Organizing recipes....

wvcarterclan · 05-13-2003, 07:06 AM

I am quickly acquiring some great new low carb recipes from this board and other low carb sites. I have lots and lots of paper with recipes and am looking for a way to organize them. Any ideas?
A notebook, file box, etc....
I don't have a computer at home so that's not an option.
It seems like when I want a specific recipe I spend lots of time sorting through tons of them.

bekini bound · 05-13-2003, 07:26 AM

Make your own recipe book by either useing a photo album or a binder. Use file type seperators to make different catigories or to organise in a manor that you can easily search. Remember to leave room, cuz dishes that are for Special ocasions can be photoed (to remind you what it looked like).
Mine looks just like a cook book that you could buy in a store!

RVlady · 05-13-2003, 07:28 AM

I print out a tremendous amount of paper also, so bought some binders, hole punch and tabs. It is so easy now to find the specific whatever that I'm looking for. I have to admit that it took me a couple of years of piles of paper all over and hours of looking through those piles to push me into organizing them.

bekini bound · 05-13-2003, 07:34 AM

Also, remember to make an area under each recipe for future notes for suggestions or variations or tips on how to spice up.
If you have several really good BASE recipes then you might leave a little extra room even, cuz you will be suprised to see how you will change some recipes as the years go on.
Hand write them or print from a pc. It dosen't have to be perfect or even pretty, just functional.
Try to avoid the "sticky" type photo albums cuz you will also be suprised how often you want to reorganise your collection.

bekini bound · 05-13-2003, 07:38 AM

Here I go again. Just another idea, it is also nice to have a divided section for general tips or carb counts that were difficult to find & aren't used often. You can place tips here that would apply to several different recipes. This avoids wasting time rewriting info several times. Just make a note to refer yourself to the "tips" section.

lv2scrap · 05-13-2003, 08:45 AM

What I have been doing is out the recipes and I have made up a binder with dividers (Poultry, Fish, Beef, Pork, Veggies, etc).

Works so far...HTH

boss lady · 05-13-2003, 09:59 AM

I put recipes I haven't tried yet in binders with dividers, then when I use one AND like it, I type it up on a recipe card and put it in my box. That way I have a resource of recipes that we liked without going through all the other ones too!

That helps when I don't want to think about what to fix, or am too lazy to try something new.

clawdia · 05-13-2003, 10:45 AM

I like using the clear sheet protectors (get at office supply store). They are 3 hole punched and you just slide the recipes in the sleeve and that way when you are following recipes, you can just wipe off the clear plastic sleeve in case you "splatter or spill" something. Just use color tab divider pages in between your recipe catagories (entree, bread, beverage, dessert, etc.). Also print out a carb counter sheet (foods you use most often) and put this in the front. You could even add regular notebook paper as a "journal" to write down what you eat daily and record your carb counts and weigh-ins. Put all of this in a large 3-ring binder notebook and you'll have it all at your fingertips!

wvcarterclan · 05-13-2003, 10:49 AM

Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm off to the store tonight to get a binder and dividers.

WLS · 05-14-2003, 08:24 AM

If your like me and have your cook book right on the same counter where your cooking, then the plastic sheet covers are a must. I have splashed/spilled on the book so many times, they really do save the day!

SHinOK · 05-15-2003, 10:39 AM

Like bekini bound, I also have a "reference" section with my recipes. It includes things like Fat Fast menu ideas, Fat Flush and Lean for Life guidelines/menus, Splenda/stevia conversion charts, an article of Dana Carpender's that has brown-bag lunch ideas for school kids--stuff like that. It sure helps to have it close by.

I also like to separate out my "regulars"--the recipes I use over and over again--and keep them in their own little group. That way I'm not digging around for them all the time.

liz777 · 05-15-2003, 05:16 PM

yep - clear sleeve protectors -- keeps those "friends" clean --

got a zippered binder (3 ring) so I can put the loose stuff in there if I'm in a hurry --- and also has a place for my carb counter --

find I print a lot off also --- so many good cooks out here

05-13-2003, 07:06 AM	#1
wvcarterclan Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Harper's Ferry, WV Posts: 24 Gallery: wvcarterclan	Organizing recipes.... I am quickly acquiring some great new low carb recipes from this board and other low carb sites. I have lots and lots of paper with recipes and am looking for a way to organize them. Any ideas? A notebook, file box, etc.... I don't have a computer at home so that's not an option. It seems like when I want a specific recipe I spend lots of time sorting through tons of them.

05-13-2003, 07:34 AM	#4
bekini bound Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brandyland Posts: 3,293 Gallery: bekini bound Stats: 186/145/140 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 02/22/03	Also, remember to make an area under each recipe for future notes for suggestions or variations or tips on how to spice up. If you have several really good BASE recipes then you might leave a little extra room even, cuz you will be suprised to see how you will change some recipes as the years go on. Hand write them or print from a pc. It dosen't have to be perfect or even pretty, just functional. Try to avoid the "sticky" type photo albums cuz you will also be suprised how often you want to reorganise your collection. __________________ "Don't just dream it, be it!" Some will fall in love w/ life & drink it from a fountain that is pouring like an avalanche coming down the mountain.

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05-13-2003, 07:26 AM	#2
bekini bound Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brandyland Posts: 3,293 Gallery: bekini bound Stats: 186/145/140 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 02/22/03	Make your own recipe book by either useing a photo album or a binder. Use file type seperators to make different catigories or to organise in a manor that you can easily search. Remember to leave room, cuz dishes that are for Special ocasions can be photoed (to remind you what it looked like). Mine looks just like a cook book that you could buy in a store!

05-13-2003, 07:28 AM	#3
RVlady Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 306 Gallery: RVlady	I print out a tremendous amount of paper also, so bought some binders, hole punch and tabs. It is so easy now to find the specific whatever that I'm looking for. I have to admit that it took me a couple of years of piles of paper all over and hours of looking through those piles to push me into organizing them.

05-13-2003, 07:38 AM	#5
bekini bound Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brandyland Posts: 3,293 Gallery: bekini bound Stats: 186/145/140 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 02/22/03	Here I go again. Just another idea, it is also nice to have a divided section for general tips or carb counts that were difficult to find & aren't used often. You can place tips here that would apply to several different recipes. This avoids wasting time rewriting info several times. Just make a note to refer yourself to the "tips" section.

05-13-2003, 08:45 AM	#6
lv2scrap Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 493 Gallery: lv2scrap Stats: 266/217/160 WOE: LapBand Surgery and Lower-carb Start Date: 6/13/2011	What I have been doing is out the recipes and I have made up a binder with dividers (Poultry, Fish, Beef, Pork, Veggies, etc). Works so far...HTH

05-13-2003, 09:59 AM	#7
boss lady Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah Posts: 626 Gallery: boss lady Stats: 257/171/120 WOE: Atkins Start Date: Aug. 99/restart May 15, '06	I put recipes I haven't tried yet in binders with dividers, then when I use one AND like it, I type it up on a recipe card and put it in my box. That way I have a resource of recipes that we liked without going through all the other ones too! That helps when I don't want to think about what to fix, or am too lazy to try something new.

05-13-2003, 10:45 AM	#8
clawdia Guest Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 134 Gallery: clawdia	I like using the clear sheet protectors (get at office supply store). They are 3 hole punched and you just slide the recipes in the sleeve and that way when you are following recipes, you can just wipe off the clear plastic sleeve in case you "splatter or spill" something. Just use color tab divider pages in between your recipe catagories (entree, bread, beverage, dessert, etc.). Also print out a carb counter sheet (foods you use most often) and put this in the front. You could even add regular notebook paper as a "journal" to write down what you eat daily and record your carb counts and weigh-ins. Put all of this in a large 3-ring binder notebook and you'll have it all at your fingertips!

05-13-2003, 10:49 AM	#9
wvcarterclan Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Harper's Ferry, WV Posts: 24 Gallery: wvcarterclan	Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm off to the store tonight to get a binder and dividers.

05-14-2003, 08:24 AM	#10
WLS Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 157 Gallery: WLS	If your like me and have your cook book right on the same counter where your cooking, then the plastic sheet covers are a must. I have splashed/spilled on the book so many times, they really do save the day!

05-15-2003, 10:39 AM	#11
SHinOK Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,515 Gallery: SHinOK Start Date: April 2000	Like bekini bound, I also have a "reference" section with my recipes. It includes things like Fat Fast menu ideas, Fat Flush and Lean for Life guidelines/menus, Splenda/stevia conversion charts, an article of Dana Carpender's that has brown-bag lunch ideas for school kids--stuff like that. It sure helps to have it close by. I also like to separate out my "regulars"--the recipes I use over and over again--and keep them in their own little group. That way I'm not digging around for them all the time.

05-15-2003, 05:16 PM	#12
liz777 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 102 Gallery: liz777	yep - clear sleeve protectors -- keeps those "friends" clean -- got a zippered binder (3 ring) so I can put the loose stuff in there if I'm in a hurry --- and also has a place for my carb counter -- find I print a lot off also --- so many good cooks out here