Cookbooks and recipes

[thyme4change]

We started the great cookbook debate on my dinner party thread.  But I have a question, and I am looking for ideas.

I do have a number of cookbooks - about 3 linear feet.  I don't ever use them anymore, but I can't get rid of them...yet.  I either have my standards memorized, or I get recipes off the internet.  I love getting recipes off the internet - because I can search, and bookmark or pin or whatever.  So easy to find within a few seconds.  The problem I have is that I have not fully adapted to using my phone.  I don't find surfing on my phone that comfortable - it is too small, even with my reading glasses.  Sometimes I use the iPad - which I have mixed feelings about - including competition to get time on it, and connectivity problems.

Usually, I use my desktop.   But, my desktop is in the office, and my kitchen prep space is (surprisingly) not in my office.     So, I print out the recipe and take it into the kitchen.  But, I have a few favorite recipes that I print out over and over.  That seems like a waste of paper, ink and bad for the earth (although I do put the recipes in the recycle bin.)  I tried to keep a 3 ring binder or a drawer in the filing cabinet, but the process broke down in just about every step and I got frustrated, so it became pointless.

I considered buy one of those super-cheap tablets and hanging it in my kitchen and keeping all my internet recipes on it, and not using it for anything else, but I don't really have any wall space.  My husband said if I attach a magnet to the case and put it on the fridge, I would ruin the tablet.  

Any suggestions on the best way to keep and use all my recipes in the new electronic world?

[Deleted]

Buy a 3 ring binder. Buy sheet protectors for a 3 ring binder. When you copy a recipe you like (or pull one from a book or magazine) slide it into one of the page protectors.

[Blonde Granny]

I have a large 3 ring binder that is actually a photo album. Therefore, when I put the recipe in, it sticks to the heavier paper part and the clear cellophane or whatever it is, sticks in place also. It causes the recipes to stay in place rather slide around.

[jlbear71]

My iPad mini case has a magnet on it (CoverBot brand).  DH (who works in IT) says it should be okay as long as you don't use a super strong magnet (industrial).  What about velcro strips?

[thyme4change]

I tried the 3-ring binder and failed.  I either was too lazy to put the recipe in, or couldn't find it once it was in there.  And once it got difficult to find the recipes, I would just go back to google and find it again and print it again.  I sometimes had 3 copies in the binder, and still couldn't find it.  Meanwhile, I was pissed off when I would go through and realized I spent 10 minutes looking for a recipe that wasn't in there.  That is why I mentioned in my OP that I already tried a 3-ring (several times actually) and failed.  I'm looking for a more modern solution.

[thyme4change]

If they specifically sell items like this:

www.scosche.com/checkout/cart/
www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/visualized-smart-cover-magnets-can-turn-your-apple-tablet-into/


then they probably won't ruin the tablets.  I think my hubs is going on old information.

Anyone use an app to organize their stuff?  Which one?  Do you like it?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

My sister bought me a Demy for use for my recipes.  However, I have yet to download any as I just have not taken the time to do so.  Most of my recipes are in my head, I'll read something that I want to make and then modify it to how I want to make it.


www.amazon.com/Demy-Kitchen-Touchscreen-Recipe-Reader/dp/B001T43NQO

ETA:  I have used my iPad for recipes (normally while baking), but the problem I run into is that I am afraid of spilling something on it.  

[Deleted]

Did you use the page protectors? Mine sits by my recipe books. You could readily tab the page protectors into sections...

I guess I don't know a modern way then. You either bookmark them and use a screen or print them and store them. 

Even bookmarking  though, you'd have to organize them some way.. Maybe Pinterest? I don't know, I don't use that...

[Deleted]

Oh, I'm sure there are recipe apps. My tablet is in the kitchen all the time... It's survived so far.

[dogmom]

I'm totally with you here. 

I use a desktop mostly, and do on occasion print out a recipe.  I am terrible about using a binder.  (note to self...take the pages that you printed out of the folder in the cabinet and put in sleeves in a binder) I do have a laptop that I bring into the kitchen with me and use it as a reference.  I don't use my phone for internet.  Too small and I can be a bit of a messy cook. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Right now, my approach is to take a picture of the recipe that's in the book and upload that picture to Pinterest. I've only implemented recently. I have purged all but two cookbooks. 

[Deleted]

We have binders all over the place, lol. Probably why we seem to make it work.

[Apple]

One thing I've done with some books I got rid of, or recipes I know I like and want to keep, but want them to be easy to find...

From books-- I take photos of the recipes I want, and then I email them to myself with the name of the recipe, and the word "recipe" in the title.  I have a folder in my email that I move all these into.  Then, when I want that specific recipe, I can just go to that file, or I can search for the word in the entire email (like "peanut butter fudge").  The recipe pops up quickly that way, and, because it's in email, I can access the recipe on anything I use that I can get to my email with.

I've done this enough that I've actually thought of creating an email address solely for recipes, but have been too lazy to do it.

I'd also take a photo of the ones you have memorized and email those.  When your kids are older, and want a recipe you normally make from habit memory (eta, it's horrible that I couldn't come up with the word "memory"), it's already right there and available.

Once you have all the recipes you want, you can get rid of the book (if you want to).  You could scan the recipes, but, for me, a photo is so much faster.

I do the same thing when I find a recipe online.  I copy and paste the link in an email, but I ALSO copy and paste the actual recipe.  I've had a few links disappear on me, and had to search for the recipe again, sometimes with success, sometimes not.  Again, but putting in a key word in the email search, they're found easily.  If you do photos, put some key words in the body of the email to make it searchable.

Might not work for you, but I've had good success with it for a couple years now.

[Deleted]

Old textbooks and cook books really don't have a lot of value. Usd book sales don't even usually take them. I'm saying that first so no one yells at me, but I routinely take an exacto knife to old textbooks and recipe books... Pull what I want and discard the rest. 

[Malarky]

 



Print out the recipes you use the most and tape them to the inside of your cabinet doors.      

[Cookies Galore]

For my non-cookbook sources, I have a recipe binder that has divider tabs for types of food (appetizers, drinks, meats, sides, vegetables, pasta, etc.). The divider has pockets so anything I print I can put in its proper place in the binder. It also has pages to write recipes on and I added photo album pages as well.

For anything I have pinned on pinterest I either bring my laptop in the kitchen or I use my phone to access them. I like pinterest because I can create as many boards as i want for specific types of food. Right now I just have cocktails, sweets, entertaining (apps and the like), and dinners. I should create more specific boards (soups, mac and cheese, curries, etc).

[Happy prose]

I have this case. You could sit it on the counter or table. 
www.amazon.com/Snugg-iPad-Case-Lifetime-Guarantee/dp/B007BZOGLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422220824&sr=8-1&keywords=Ipad+4+cover+snugg

[Bonny]

Jan 25, 2015 14:39:12 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Any suggestions on the best way to keep and use all my recipes in the new electronic world?

I stuff them in my "Good Housekeeping" cookbook. I know where they are and I still use some classics from the cookbook so I'm not going to toss it.

I'm an electronic age failure.

[wvugurl26]

I aspire to have an organized binder like meghan. For now all of the ones printed or ripped out of a magazine are in a file folder. I just found some more sheet protectors so maybe I'll get organized if we have a snow day tomorrow.

[swamp]

I use my iPad. 

[violagirl]

Guess I am old school. I get some recipes online but there is something about a sauce spattered recipe book with my notes and comments on recipes I have tried that I just can't recreate on my ipad. 

I also still have the little book of recipes that I copied from my mother when I moved out. Some favorites in there. 

I feel the same way about e-books/paper books. That smell of an old book just can't replace it. 

[Cookies Galore]

This is the recipe keeper i have:
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1932183795/ref=pd_aw_sim_b_6?refRID=1YAQVDHAPBKT5BN4CG3N

[Deleted]

I use these for my prints.  Then toss the bag(s) back into the drawer. My bags are labeled- Cake, casserole or whatever-- 

[msventoux]

I use Evernote.  I can use Evernote's web clipper to copy the page to a recipe folder and add tags for poultry, dessert, easy dinner, whatever.  Then when I want to make something I can search for it in Evernote by name or tag.  I'll usually pull the recipe up on my iPad and take it into the kitchen, but I've pulled recipes up on my phone or laptop before, or just printed them out. 

Recipes out of books or magazines I either scan or take a photo of and upload to Evernote as well.  I prefer Evernote since I can access it on all of my devices.  If I'm thinking of a recipe at the store and can't quite remember what the ingredients are I can look it up on my phone app to make sure I buy all the ingredients I need.

[teen persuasion]

Jan 25, 2015 16:35:49 GMT -5 Bonny said:

Jan 25, 2015 14:39:12 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Any suggestions on the best way to keep and use all my recipes in the new electronic world?

I stuff them in my "Good Housekeeping" cookbook. I know where they are and I still use some classics from the cookbook so I'm not going to toss it.

I'm an electronic age failure.

Lol, I've got stacks of papers with handwritten recipes in a kitchen drawer, some my MIL gave me when we were first married (DH's favorites) and some I copied from my mom's recipe file.  Eventually I started writing the 'keepers' down in a spiral notebook for easy reference.  Only favorites go in there; the majority are cookie recipes.  When DD1 was younger, we started a copy for her; she updated it before she left for college with some of the things I make from memory.

I like pinterest for finding new recipes to try, but once I've pinned them they get lost in the pile.  Pinterest needs a multi level hierarchy, one level is not enough - you either have a million boards, or a reasonable number of boards with a million pins each.

[Tiny]

I use the 3 ring binder/sheet protector.  This is more for the others using this method:
Heres a nifty magnetic recipe holder  (I'm NOT recommending the neon green   - mine are white as I have red laminated counters... it's the 1940's at my house):
www.amazon.com/Architec-RR3G-Recipe-Rock-Green/dp/B006MJEA5E

I don't think I could use an electronic device with a recipe displayed on it.   I'd need a HUGE screen so I could increase the font size so I could read it easily from more than arms length.      

I usually up the font size on my printed out recipes (which are in the sheet protectors) so they are easy to read. .   

I have a 'core' set of recipes (with lots of notes on them) and then a loose stack of recipes to try.    I go thru the recipes at least once a year and weed out the stuff I'm never going to make again.  I tend to not bother to save the 'trendy' 'fashionable' recipes because the ingredients either won't be available the next year (something seasonal that won't come to market the next year) or something that's trendy (think Cosmopolitan) that will be replaced by the next trendy thing.

[alabamagal]

My mom uses index cards and stores them in a file box

I am not that organized

[jlbear71]

For my iPad, I found an app called Paprika that I can tag all my online recipes into.  It can even create a shopping list/menus.  I just started using it about a week or so ago.  I have not really looked into it that extensively as school work is taking priority at the moment.

[Deleted]

I use a notebook, I glue them in. My recipes were a total mess until I did that "challenge" last year during Peter Walsh's 2014 31-day challenge. I'm pretty organized and clutter-free, so I probably needed to do about 5 of his challenges last year, if that. That was one of them though, and I spent a couple of hours on it. 

I still bookmark recipes online. But if i use a recipe 3 times, I print it out and put it into the notebook. 

I have a SHITETON of recipe books I'd just LOVE to get rid of, but DH (the family hoarder) doesn't agree.  

[thyme4change]

Thanks for the Evernote and Paprika suggestion.  I actually loaded Pepperplate.  It was free, so if it doesn't work for me, I will try one of the other ones.