How to Make a Homemade Cookbook

If you’re like me and most of the people I know, you have at least a hundred slips of paper strewn in various drawers, books and wherever else. They’re printed out recipes from the internet or scribbled down while you were watching television. I always thought it would be great if I had one spot where I could organize those recipes easily and I finally decided to do it. I wanted something that would be durable & low-cost. Here’s a simple solution to that chaos. Organization can be achieved with about $15 in supplies and an hour of your time.

Supplies:

Durable 3-Ring Binder (I used one with a window cover so you can insert a picture, it cost $6.49)

Approx. 9 File Folders (I used decorative ones from Staples at $6.99 for a 12-Pack)

One Hole Punch (I already had this so I didn’t include this in the cost of the project)

Paper (optional)

Printer (optional)

Scissors (optional)

Glue Stick (optional)

Step 1: Cookbook Cover

You don’t have to make a cookbook cover. In fact, plenty of binders come without the window at a lower cost but it’s something added and a nice touch. Design your cookbook cover however you feel comfortable. I used Photoshop and printed the finished page on my home computer but I could also see someone using scrap booking techniques also. To make this one extra special I took a photo of my friends dining room (the person I was making the cookbook for) and used it in the design for the cookbook cover. I also made a title for the side of the binder.

Step 2: Adding The File Folders

Measuring against the 3 rings in the binder, punch holes (3) at the bottom (just above the crease) of each folder. You really want to try to keep the holes in the same place on each folder. That way they’ll line up properly when inserted in the binder and look more polished. As opposed to irregular hole punches that don’t line up and therefore leave the folders staggered and irregular when inserted into the binder.

Step 3: Label The Folders

Now you’ll label your cookbook sections. How you label them is a matter of preference. For mine I used 9 categories:

Appetizers & Snacks

Soups & Breads

Salads

Meats

Seafood

Vegetables, Rice & Pasta

Sauces, Rubs & Spices

Desserts

Menus (from local restaurants)

You can write yours in or do as I did and print out labels and glued them to the folders. As an additional measure you can use a piece of tape over each printed label in order to keep them clean. After much use, I’m sure they’ll get dirty and worn out. The tape should prevent that from happening.

Once you’re done with that, you’re essentially done!

Additionally, I buy a pack or protective sheets. I always keep at least one in the cookbook binder. When I’m using a recipe I put it in the front protective sheet so that I don’t get any spills on it. Once done, I put the recipe back in it’s rightful place.

If you’re making the cookbook for someone else. At this point you could print out some of your favorite recipes and insert them into the cookbook. Or how about inserting those oh-so-important extras that every other cookbook has such as a “substitution list” or a measures/equivalents page. You could even include some blank pages that are already hole punched for the recipient and they could use those pages for notes.