organize my recipes

It has become clear to me that having favorite recipes and untried recipes in the same binders is inefficient. So, get a new binder together, and move the things we actually make to that binder. Ideally, type them all up so they’re saved on the computer and can be printed in a uniform font for the binder.

it’s one of those things I’ve been having an impulse to do lately. I just haven’t had time. But having the impulse is a good sign.

A while ago, I promised DB to go through my recipes and give her the ones my mom had given me. I need to do this, regardless of the fact that I’m still waiting for her to send me the ones she promised. Maybe if I send mine it’ll remind her.

is trying things I’ve cut out of magazines.

Vegetarians will probably laugh at me, and say the below is a staple everyone knows. But I didn’t. And after trying it last week, I like it so much I just had to post it.

Hearty Lentil Spaghetti

• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups dried lentils, rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth ^{(I used 5 and I still thought it got a little thick; next time I might omit the tomato paste)}
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

1. Cook onion and garlic in oil until tender.
2. Stir in lentils, broth, pepper, cayenne.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, simmer 20-30 minutes or until lentils are tender.
4. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, basil, and oregano.
5. Return to a boil, then again reduce the heat and simmer 40-45 minutes.

Serve over pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

This made enough that our family of 3 was able to have it for dinner twice and I was able to have it for lunch twice. For lunch, I had it over leftover brown rice (too lazy to make more pasta) and I think I liked it even better that way than over pasta. Absolute comfort food. I think I will try it on spagetti squash, though. It seems like it’d be a good pairing because the lentils make it so filling.

and divided them into baking, meats, side dishes and salads, etc. That’s just the ones that were already in the single, unmanageably huge binder, so it isn’t like I actually sorted recipes more. But every small step counts!

Instead of tearing out whole pages from magazines and tossing them in the stack, I’ve been cutting out just the recipe, taping it together immediately if it came from 2 pages, and in some cases I’ve even put some directly into the binder!

we’ve been trying to test out new recipes and we love some of them. so if i can get more of the ones i cut (rip) out organized, my husband won’t be as irritated by all the little bits of paper lying around and we’ll eat yummier meals.

recipes are a reason that i don’t throw out magazines. always have to evaluate the recipes first to see if any are worth saving.

this is my third “organize my __” goal! if i achieve them all, i will surely reach nirvana :)