I am one who enjoys cooking. I would be lying if I said I love to make dinner every single night, but for the most part I take pleasure in making meals. Nevertheless, I have a confession. I don't own a single cookbook. I used to own one that had basic instructions for most anything you needed to cook properly, but with the internet these days, I found I didn't need it.
Instead, I have a binder (white, of course) in which I keep all of my recipes. I have typed up these recipes on the computer and have them categorized from appetizers to soup. I print them on regular computer paper and slip them into plastic sheet covers to keep them from being ruined while I am cooking. Everything in my recipe binder I have tried personally and use on a regular basis (with the exception of special holiday dishes that I obviously use only on occasion, but couldn't do without).
When I find or ask for or receive a new recipe, I slip it into the front pocket of my recipe binder and there it stays until I know it is something we will use and like. If I find I do love it, I type it up and add it to its appropriate category. From my own personal experience and from talking to many people (excluding professional chefs who try new things constantly), I have found that most people use what they love over and over. I have found many people feel like their numerous recipe books are a waste because they hardly use them or use the same two recipes repeatedly. Nevertheless, if you use and love your cookbooks, definitely keep them. As for me, I love having my recipes that I use, and that my family loves, all together and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Some additional thoughts:
- Compiling all of your recipes may take some time, so go easy on yourself. Choose one category to start with and focus only on gathering recipes in that area until it is completed to your satisfaction. Then move on to the next category.
- Set a goal to look through your recipe book once a year to see if all of the recipes are still being used and enjoyed. Get rid of those that you initially loved, but later found out were not used as often as you thought.
- Email your friends once a year and ask them for their favorite recipe in the last twelve months. This is a great way to get the best recipes out there.