Jennifer Lambert

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You are here: Home / Family / Organizing Recipes

Organizing Recipes

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November 4, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 27 Comments

We have a lot of cookbooks.

I have a bin full of handwritten recipes from my husband’s two grandmothers. I plan to scan those in to my computer so they’re never lost. I’m working to organize them in page protectors or even a printed scrapbook cookbook.

All recipes tell a story.

I have two BHG cookbooks. My mom’s with handwritten notes and a newer one. I prefer my mom’s where she jotted down when I made wheat bread for a colonial class project. She also added the years she made which Christmas cookies or cakes.

We also collect a lot of recipes – from magazines and online sites.

How to Organize Recipes

Recipe Binders

Super easy to make a recipe binder and fun for gifts for the cook or foodie.

I have started compiling recipe binders for my kids as keepsakes of our favorite family recipes for them.

What you need for a recipe binder:

  • Big 3 ring binder or several small binders for various cooking styles (desserts, main dishes, grilling, baking)
  • Pretty cover for binder
  • Dividers
  • Clear page protectors
  • Clear small pockets for small recipe cards and/or recipes clipped from magazines

Cooking Journals

I have a couple recipe journals to make notes when I try new recipes.

I seldom follow a recipe exactly, and it’s a huge joke with my kids that no recipe is perfect for me. I always want more of something, add a little of this or that, or don’t measure.

My grandmother never measured anything.

We measure garlic with our hearts.

My husband is often irritated that I don’t make the same dish twice because I often don’t measure or follow the recipe the same way or I don’t remember how I tweaked it last time and everyone loved it. I’m trying to remember to make notes in the journal!

Computer and/or Software

  • Eat Your Books
  • Trello
  • Dropbox
  • OneNote
  • Office documents
  • MasterCook
  • Cook’n

Apps

Many cooks prefer to declutter and have recipes digitized.

This makes recipes searchable by several criteria, saving time and space. You can easily pull up a recipe on a tablet or laptop on the counter or table while you cook.

  • Evernote. I love this app for all sorts of digital organizing.
  • BigOven
  • Basil Recipe Manager
  • Pepperplate
  • Tasty
  • ChefTap
  • Paprika Recipe Manager
  • Copy Me That Recipe Manager

Pinterest

I have pin boards for lots of our family interests, and several for various cooking genres.

This helps me to find the recipes easily again and also share my faves with you!

Organizing recipes is a huge task to undertake, but I may digitize most of our recipes this summer to clear up space and get them all in one place.

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: homemaking, organizing, recipe

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jenalambert

INTJ. Only child. Military Wife. Homeschool Mom. Geek. Naturalist. Traveler. Questioning authority since 1976.

I get home after errands and our AC is out but I s I get home after errands and our AC is out but I still made this gorgeous yellowfin tuna, jasmine rice, and sauteed veg, including some fun Japanese eggplant.
What's really devastating is that my parents have What's really devastating is that my parents have these annual agendas they used as journals and they recorded absolutely everything about their daily lives. My father mainly recorded his meals, digestion, sleep schedule, weather, finances, and medical appointments. So I get a glimpse into what my mother 's daily schedule, medical history, meals, thoughts, and feelings were for the past decade and it's glaringly obvious how little she thought of me and my children.I was barely on the checklist. I'm not sure at what point or even how to reconcile this and I just feel very alone.
Since my son has a baseball game tonight right in Since my son has a baseball game tonight right in the middle of dinner time. Southern bento box: salmon patties with remoulade, Cole slaw, Publix tater salad, fried corn. Gonna bring a cup of cherry limeade.
Smoothie time in the garden Smoothie time in the garden
My peonies are happy this year My peonies are happy this year
A month ago we had a belated celebration dinner an A month ago we had a belated celebration dinner and it was delightful.
Omg zaatar sumac lemon roasted chicken and potatoe Omg zaatar sumac lemon roasted chicken and potatoes with green beans almondine and sauteed zucchini and garlic bread with the pan juice. Yes.
Made a fun olive oil rosemary lemon cake for my #3 Made a fun olive oil rosemary lemon cake for my #3 turning 18 and graduating from our homeschool. I always love the unique cake flavors they request!
My rose is having a moment. My rose is having a moment.
Hopes & Dreams Hopes & Dreams
So, real issues now when Kerrygold butter is out o So, real issues now when Kerrygold butter is out of stock at Sam's.I bought the entire shelf of Kerrygold at our military commissary. But there's no good jasmine rice at the commissary and fewer breakfast sausage and lots of empty shelves where international foods should be stocked.I love how no one understands or cares how tariffs work.
Good heavens, this roasted garlic bread from Publi Good heavens, this roasted garlic bread from Publix and organic rosé wine (the Natura Pinot noir is good too) from Chile is absolutely amazing. I love Publix so much y'all. The subs, the potato salad, the salmon dinners, the cake! How friendly and helpful everyone is. I'm so excited that I have one only an hour and a half away now. I bought my wedding cake from Publix in 2005.
Alone for the first time in months it seems Alone for the first time in months it seems
75⁰ calls for a Hefeweizen. 75⁰ calls for a Hefeweizen.
Sign of spring Sign of spring
Trying to clear out my parents' house in a week. S Trying to clear out my parents' house in a week. Surrounded by trash, donations, boxes, junk, antiques. So much stuff.
Snowdrops!!! Snowdrops!!!
60⁰ and Pinot noir. 60⁰ and Pinot noir.
My geranium is ready for spring My geranium is ready for spring
We're ready for spring and we're going to have wor We're ready for spring and we're going to have words with that groundhog if he doesn't do what I want.
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Comments

  1. Catherine Sokolowski says

    November 11, 2019 at 10:13 am

    I love how you are making a recipe book for each of your kids. Great idea and the binders sound perfect!

    Reply
  2. Horace Williams Jr says

    November 12, 2019 at 9:34 am

    My very first cookbook I received when I was 1fifteen years old. My mother gave it to me when she finally had to work outside the home. She cried bitterly. I eventually went to culinary school and had a catering company and then streamlined to gourmet cheesecakes before my stroke. Now I treat my family and friends to gourmet cheesecakes on special occasions. My asst. pastor wants me to show him how to make them. Thanks for sharing all these creative ideas, Jennifer. Have a fantastic holiday season, and God bless you and yours.

    Reply
    • Jennifer Lambert says

      November 12, 2019 at 12:24 pm

      What a lovely testimony. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  3. Rebecca Hastings says

    November 12, 2019 at 11:19 am

    I love this! Recipes are so important, and I love having things online, but there is something special about a recipe card or an old cookbook. I find even with online recipes I write it on a sticky note and bring it to the kitchen. It’s just easier than looking at a screen.
    But, I definitely could use more organization!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Lambert says

      November 12, 2019 at 12:24 pm

      I still prefer paper!

      Reply
  4. BettieG says

    November 12, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    That is so great that you are already compiling recipe books for each of your children. When I received the handwritten recipe cards from my mom, mom-in-law, and grandparents, I tried to share those with my children too. Holding one of those old cards is such a treasure! But I do love Evernote for so many ways to organize my thoughts too! Blessings to you!

    Reply
  5. Patsy Burnette says

    November 12, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    I think Pinterest may be the new recipe binder for many. BHG cookbooks are the best!!! And I love that you have your mom’s. with handwritten notes! Pinterest has nothing on that!!!

    Pinned.

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements, Jennifer!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Lambert says

      November 13, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      I still like Pinterest and use it as it was originally designed! A digital pinboard.

      Reply
  6. Michele Morin says

    November 13, 2019 at 10:21 am

    I just recently purged the recipes in my card file box, keeping only the ones I know I’ll use and it’s made all the difference in the world. I have SO many cookbooks…
    I guess that’s the next project.

    Reply
  7. Calvonia Radford says

    November 13, 2019 at 11:14 am

    I have a wooden crate under my island with all my cook books, binders and handwritten notes in it. It is far from being organized.

    Reply
  8. Karen Del Tatto says

    November 13, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    Great ideas for organizing recipes!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Michelle says

    November 13, 2019 at 2:52 pm

    I love that you are making recipe binders for your kids. My mom made my sister and I a recipe book one year filled with our grandparents’ recipes and it meant so much to me!

    Reply
  10. Lisa notes says

    November 14, 2019 at 11:05 am

    I appreciate all these options for organizing our recipes, Jennifer. My current one is to just cram them in a drawer and take forever to find the one I want—NOT the best method! ha.

    But I have been using Evernote more and more for my recipes, especially because I often want to cook something at my daughter’s house butI don’t have access to my physical recipes there.

    Reply
  11. sue says

    November 15, 2019 at 12:41 am

    What a wonderful legacy for your kids! They will appreciate it even more when they have kids. Great job, mama.

    Reply
  12. Anita Ojeda says

    November 15, 2019 at 10:57 am

    I bought al the materials once to make a binder…but never made one. I HAVE learned to write a recipe that I invent down as I make it ;). That way I can replicate it!

    Reply
  13. Kate Holmes says

    November 15, 2019 at 3:03 pm

    Really need to get this done and protect my late mum’s recipes – lovely how my youngest son wants to be a chef following in her footsteps as as well as a home cook she worked as a cook in hospitals and schools. #TwinklyTuesday

    Reply
  14. Sharon says

    November 17, 2019 at 9:47 am

    I LOVE the cooking journal idea! I rarely follow a recipe exactly as well! This would be so helpful!

    Thank you for sharing w us at Creative Muster! Pinned :)
    Blessings to you xoxoxo Sharon @ Adoring Creations

    Reply
  15. Confessions of a New Mummy says

    November 18, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    I have to say that I tend to use pinterest rather than a recipe book but there’s some great suggestions here and it is nice to have a paper copy. Thanks for linking up #twinklytuesday

    Reply
  16. Miz Helen says

    November 19, 2019 at 10:22 am

    I collect cook books and I love your suggestions! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday, 457. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

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