Cookbook Organization! Eureka!

[Molly53]

Chef Cameo wrote:
Just click on My Cookbooks when you find a recipe you like. You can make several cookbooks and label them accordingly. I have several categories including tried and untried categories and for sure have one marked "favorites" so I don't have to search to find them.

Good Luck....any questions just give a holler.

Elaine

Good Cookin' to you.

Howdy Elaine....nice to meet a new friend.

[Kitchen Witch Steph]

The_Swedish_Chef wrote:
Molly53: Here's what I posted in another thread that directed me to THIS thread.

"I like organization so I have no problem printing out all the various recipes that I have stored in my Recipezaar folders.

I have a different colored binder for each catagory: for instance NOT TRIED YET; TRIED AND TRUE; JUST DESSERTS;HOLIDAY MEALS etc.

Everything that is on my "wish list" to make gets printed out and sorted into the NOT TRIED YET and then broken down into the same catagories that my beloved Betty Crocker cookbook uses: Eggs/Pasta/Main Dishes, etc. That way, it's easy to find.

When I'm making the actual recipe, I detach it from that folder so I can make as many personal notes and changes on it. Then, when I have time, I go back to the original recipe, make my private notes on the page, and then print it out to go into the permanent files.

I take this time at the computer to also rate the recipe because I know that feedback is so important when people take their free time to post recipes.

So far, I've had zero problems with this system. I duplicated the colored folders for our cabin (where there is NO internet!) so that I don't have to regret not having access to my recipes, especially when we pass a farm stand brimming with seasonal food.

I guess I don't have a problem with having so many colored binders; I have so many specialty cookbooks anyway (Peppers!/Custard/Basil, etc.) that being able to just go to a specific catagory makes sense for our lifestyle."

I am in the very process of organizing my recipes that way! I get made fun of by my family, too. But, in a good way. They think is nerdy cute.

I am very hands on so I do print out most everything. If there is a picture, I print that out and affix it to the recipe page with double sided tape. I like flipping through binders and seeing pictures. I insert pages into plastic sleeves. (I have other binders for crafts and such)

Same process for "yet to try" recipes. (I print those on paper recycled from flyers and bad print jobs) I like going to one place when I am in the mood to be adventurous. If I try it and like it, I make notes on Zaar and print it again.

I also think you should post your Grandmother's recipes. I am archiving my families recipes and cooking stories currently. What a blessing it is to find online those recipes that have been lost in the course of our family history that I can get back because someone else was so kind to share.

Sometimes you can go through Grandma's recipe box and think, "What on earth did she mean here?" I can go online and find the answer.

[CoffeeB]

Since I"m new to the premium membership this is a very helpful idea. I have so much to learn and am quite overwhelmed at this point. But, I'm sure it will become easier as I have the time to sit at the computer and spend some time looking around. Thanks

[Molly53]

If you need us, we'll be there....just let us know.

[CoffeeB]

Well, I just posted in another forum the fact that I went to my cook-books and after spending most of last night organizing, I see that not one thing was done and things are right back to looking the way they did when I didn't have premium membership. Explain please what I did wrong.~

[2Bleu]

Hi everyone. I was reading some of your posts, and thought I'de lend my oranizational ideas as well.
I do start with a dump pile when searching for recipes and use my main cookbook to do that. Then sort those to my other books when I get time. All the recipes in my self-created-cookbooks are 'UN-TRIED' (keep reading and you'll understand why)
I don't like a bunch of cookbooks. So I create basic ones: beef, chicken, pork, fish, side dishes, munchies, condiments, beverages, etc.
RZ Games cookbook-I create this for the games I'm currently in, with private notes of dates due, who tagged, etc. So I can stay current on what I'm doing in the games.
I POST A REVIEW OF ALL RECIPES THAT I TRY ON THE ZAAR.
That way when I want a tried and true recipe, I just go to my page, and click on 'my reviews'. It's a cookbook in and of itself. If I did not like a particular recipe, its in there and tells me so with my own review, and private notes section as to why. Also, the posting chef loves reviews, good or bad, post it USING THE ZAAR RATINGS... NOT YOUR OWN VERSION OF WHAT THE STARS MEAN. Isn't that why we are here? 3 stars is 'liked it'-3 stars IS A GOOD RATING. Be honest and tell why you did or did not like it, and any variations that you did to the recipe.
I USE THE PRIVATE NOTES SECTION!!!! This is a great place to put your own notes onto the recipes (variations, Reminders,comments on the chef, anything... It stays private!).
If I want my collection of recipes I've posted, Zaar has that too. My private recipes, and my public recipes. Any recipe I've personally put up on this site is already in it's own book.

This system may work for some, not for others, but hope it gives all some helpful insight.

Please feel free to read the bottom of our homepage, where there is a more detailed version of organizing your cookbooks.

Thanks,
-Bird-

[RonaNZ]

Thanks Bird for your very full explanation of your planning. I'm starting to get the hang of this and agree with your idea that all the recipes in my cookbooks are untried. Perhaps when I get to the stage that my reviewed recipes cookbook is so large that it's hard to find something, I may split it into 'tried' cookbooks but for just now this works.

I haven't made use of the private notes yet but I've only just got into using the shopping list. What an amazing tool! I feel so organised. Yesterday I went into my cookbook, chose four recipes I intended to make over the next couple of days and put them on my shopping list. Then I deleted the items I had in my cupboards, printed the list and went shopping. I made three of the recipes and this morning I was able to review them without having to find them again (yes, I know, I'm a slow learner but that's what I did when I first discovered Zaar!) and then deleted them out of my cookbook, only to have them reappear in my reviewed recipes. And all the time that I saved by doing that, I've 'wasted' by coming in here to tell you about it! No time is wasted if it helps someone else, I think.

I also agree with you about the rating system. Three stars means you liked it. I rated a recipe with three stars the other day. I liked the recipe, thought it was good and I said so too but I had to make some changes to it. I still think 'liked it' is a good thing and cooks will always change recipes to suit.

[2Bleu]

RonaNZ wrote:
Thanks Bird for your very full explanation of your planning. I'm starting to get the hang of this and agree with your idea that all the recipes in my cookbooks are untried. Perhaps when I get to the stage that my reviewed recipes cookbook is so large that it's hard to find something, I may split it into 'tried' cookbooks but for just now this works.

I haven't made use of the private notes yet but I've only just got into using the shopping list. What an amazing tool! I feel so organised. Yesterday I went into my cookbook, chose four recipes I intended to make over the next couple of days and put them on my shopping list. Then I deleted the items I had in my cupboards, printed the list and went shopping. I made three of the recipes and this morning I was able to review them without having to find them again (yes, I know, I'm a slow learner but that's what I did when I first discovered Zaar!) and then deleted them out of my cookbook, only to have them reappear in my reviewed recipes. And all the time that I saved by doing that, I've 'wasted' by coming in here to tell you about it! No time is wasted if it helps someone else, I think.

I also agree with you about the rating system. Three stars means you liked it. I rated a recipe with three stars the other day. I liked the recipe, thought it was good and I said so too but I had to make some changes to it. I still think 'liked it' is a good thing and cooks will always change recipes to suit.

Well said RonaNZ, I couldn't agree more.

[Lvs2Cook]

RonaNZ wrote:
Thanks Bird for your very full explanation of your planning. I'm starting to get the hang of this and agree with your idea that all the recipes in my cookbooks are untried. Perhaps when I get to the stage that my reviewed recipes cookbook is so large that it's hard to find something, I may split it into 'tried' cookbooks but for just now this works.

I haven't made use of the private notes yet but I've only just got into using the shopping list. What an amazing tool! I feel so organised. Yesterday I went into my cookbook, chose four recipes I intended to make over the next couple of days and put them on my shopping list. Then I deleted the items I had in my cupboards, printed the list and went shopping. I made three of the recipes and this morning I was able to review them without having to find them again (yes, I know, I'm a slow learner but that's what I did when I first discovered Zaar!) and then deleted them out of my cookbook, only to have them reappear in my reviewed recipes. And all the time that I saved by doing that, I've 'wasted' by coming in here to tell you about it! No time is wasted if it helps someone else, I think.

I also agree with you about the rating system. Three stars means you liked it. I rated a recipe with three stars the other day. I liked the recipe, thought it was good and I said so too but I had to make some changes to it. I still think 'liked it' is a good thing and cooks will always change recipes to suit.

Bird is a great asset to this site

For what it's worth, I think 3 stars is a great rating ~ I actually don't mind 1 or 2 stars either...I can always learn something.

I love Private Notes, too, and use them all the time

Off to watch my Giants

[2Bleu]

Lvs2Cook wrote:

RonaNZ wrote:
Thanks Bird for your very full explanation of your planning. I'm starting to get the hang of this and agree with your idea that all the recipes in my cookbooks are untried. Perhaps when I get to the stage that my reviewed recipes cookbook is so large that it's hard to find something, I may split it into 'tried' cookbooks but for just now this works.

I haven't made use of the private notes yet but I've only just got into using the shopping list. What an amazing tool! I feel so organised. Yesterday I went into my cookbook, chose four recipes I intended to make over the next couple of days and put them on my shopping list. Then I deleted the items I had in my cupboards, printed the list and went shopping. I made three of the recipes and this morning I was able to review them without having to find them again (yes, I know, I'm a slow learner but that's what I did when I first discovered Zaar!) and then deleted them out of my cookbook, only to have them reappear in my reviewed recipes. And all the time that I saved by doing that, I've 'wasted' by coming in here to tell you about it! No time is wasted if it helps someone else, I think.

I also agree with you about the rating system. Three stars means you liked it. I rated a recipe with three stars the other day. I liked the recipe, thought it was good and I said so too but I had to make some changes to it. I still think 'liked it' is a good thing and cooks will always change recipes to suit.

Bird is a great asset to this site

For what it's worth, I think 3 stars is a great rating ~ I actually don't mind 1 or 2 stars either...I can always learn something.

I love Private Notes, too, and use them all the time

Off to watch my Giants

Thank you Lvs2Cook, that's very nice of you to say.
I agree with all stars are good. either as complimentary or constructivly. The only bad review is the one not given.
to quote my dad, "If I don't know it's broke, how do I know to fix it"?
Have a great night everyone. Happy cooking

[LoriLee in TX]

Good idea! The cookbook I created to hold recipes I'd like to try is getting unwieldy. Think I'll make a change. Any more good ideas you want to share?

[2Bleu]

LoriLee in AK wrote:
Good idea! The cookbook I created to hold recipes I'd like to try is getting unwieldy. Think I'll make a change. Any more good ideas you want to share?

Well, here is a great way to organize worrying:

"Put off worrying until tomorrow. Tomorrow never actually comes, so you'll never worry!"

There is a 'food for thought' game hosted by Buddha.
http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=243417
a non-cooking game thats taken off quite well, and is lots of fun.

[Scarlett516]

I started off trying the "tried" and "not tried" categories that were suggested by the first poster, but I too found it to be too much. I would forget to move around the recipes afterward and I had so many cookbooks!

I just recently redid my cookbooks into basic categories, mainly the same as a traditional cookbook but with a few of my own too. For example I have "Ground Beef," "Roast Beef," and "Steaks" since I find "Meat" or "Beef" too general when you get a lot of recipes. I also have some cookbooks by cuisine, such as "Italian" and "British."

I too decided that "My Reviewed Recipes" would serve as my "Tried" cookbook. I have made great use of the ingredients sifter and sorting the recipes by rating as well. I make a point of rating every recipe I try on here for my purposes as well as the fact that it's really nice for the poster too. I haven't been as good at using the private notes section as I was at first, but I'll try to get back into that as well. I do a food blog of new recipes, so during a school vacation I can go back to my blog and update the private notes on here.

I like to note my changes to a recipe in my review because, as a person trying that recipe, I find it very helpful to see what other people did. It's also really helpful because, as a newer cook, I'm not always sure what will work well. I read all the reviews before trying a recipe, unless it has too many to read through, then I just read the first few pages!

I'm working on making sure all of my recipes are in every cookbook category they can fall under to make them easier to find. For example, my British Toad in the Hole recipe is under "British Foods" and "Sausages." That way it's easy to find no matter which category I'm browsing.

I did keep a "Favorites" cookbook for easy access to ones we just LOVED!

[Lvs2Cook]

Thank you for for adding to this thread, Scarlett!!!

I like the way you have organized your cookbooks ~ very easy to find any recipe

[Kristianne]

I enjoyed reading these ideas. Just wanted to say that I REALLY hope they restore the ability to organize our recipes within our cookbooks early this week as I was told!