Thursday, April 7, 2011

Preserving Recipes

That little recipe box holds all my tried and true family favorite recipes. It's my go-to box when all else fails.
The recipes that my kids will ask for when they are grown, married and raising their own kids.

So how do I preserve them so that they will be intact when that time comes?
Now, you may be wondering why I am even thinking that far into the future.
My answer... there are many recipes that I wish that I would have asked for before loved ones passed on. To me those recipes are just as important as the family geneology that one researches.
So in my attempt to save and record our favorites over the years I have tried several methods.
~ index cards
~clear plastic sleeves that fit into a 3 ring binder, etc. etc.

No matter what I try I always end up going back to my handy little Longaberger Recipe Basket.
It's just simple and easy to grab a recipe out of the box.
To keep them neat, clean and free of messy fingers I've begun laminating each recipe card with a clear laminate.
No laminate machine necessary!

Just grab a roll of clear laminate ($6 in the Contact Paper section) located in the kitchen appliance section at Walmart.
I sandwich each recipe card between two pieces of laminate. It does takes a little bit of practice so that you don't have huge wrinkles but once you get the hang of it it goes pretty quick.

Make sure the edges are all sealed together.

Cut the excess off and there you go.

Sealed and protected for many years.
It works great and is way cheaper than the expensive laminate sheets.

10 comments:

Carmen S. said...

Your recipe box is just beautiful and what a GREAT idea to laminate them! Your children will be enjoying those special recipes for many years to come:) Hope you have a wonderful day:)

Sandra said...

I have mine in page protectors. I had too many that got messy during cooking and many of mine are too long for an index card. I hold my recipes as very important too. My sons have already told me that they want copies for their wives! I love your little basket!

Christine said...

That's a great idea Jessica. My recipes are in drawers, boxes and notebooks; guess I better get them organized pretty soon.

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

I love your recipe box ~ I had a cute box until the kids broke it.
Thanks for sharing a great idea!
Enjoy your weekend!
Prim Blessings!
Robin

Barbara said...

Oh that is a neat idea Jessica, I have been going to do mine for ever I still have not gotten around to it, ugh, slow me, lol good idea though, hugs

Steph said...

I have been wanting to do this because all my go to recipes are getting covered in food! lol

West Side of Straight said...

A great idea to laminate them. Are you making multiple copies yet for each child? That's what turned into such a job for me! Love your basket, and agree it's easier to reach for one copy, than a book. Have a great weekend, jo

Unknown said...

I love your recipe box...it is sooo quaint! Good idea with the cards. Thanks for sharing. Have a good weekend!

Heritage Farm Village said...

good idea! mine are a mess but i have an old box that were my grandmothers and i need to share them...jill

Hillcresthome Prims said...

Hi there, I jpined your blog because I do collect prims/colonial items BUT I LOVE to CCOK and BAKE and do CANNING!

I love your blog, I just made a peach cobbler and it came out sooooo YUMMY!
MY family loves my cooking and I wenr down a few posts and I am copying some of your wonderful recipes I also LOVE my crockpot!!!! Teh beef and noodles in the crockpot I am going to be making!

I love new blogs like this.
I hope you stop by my blog and join I LOVE NEW follower's. My next giveaway will be a COOKBOOK!!!!! WOOOOOHOOO, I just have to post it and set a date!\
Happy cooking ,
Tricia