Awful, ain't it? Looking up a recipe was a real chore.
This week, Toni @ A bowl full of lemons is challenging people to get their recipes in order. And I decided it was high time to do just that. I am thrilled with my results.
The first step was to identify what sections I needed. So I started off by listing the ones I could think of, and then sifting through my recipes to make sure they all had a category to fit in to. I added a miscellaneous category for things that didn't deserve their own section, such as preserves, since I don't do a lot of preserving.
The sections that work for you could be very different from what works for me, but here are the sections I decided on:
- Appetizers
- Soup & Salad
- Main Dishes
- beef
- poultry
- veggies
- pasta
- Side dishes
- Breads
- Breakfast (with a sub section for muffins)
- Dessert (with sub sections for cookies and cakes)
- Misc.
I was inspired by the recipe clippings books of old. I wanted an eclectic gathered together look that would complement the various additions and food splatters it will acquire over the years.
Each section includes a page protector labeled "Recipes To Try" so i can clip recipes and put them somewhere without having to commit them to a permanent spot in the book until i know that they are keepers.
Now finding the recipe I need is easy. And pretty too.

Swing by A bowl full of lemons to see more articles on creating a functional and beautiful recipe binder.
Love this! This looks very neat and organized! Thanks for linking to Don't Waste your Homemaking, hope to see you again!
ReplyDeletewww.dontwasteyourhomemaking.com
It looks MUCH neater! You did a great job getting them organized!
ReplyDeleteHi! I love your recipe binder! It looks awesome! My recipes are currently in a stack in the cabinet. I really need to find a system thats as cute as this and works for me. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE your binder. I wish I could find one that cool. Maybe someday.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the binder. Thanks for linking to We're Organized Wednesday. I'll be featuring this.
ReplyDeleteYour binder looks great! I love how you gave it that 'collected over time' look and the picture for each divider. Cute!
ReplyDeleteSo organized--my binder is stuffed and overwhelming--needs to be redone. Thanks so much for linking up to Beyond the Picket Fence.
ReplyDeleteThank you for not putting everything in page protectors and welcoming food splatters to come! Beautiful book without too many dividers. Thank you for your wonderfully eclectic binder and the recipes to try pocket is brills!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. I really need to do this with my recipes. Mine are such a mess right now!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, I LOVE your book. I blogged about your post for it inspired me.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.modernvintagehomemaking.com/2011/03/recipe-organization-this-lady-has-it.html
Blessings,
Lisa
I did mine the other day and I couldnt stop reading it over and over..........I love the binder of yours, its beautiful.
ReplyDelete(I found u at http://www.houseofhepworths.com/page/7/)
I love that you incorporated a recipes to try pocket for EACH section. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a recipe binder also with pre-made tabs and I really like your idea. I purchase specialty papers for my pages and print them on my computer. So that they coordinate with my recipes. I am going to make new tabs for my binder, thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI am so hijacking your vintage page divider idea. (If I tell you, is it still hijacking?)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
This is one of those makeovers that feels really satisfying. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your binder! I was wondering where you found the great pictures that you used for each section? They are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm inspired to get mine organized as well!!
@ laurensmommy - I clipped the pictures for the sections out of various food and cooking magazines.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to have inspired you :)
Thanks for the ideas, this is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have a three ring binder with the "magnetic" photo pages. I put clipped recipes and ones that I have written out on index cards in the proper section. When I want to use a recipe, I can take it out and use a push pin to pin it to the wall above my work area. This way I don't have a bulky binder taking up all my work space and I don't get (as much) splatter on my recipe cards!
ReplyDeleteThis is such beautiful and crafty recipe book!! Very good use of all of my scrapbooking stuff I never use anymore...
ReplyDeleteI love what you've done. Where did you find such a cute binder?
ReplyDeleteI am so in love with all your idea right now. You have even inspired me to take all my husband's great grandmother's clipped and written recipes and put them in a binder. Then make copies for Christmas presents for his family.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a lovely Christmas idea! :)
DeleteWhere did you buy your binder? I LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI love this!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo inspiring, I think I'm going to try your strawberry muffin recipe as well :)
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