Kitchenwise Friends
Feb. 9th, 2010 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
What is your preferred way to compile and make easily accessible recipes from a wide variety of sources? I have several cookbooks with a small number of recipes I like, recipe cards of widely varying sizes, a few sheets of printer paper, and online bookmarks.
I want to do better at meal planning, but can never remember all of what I have that I like.
I want to do better at meal planning, but can never remember all of what I have that I like.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 07:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 08:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 07:34 pm (UTC)Then it's handy if I want to look up something for an idea or need a reminder of cooking times or whatever.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 07:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 07:42 pm (UTC)I've started transcribing recipes into a computer program that databases the recipes, quickly scales the ingredients for different numbers of people, and gives a rough nutritional analysis per serving. It also has a menu planner function.
I have a shelf full of cookbooks, too, used mostly for reference. 90% of my cooking is improvisational based on what's in the cupboards and fresh a tthe market.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 07:49 pm (UTC)Thing is, I seldom use recipes. I was taught to cook by "feel" -- which drives Allen crazy, lemme tell you! Pinch, handful, finger-length, dollop, dash and drizzle aren't his idea of measurements. But it works for me and nobody, incarnate or otherwise, complains about my cooking.
I'm going to dig out a three-ring binder to keep my favorite recipes, as well as kitchen/household charms and spells.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 09:06 pm (UTC)But nobody complains.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 07:54 pm (UTC)Of course, I have 2 or 3 'bible' type cookbooks that I find myself going back to again and again for both full receipies and variation ideas or other info [like wine pairings] and the old fashioned card box as well. SOMEDAY I want to get the cards I actually used transcribed to the 3 ring binder...hmmm...maybe if I'm snowed in again Wednesday...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 08:08 pm (UTC)I never took notes in school either...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 08:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 08:35 pm (UTC)I cut and paste data into text files and organize by folders, sometimes saving recipes in more than one place (e.g. duplicated into pot luck). If it's a paper recipe (which can be from library books), I take a digital photo and save the image.
I don't worry much about whether my folders make sense, I just over-title things so that I can search filenames for keywords, and failing that, I can search the file contents for the ingredients I remember.
If I feel like a recipe I like is too complicated, it's common for me to do a web search on the recipe title and a few of its essential ingredients, then I can improvise something that's easier or more to my palate by tweaking from the pool of recipes found.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-09 09:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-12 05:11 am (UTC)For an electronic solution, consult