My New Cooking Goal

juellie1962

13 years ago

I have PILES of recipes I either get on line or cut out of magazines. I finally organized them and have decided that I will try at least one, hopefully two, new recipes per week. I HAVE to get better organized and plan a menu and buy accordingly.

Food is to expensive to waste and I really need some new recipes anyway. I always fall back on the oldies when I'm grocery shopping.

I'm not quite sure how to categorize everything yet; for instance, does a chicken lasagna fall under chicken, or casseroles/pasta dishes???..........

btw - last night I tried the wet burritos that someone (sorry, can't remember who) posted here. DELICIOUS!!! :)

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Comments (16)

ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
I think it is best to file something under the most obvious thing that pops into your mind.........not alphabetically or category but just how it pops up in your memory.....for me it would be pasta but this is an Italian household and we have to have a Pasta category.
jannie
13 years ago
I bought a recipe organizer binder and now I can't find it! But I do look online for recipes that strike my fancy or use ingredients I have on hand. Last night we had roast chicken. Today I made the leftovers into chicken noodle soup.
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Jasdip
13 years ago
I have my recipes in binders. I have one binder for oven meals, and one for stove-top and slow cooker.

I have the chicken lasagna under chicken, but I know what you mean about categories.

I have a pasta category and it's mostly meatless dishes.

I too need to be better organized, and I like to try one new recipe per week. More if I can, but I'm lucky to do one.
User
13 years ago
I use notebooks also. (lots of them) Use index dividers to start then you will know how many notebooks you will need as they fill up.
jae_tn2
13 years ago
hi.......that was my wet burrito recipe. glad you liked it!

julie
juellie1962
Original Author
13 years ago
Good tips everyone; now, if I can just get organized and take the time to plan menus and grocery lists!!!

Julie - thanks again for the burrito recipe. My son LOVED them; they make for good leftovers....something every 23 year old likes to find at 2:00 am! :)
joyfulguy
13 years ago
Hi juellie (not sure whether she looks more like 19 ... or 62),

As for leftovers found by 23-year-olds at 2:00 a.m. (or 80+-year-olds, for that matter) ...

... aren't microwaves a blessing?

ole joy-(partly)fuelled
teresava
13 years ago
I would put chicken lasagna in the casseroles next to the beef or veggie lasagna section, but that's just me!

I need to try some new recipes too, seems like we are in a rut. I have a new Cooking Light cookbook that I should browse through one of these days. And the last 2 Weight Watcher recipes I tried were pretty good.

Teresa-who is craving Burritos now...but what's wet? The sauce?
paula_pa
13 years ago
Not that I'm organized but for me it helps to think of recipes in terms of the main protein since I usually buy my meat first, freeze it, then I try to match recipes to what I have on hand.

I don't have that many loose recipes, mostly cookbooks. The closest I've come to any organization is keeping a notebook that list the recipes I want to try, which cookbook they're from and what page they're on. For the chicken lasagne I would put what type of chicken it uses in parentheses (ground chicken, chicken breasts, cooked chicken, etc).
jannie
13 years ago
I have a paperback copy of Joy of Cooking, the first cookbook I ever owned. Next to the recipe for Chiken Paprika, there's a notation in pencil "Serve over rice, or (my husband's name) will yell". Even in the early days, he criticized my cooking. Oh, well.
patti43
13 years ago
Juellie, that would make an excellent post every week, so we who love to cook could post something new we've tried. I'm trying to do the same thing. Sometimes the results are good--sometimes, not so hot!

Do you want to start it?
nola_anne
13 years ago
juellie...

I did this very thing years ago, but it didn't last long because my hubby and sons said 'you don't have to cook this one again' too often.

I have found the best recipes come from those church or group cookbooks people make...they always put their best recipes in those!

Good Luck to you, however!

nola anne
patti43
13 years ago
Nola Anne, I agree. They're fun to read, too.
juellie1962
Original Author
13 years ago
I agree - the best recipes seem to come from church or service group cook books. After all, who wants their friends to think they can't cook well?? :)

Patti - I'd love to post about new recipes I try! I'll start as soon as I have a night home to try a new one. ;)

Tuesday night was craft club, Wed. was Bible Study, tonight is Birthday Club, Friday is Good Friday services (must include a fish fry afterwards!). MAYBE Saturday night I'll be home to cook. Sunday, of course, Easter....and then Monday starts it all over again.......

I'd probably save money by going out every night! :( I always buy stuff with good intentions and then my week gets crazy like this one!
jannie
13 years ago
One day I was alone at work and bored, the phones were silent, so I googled look-alike recipes. Had tons of good looking recipes. I printed out a lot of them. Still have that bundle in a drawer. Must pull them out and get them organized!
joyfulguy
13 years ago
Hi jannie,

Some (perhaps apochryphal) stories from lumber camps years ago were that the one who complained about the food ...

... became the next cook.

Think that'd work in civilized society?

Maybe worth a try?

The worst that one could get (in this part of the world, at least) would be a turndown.

Wouldn't it?

ole joyful

My New Cooking Goal

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