WHAT’S FOR DINNER????????
Everyday it’s the same question, what’s for dinner? Sometimes I struggle to find the answer and other times I have days planned in advance.
I love cooking, but the everyday dinner planning can be a tedious and boring task, and it is so easy to give in to the lure of take away, but it is expensive and unhealthy, so other than the occassional pizza night or butter chicken from Bombay Bliss, I try to avoid that scenerio.
As a magazine addict, especially foodie ones, after a few months, my magazine basket can reach overflowing, so I sit down and tear out all the recipies I want to try and throw the rest in to the recycle bin. BUT what to do with all those bit’s of paper, that sometimes end up in the filing tray, over on the sideboard or even on my bedside table if I want to cook it the next day?
The solution…….A Recipe Folder!
All you need is a ring binder and lot’s of plastic pockets!
I love magazines, especially foodie ones, but after a few months, my mag basket is over flowing, so I tear out all the articles or recipies that I want to try and then toss the rest into the recycle bin. Now in the past these piles end up in the filing tray, on the sideboard or even on the bedside table, and of course when you realllllly want to find a particular one, it has disappeared into paper oblivion only to be found when it’s too late……BUT not anymore!
I have folders for all sorts of things and definately help to keep the plastic pocket manufacturers in business! Some of mine include:-
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WHATS FOR DINNER
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DINNER PARTY RECIPIES
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BIRTHDAY PARTY IDEAS
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CHRISTMAS
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EASTER
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CRAFT IDEAS
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HEALTH AND FITNESS
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FINANCE
Hunting for a particular recipe is now a breeze, and the weeks when I have make the time, I simply flick through the pages, write out a shopping list and place the weeks menu at the top of the pile. Each night I simply have to pull out the relevent recipe and cook away. The recipies are also protected in plastic from the inevitable spills and splashes that cooking creates.
Having a folder like this can also help you pick a recipe that includes ingredients that you have in the pantry, or using what specials your supermarket is offering that week. This is a great way to reduce the amount of fresh food wastage as you only have to buy what you need, instead of ‘just in case’.
I found these gorgeous folders in Kmart this week, on special for $1.00 each!
Invest a few hours getting all your magazine clippings in order, and then you will never have trouble locating them again and you just keep adding to the folder as you collect more!
What wonderful ways do you make meal planning easier, please share?
I have quite a few scrap books created over the past 15 years or so with recipes cut out and pasted in. All the classics from foodie mags, epicure from the Age etc…..I always love going to these books as they have heaps of food stains on the pages and evoke many happy memories! Karen
Karen, I have a few of those too, from many years ago when I was first starting my collection, unfortnately they are looking a little worse for wear, but I can’t bring myself to part with them 🙂
I maintain my recipes on my computer. Arranged by beef, lamp, dairy, soup, side dish, and dessert. Where they are fully indexed. So, I can plug in ingredients and see what I can make with what I have…
Much better than a folder, a looseleaf, or a book!
Roy, that is a great way to keep them all organised, I just know that I would not trust myself to take my laptop into the kitchen while I am cooking, knowing me there would be dangerous interaction between some liquid and my keyboard….plastic pockets are safer for cooks like me 🙂