27 Reader Space: Rad Recipe Binder {and a freebie!}

Although we recently wrapped up the binder series and linked up all of the awesomeness, I thought it would be fun to share a reader's great recipe organizing binder, to offer up a little extra inspiration.  Her recipe binder is a binder of it's own, and keeps her family organized each week while she is meal planning and trying out new meals in the home.

Kamarah wrote:

Jen,

After seeing all the awesome ways you've organized your household using binders, I thought you might like to see how I've used them to organize my recipes.  Several years ago, after I grew tired of my chaotic mess of clippings and 4x6 cards in a box, I came up with a binder that works like a charm!!!

My binder is divided into sections of how I think about my cooking.  For example, each week, I try to have a variety of main dishes.  So when I look through my recipes, I want them organized as such – poultry, beef, pasta, seafood, etc.  Each type of food has it's own colored tabbed section.

Here’s the key to my recipe binders – each tabbed, colored section has it’s own pocket for “recipes to try”.  So when I clip a recipe out of a magazine, I simply put it in the corresponding section pocket.  When I do my meal planning {usually one week at a time} and want to whip out something new for my family, I go straight to my “to try” folder to find a fresh recipe!

The next best organizing trick that I use is located right after the “to try” folder – an “index” page of my favorite recipes from cookbooks or magazines.  It’s a simple page with “dish”, “magazine/cookbook” and “page #” at the top.  Every time I make something from a cookbook, I write it down so I can easily find it later.  So instead of driving myself crazy searching for a recipe I tried last month, I just look at my ‘index’ and can find recipes within seconds! {and please don't judge me for having a Richard Simmons cookbook - it's actually really great!}

I keep clipped, favorite recipes in two kinds of clear plastic protectors – one is actually made for photos, but is the perfect size to hold 6 recipe cards {front and back}.  The other size is a full sheet for those full page or oddly shaped recipes. 

My final key to organizing my recipes and meal planning is the front and back pockets of the actual binders.  When I’m planning my meals, I put all of the recipes (to make) for the week in the front pocket.  This makes each recipe easily accessible when I need to prepare the family meal each evening. 

When I’m finished cooking each night, I place the completed recipe in the back pocket.  At the end of each week, I simply re-file the used recipes and plan my upcoming week’s meals again. 

 

I’ve helped make this binder for several friends who have raved over the ease of it and have loved staying organized with their recipes!!  I hope it may be helpful to you and your readers too!!

Kamarah
www.kamarah.com

Wow wow wow right?  So many great ideas!  She really has quite the well oiled machine of a system!  I love that she always has a place to grab a new recipe idea from, as we suffer from "stale meal planning syndrome".  The idea to use picture sleeves for recipe cards?  SO SMART!  I love she can plan different meal types for each night of the week, instead of eating pasta, pasta and then maybe some more pasta?  Been there...

Although this binder idea maybe isn't something "new" to us, it seems to be amongst the most popular ways to organize recipes, because IT WORKS!  And works well!


And a button for you:





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Oh, and shameless shop plug {hey, a girl has to sponsor her own biz right?}

Don't forget I offer a boatload of personalized meal planning and binder printables in my shop:

{Personalized Meal Planning/Shopping List}

{Personalized Meal Planning Calendar}

{Personalized Freezer Inventory}

{Personalized Fridge Inventory}

{Personalized Pantry Inventory}

{Personalized Editable Recipe Card Printable}

And because IHeart you all SO much!  A freebie!

{click here to download a FREE copy of the Recipe Reference Printable}

A huge round of virtual applause for Kamarah and her incredibly awesome system.  It feels great sharing things that have been proven to simplify lives and save moola to boot!  Feel free to leave a comment with some love for Kamarah and check out her lovely website!!

Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and un-editted.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!  More Info HERE.