Now I literally dismantle cookbooks. I pull out (or copy) what I want to try and put that into a "try" folder.
If it proves to be good enough and easy enough to keep, I then add it to the section in the notebook that is logical. Remember those old-fashioned hand-written recipes that people used to share? I wanted to keep all those in the original handwriting, so I just photo-copy the back and glue them right in. If something comes from a magazine, I just cut it out and glue it in. The key is that I never add anything until it's something that I know I will use long-term.
Some pages are boring and some are pretty, but it's all my favorites in two binders. (The second houses breads and desserts and my extra papers.)
There are a few (very few) recipe books I am keeping intact. For those few, I'm going to make a "don't forget I exist" list with page numbers and put it in the notebook as well. It's been fun adding to it and very practical.
What a GREAT idea! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI gotta say, though, that I actually enjoy perusing all of my cookbooks to find new recipes. :) I have all of both of my grandmothers cookbooks. Truly a treasure.
Those are ones I wouldn't cut up! Some of my best recipes are from an old Amish cook book. I recently bought a new Amish cookbook; we'll see if it's as good.
DeleteHere's what I have done, when I make a new monthly menu.
ReplyDeleteType up a page for each dinner. Put items to thaw at the top of the page, so I don't forget, and cook time, so I plan ahead...check it each morning. When my teens were home, I even put directions for simple things, like mashed potatoes, so a teen could cook the entire meal if needed. Each page goes in a page protector, in a binder.
Works great for us, and I'm not thumbing thru recipes all the time to find the one for that night. I keep "try me" recipes in the front pouch of the binder. All the rest of my books stay in the cabinet most of the time.