....the larger font is a really good idea.
I'm ashamed at several of my cookbooks.....torn apart, stains all over!

I store my recipes on my computer and on a little jump drive that I keep with me. If I need one I can print it out or bring the laptop to the counter and work from the screen.

When my niece got married I pulled all the best ones and family recipes out into a separate file and gave her a jump drive with all the recipes on it. Very 21st century, I was told.

Glad to know there is at least one other person in this world with "recipe on the microwave" syndrome.

You needn't be ashamed of your cookbooks... it shows that they were well used/loved. Imagine the history of every tear and stain!

Messy cookbooks are the sign of a good cook!

I can't believe that some people keep piles of recipes on the microwave. I shove mine in the bread box - it keeps the kitchen MUCH neater. ;)

I also have a folder full of printouts, which is in no way organized. Occasionally I'll empty the breadbox out and add recipes to that pile. It's fun when I go through the pile and find 2 or 3 printouts of the same recipe, all with different stains. I really should get a real system.

Mine are now scattered all over the DR table. 2 years of TOH mags, things printed from here and several others I have "collected". I will now sort through the ones that I have used and like and write into the books, then sort out the ones to try by bread, desserts, entrees, cookies, etc. and I WILL make one from each stack every week (LOL) and decide if they are keepers or not. Ya right! This will last until DH gets sick of the mess and they get stuffed into a drawer until the next time I'm bored.

Daria.......why didn't I think of buying a breadbox for that!! hahaha Nothing like getting stuff out of sight!
minsue......I'm pretty up to date on my TOH mags. I used to keep soooo many of them, and one day I decided I had to "detox" from them. lol! I now have just a manilla folder with recipes in there. Its so hard to get rid of magazines with tons of recipes, 'cause we all think we will get to them all. I think I've (hopefully) gotten a little more realistic as to what I'll eventually make and what I won't. I used to get Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Everyday Foods magazines, and I finally went through a 12-step program and could cancel the subscriptions! But TOH I just can't stop. Its alot of church lady food, but I have found some pretty good recipes in there. And I love seeing their kitchen remodels........since I'm hoping to some day remodel our kitchen. I'm getting pretty old though, so its not looking so possible, but a girl's gotta dream, right? lol!

I also use 3 ring binders for my loose recipes. I punch holes in the sheets with a three hole punch and put them in. I keep one full sheet size plastic protector at the beginning of each "chapter" for recipes on small cards.

I am currently trying to organize the recipes in my cookbooks. I have over 300 so it gets a bit hard to remember where I saw a recipe. My son helped me make a spread sheet that I am entering the recipes into. I set up the spread sheet so I can sort by ingredient, time, how it cooks, and food category. That way I can find the recipe I want by typing in a few things and it tells me the books and pages where the recipes are. So much easier when I'm in a hurry. If we don't like a recipe, I delete it. If we do like it I give it a rating from 2 to 5 so I know how much we liked it, and note if a certain person did not like it. I also put these ratings on the recipes in my binders.

I think I tried and have every system mentioned above, LOL! Well, I'm trying to detox my recipe addiction or at least move its organiztion up the priority list, need more time, or stop having so much fun, hahaha. I like to write on my recipe pages and I like the 3 ring binder best, need an index system. I started with a half size 3 ring binder with pockets and guides but not suitable for everything. I like the full page ones, and to avoid the spills on recipes, I now just copy the page to use it. Pretty handy to have a multifunction printer for this. I've copied and pasted several recipes from the internet into Word but haven't figured out how to get rid of some of the formatting as yet.

Catherine,
Just a thought...I put together a recipe "box" for my daughter a number of years ago and she told me the ones that were the most special to her were the ones I had hand written.
I think no matter what format you choose, a little something in your handwriting will be cherished far more than we could know. Especially if will be handed down to your grandbabies.
Deborah

Thanks Deborah.......that's a sweet idea....and so true about it meaning so much years from now.

Some of mine are in a "Best Of" binder that my mother gave me about 10 years ago. She started it off by including some of the most beloved family recipes.

But I also have a bag 'o recipes that is a drawstring bag from a department store (that has not been in existence for about 15 yrs...)where I've tossed in index cards and snippets from magazines and newspaper food columns.

It is a pain to try to retrieve a particular recipe from there when I need it, and DH keeps telling me to file them on the computer. But I have to tell you, going through that bag is like a walk down memory lane for me. I love coming upon a cake recipe I made for the kids' birthdays when they were still at home, or a handwritten recipe from my godmother who passed away 6 yrs. ago. There's one for "Anise Cookies" that one of my old bosses wrote up for me. He used to bring them into the office from time to time in a brown paper lunch bag...he too has passed.

It's not the least bit organized, but while looking through the bag I always come across something I've forgotten about and I'm inspired to make it again. I guess I'm not ready to surrender entirely to technology (or complete organization...) just yet.

The home town newspaper recommended this the other day. It seems like a cool idea. It might work for your daughter. It has a bunch of recipes you can search and I think you may be able to add your own recipes to it, not sure.

I like many others here print out recipes I am interested in. They go in sleeves in a 3 ring binder. I have them loosley organized by catagories but my project for this winter is to get tabs and further catorize them. Most but not all of the recipes I haven't tried are in the back of the book. It is very hand and works great, but it doesn't look the best, kinda utilitarian.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tastebook

Oh I'm way more organized. Ha! I have recipes stored on my computer in Word. I have folders to sort them into. I back everything up to a flash drive. I just print the recipe when I need it. Of course I also have... 4 full recipe boxes on my kitchen window sills, numerous loose recipes floating around the kitchen (I'm working on holiday stuff), cookbooks on the bookshelf in the kitchen as well as cookbooks in the china cabinet and a few loose recipes in my purse and on my desk AND maybe a few on the dining room table. Aside from that, I vote for a 3-ring D binder with sheet protectors.

Thanks again everyone,

Minsue.....thanks so much for the Hallmark Store suggestion. I ran in there today and found exactly what I wanted! And it was the last one of its kind!
And Deborah.....thanks so much for the suggestion about hand-writing the recipes out. That was a good suggestion (even though I'm a sloppy writer!). I have a couple of my dear MIL's handwritten recipes, and they mean so much to me. Great idea!

I realized I had added something to this topic, but it must have been lost betwixt and between something else...

One other note I'll add, is that when I copy a recipe here or elsewhere, using the copy and paste into Word method, I also add the photo if available. This is a lot easier with a Mac (drag to desktop and then onto page)but helps me a lot when I may forget what it's supposed to look like. There are sooo many great photographers here too it does make reading thru the notebooks all the more fun.

I have about 5 binders..Desserts and Chicken each have their own, as does Entrees. When I enter the name of the recipe in Word I precede it with the category... Chicken, Entree, Bread etc in bold. That way the list sorts easily on the computer. In the binder of say Entrees, I have tabbed it for beef, pork, fish etc. I haven't gotten round to the dessert one yet...Maybe a Christmas Day fun project!

I store mine in a Recipe Store.
LOU

I used to have a good many recipes on my computer. Then, when I got a new computer, the new one would not accept the old software. It was either type all the recipes again into the new software, or give up keeping them on the computer. I chose the latter.

I have a binder full of stained copies of those old recipes, a file box of recipes that my MIL gave me, a shelf full of cookbooks, some TOH magazines and 3 Southern Living cookbooks. My DD's both have a file box that Grandma gave them, too, and have tried at least 1 of the recipes (in my kitchen). Some of the cookbooks, if under-appreciated, got given to the Friends of the Library Bookstore when I remodeled. Hopefully those have a new home where they may be appreciated a little more.

DonnaR/CA