Saving recipes.

What to make for dinner...hmmm...  Honestly, my day goes so much better when I know what we're having for dinner.  Later in the week I'll bring up old favorites, but for today here's how I organize ideas for something new.

 

I have two three ring binders nestled in with the cookbooks.  Are they pretty?  Not really.  Are they workhorses?  Oh yes.

The black binder is for everything savory and the red binder is for everything sweet.  Every time I find or am given a new recipe, I put it in the binder.  (Truth be told, I literally put it in the binder -- not in any order, just in a stack in the front.  A few times a year I go through the stack and file them.  At the same time, I throw away any recipes that I realize were just wishful thinking.)  Each binder has categories:  appetizers, breads/sandwiches, salads, soups, side dishes, main dishes, breakfast, drinks;  desserts, cookies, candy, kids. 

Each section looks like this:

 

 

 

a tab divider + a section for full pages + a plastic sleeve for the small bits (including ideas from magazines and recipe cards from friends)

I hope you have your dinner already planned for tonight!

Comments

[Jessica]

I don't!! And you are so right, the day always goes better if dinner is planned. Maybe it is just settling for our minds knowing that is out of the way. I have to ask, do you meal plan for the week or anything similar?

[Jill]

Thanks, Gina, for another good and doable idea. My stray recipes are jammed into a manila envelope. I like the binders.

[Jill]

Thanks, Gina, for another good and doable idea. My stray recipes are jammed into a manila envelope. I like the binders.