Hmmm...How I Think and Organize Recipes for My Family

OK, it is NOT a secret that I love to cook.  As a busy working mom, I have spent the last 12 years trying to figure out how to feed my family easily.  It is not that I don't like ot cook after a long day at the office...I just am pushed for time.

The first thing I came up with to try and help me out, was I made a complete list of everything I could make.  It had complex meals like Prime Rib to simple meals like Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches.  I kept this posted on my fridge and would add items to it.  Periodically, I would retype it.  It really helped me with the decision of WHAT TO MAKE FOR DINNER!  I will dig the list out and post it later.

In writing up this list, I discovered there are 5 basic catagories my main dishes fall into, American, Oriental, Mexican, Italian and Ethnic.  I will be labeling my posts with these same catagories.

I have lost a few recipes in my life.  This is always a tragic loss for me.  I hate finding a really good recipe only to have lost the scrap of paper it is written on.  I have a basic cookbook that I have used since I was 9 years old.  The Betty Crocker Cookbook.

For years, when I find a new recipe that I love, I simply write it in the margin of the cookbook.  I also add an index entry in the back of the book.  My Cookbook is in a binder.  I have also added additional sheets of paper to the section I am adding a recipe to.  Guess what?  I have never lost a recipe since going to this method to keeping my recipes in one place. 

Of course, I do have many recipes on my computer.  I back them up periodically and send them to a special email account I have for storage.  I have this email account strictly for storage.  It is NOT my normal email address.

Well off to work for today.  Have a good one.

Chat later...