The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking

In pursuit of a simple, fabulous, imperfect life at home.

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Recipe Organization

February 17, 2011 - 26 comments
About a year ago I bought a cute new recipe binder for really cheap.  The problem is that the sections in this book did NOT work for me.  All the tabs were pre-printed, and there weren't any extra ones for me to add my own sections.  I knew I was going to have to come up with a better system... so I just started stuffing recipes into the book.  Stuffing. 


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 made the tab dividers and pages out of scrapbooking paper and cardstock.  I used some little scrapbooking embellishments and do-dads for decoration too.
    Each section tab has a corresponding picture on it.



    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.
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    26 comments

    1. Marcie @ DWYHFebruary 17, 2011 at 7:32 PM

      Love this! This looks very neat and organized! Thanks for linking to Don't Waste your Homemaking, hope to see you again!

      www.dontwasteyourhomemaking.com

      ReplyDelete
    2. Shabby SoulFebruary 18, 2011 at 9:21 AM

      It looks MUCH neater! You did a great job getting them organized!

      ReplyDelete
    3. UnknownFebruary 18, 2011 at 6:41 PM

      Hi! 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! :)

      ReplyDelete
    4. JennFebruary 18, 2011 at 7:41 PM

      LOVE your binder. I wish I could find one that cool. Maybe someday.

      ReplyDelete
    5. LeanneFebruary 19, 2011 at 1:05 PM

      Great job on the binder. Thanks for linking to We're Organized Wednesday. I'll be featuring this.

      ReplyDelete
    6. AutumnFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:23 AM

      Your binder looks great! I love how you gave it that 'collected over time' look and the picture for each divider. Cute!

      ReplyDelete
    7. Becky@Beyond The Picket FenceFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:08 PM

      So organized--my binder is stuffed and overwhelming--needs to be redone. Thanks so much for linking up to Beyond the Picket Fence.

      ReplyDelete
    8. Allyson/HBMomof2February 26, 2011 at 8:43 PM

      Thank 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!

      ReplyDelete
    9. ContentEweFebruary 27, 2011 at 5:12 PM

      This is a great idea. I really need to do this with my recipes. Mine are such a mess right now!

      ReplyDelete
    10. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 11:01 AM

      Thank you for this post, I LOVE your book. I blogged about your post for it inspired me.
      http://www.modernvintagehomemaking.com/2011/03/recipe-organization-this-lady-has-it.html

      Blessings,
      Lisa

      ReplyDelete
    11. Dollar Store CrafterMarch 14, 2011 at 10:23 AM

      I did mine the other day and I couldnt stop reading it over and over..........I love the binder of yours, its beautiful.
      (I found u at http://www.houseofhepworths.com/page/7/)

      ReplyDelete
    12. AnonymousMarch 16, 2011 at 8:18 PM

      I love that you incorporated a recipes to try pocket for EACH section. :)

      ReplyDelete
    13. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 6:00 PM

      I 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!

      ReplyDelete
    14. DusaMay 11, 2011 at 4:15 PM

      I am so hijacking your vintage page divider idea. (If I tell you, is it still hijacking?)
      Thanks!

      ReplyDelete
    15. SuzanneMay 18, 2011 at 2:08 PM

      This is one of those makeovers that feels really satisfying. Great job!

      ReplyDelete
    16. laurensmommyMay 18, 2011 at 2:31 PM

      I love seeing your binder! I was wondering where you found the great pictures that you used for each section? They are gorgeous!

      Now I'm inspired to get mine organized as well!!

      ReplyDelete
    17. Kelly OribineMay 18, 2011 at 2:44 PM

      @ laurensmommy - I clipped the pictures for the sections out of various food and cooking magazines.

      I'm thrilled to have inspired you :)

      ReplyDelete
    18. AmberJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:05 PM

      Thanks for the ideas, this is awesome!

      ReplyDelete
    19. KarenJanuary 10, 2012 at 6:03 PM

      I 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!

      ReplyDelete
    20. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2012 at 6:25 PM

      This is such beautiful and crafty recipe book!! Very good use of all of my scrapbooking stuff I never use anymore...

      ReplyDelete
    21. AnonymousApril 18, 2012 at 11:08 PM

      I love what you've done. Where did you find such a cute binder?

      ReplyDelete
    22. RitaMay 22, 2012 at 11:21 PM

      I 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.

      ReplyDelete
    23. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2012 at 10:37 PM

      Where did you buy your binder? I LOVE it!

      ReplyDelete
    24. UnknownNovember 15, 2012 at 9:12 PM

      I love this!! Thank you for sharing.

      ReplyDelete
    25. BrookeFebruary 19, 2013 at 7:53 PM

      So inspiring, I think I'm going to try your strawberry muffin recipe as well :)

      ReplyDelete

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