Personal recipe file
 

wanted to get old files updated. Binder bought online isn’t what I wanted. Needing gift for wedding. So, she gets ordered binder. Scrounging through my drawers for something else, discovered I have supplies. Hubby had the binder I wanted. Ready, set, go.

anybody out there updated recipe folders recently? Any bits of wisdom to share?

Oh goodness, I just gave away my two little metal recipe card holders from high school.
Never did the binders thing. should have but really didn't think about it. Glad you got it done!

Some of the recipes had source; sister’s mil-what a sweet Swedish lady. Didn’t like her food but loved the memories. Or magazines 35-45 yrs ago. Those were good mags. Or baby shower or other event-nice memories.

I use a 3 ring binder with page protectors. Actually, I have 2. One for sweet, one for savory. Plastic protectors are easy to wipe clean. I have started relocating the page that I'm using to the front. That way, the more popular recipes are easier to find! I have computer print outs and hand-written recipes full of memories. If I half the recipe, I stick the measurements in the sleeve.

I keep most of my recipes online under folders such as Air Fryer recipes, Breads, muffins, rolls recipes, pies, cakes recipes, instant pot recipes and so on. I also have binders upstairs in the cabinet and keep those recipes I use a lot with dividers the same as on my PC. I put all my printed recipes in plastic sleeves to keep them clean.

By keeping them on the PC, if I can't remember where to find the recipe I'm looking for, then I just print it up again. Plus my sister and friends from time to time want one of my recipes so I can just print it up or send it to them as I keep them in PDF format.

I have one binder just for Instant Pot recipes and one folder in the Dessert Binder just for cheesecake recipes as I make a lot of them since making my 1st one in the Instant Pot and found out just how easy it was to make.

Each person developes methods that work for them.

my recipe/computer files have been lost when computer died and hard drive disappeared (on counter then vanished). Recommend hard copies for everything.

The old recipe files had sub files for desserts; cookies, cakes, pies, cobblers, cream cheese, candy, frozen, etc. Now it’s 1 file for all sweets. And those have alterations for no sugar and increase fiber. Then a file for fruit/vegetable desserts. How I’ve changed.

21st century recipes, requires 21st century categories. I added “Vegan” for daughter. And I actually like tofu. Smoothies are good for one person. Learning “overnight” techniques; oatmeal

Vegetable and whole grains are getting full. May need sub categories.

added appendix’s for gluten, umami, anti-inflammatory. Yeah! Personal change.

And age; ain’t gotten’ ’ younger. This old body requires TLC. Frying and sugar are out. Salt, large pieces of meat and lg portions are history. Need new ways to make food satisfying. Hence- umami.

Even cruising magazines. The recipes are smaller sizes. Less fat/sugar. Flavor from herbs/spices, etc.

Grocery stores have different sized cans (although this might be trickery to charge more for less). Makes me rethink my cooking. Last week made slow cooked chili verde with 1 lb pork (not 3) and new 10 oz can gr enchilada sauce. Still had leftovers.

although, makes me wonder how those new chicken can stay on their feet, do they wear support bras. Last pkg was 6 lbs boneless skinless with 6 half breasts. That’s right. Them ladies bosoms are a lb each! Genetics?

I used to use the binder/page protector method, but that took up so much space and was hard to find a specific recipe.
Now I use an app called Paprika. It is so awesome! I have it on my phone, my laptop, and my iPad. I can manually type in my recipe, or I can copy/paste a browser link and the software will automatically download the recipe. I can create my own categories and assign each recipe multiple categories, if I choose. I can scale the recipes up or down with the click of a button. I can create menus for whatever amount of time - usually I do a week. Assign a recipe for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day. A click of a button brings up the ingredients for each recipe. I go thru the ingredients and check the pantry, then another click adds it to the grocery list. The app syncs between all my devices, so I can take my phone with me to the grocery store and check things off my list as I add them to the cart. Saves me SO much time!

I still have a binder, but the recipes I use all the time are on my laptop. I just it out when I want to make a recipe. And recipes are an easy download from most websites.

‘I heartily second the Paprika app! Best app EVER for recipes. Plus, I’ve created categories in it for Costco, Target and even the fabric store. You can create any category in the grocery list and add anything to it - it doesn’t have to be just groceries! No more separate written lists for those stores. I just bring up the “Groceries” in the app to see what I need. Love that you can scale recipes up or down, and that you can edit the recipes to include your own “tweaks” or put notes in a recipe with tips or comments when you make a recipe.