How to Organize Your Recipes so You Can Find Them in a Snap!

If you're anything like me, chances are good you have piles of recipes you've clipped and hope to use 'some day' stashed away in all kinds of crazy places throughout your home. Problem is, when we'd actually like to use them it can be nearly impossible to remember where we put them. Good news is, with a few inexpensive supplies and a little organizational finesse this frustrating situation can quickly become a thing of the past.

Be Realistic

The first order of business is sorting through your stash. If you're the kind of person who tends to cook simple, basic meals with ingredients you typically have on hand, pitch the gourmet recipes that call for exotic ingredients like artichoke hearts, toasted pine nuts or sun-dried tomatoes. Unless you're a whiz at finding creative substitutions, chances are pretty good you'll never use them.

Dash to the Dollar Store

Once you've culled your collection you're ready to pick up a few inexpensive supplies to organize your recipes. Keep it simple. All you really need is a basic binder and a supply of plastic page protectors. Look for the ones that are three-hole punched and have an opening at the top.

Divide and Conquer

Now we're ready to separate everything into a few simple categories. Picture a cookbook index: Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Salads & Soups, Desserts, Breads & Rolls...you get the picture. Set it up however it will work for you. Make multiple piles of recipes and sort them according to category.

Give every Page a Name

Using the same categories we used for sorting (Main dishes, Side Dishes,etc.) label each individual page protector. This can be as simple as handwriting them with a permanent marker, or you can use some sort of sticker or label if you prefer. Again, whatever works for you.

A Place For Everything and Everything in it's Place

Now comes the fun part: Simply gather up each pile of recipes and place them in their corresponding page protectors. That's right, just gather them up and stuff them in! For easy accessibility, and because many recipes are double-sided, I've found it's better to leave them loose rather than mount them on a page.

Reap the Rewards and Enjoy!

That's it! Now you're organized and can easily find Aunt Sally's German Potato Salad Recipe the next time you need it, just look in your Side Dishes section. No fuss, no muss and best of all ...no more frustration!