Anyone else have a Little Blue Book?

[Regallion]

Oh Noes!! Wrong forum!! Can someone move it please? Sorry!

Well, as the topic says, I keep a little book (which happens to be blue) that I keep handy in the kitchen. If I ever get a light bulb moment or see an interesting recipe on the TV (I'm a habitual UK TV FOOD channel watcher!) I grab my lil book and scribble it down.

I even took it on holiday with me to Greece last year to write down any tasty recipe ideas I'd encountered in the Tavernas over there. It's got a bit tatty now, and even smells of Olive Oil LOL!

When I'm stuck for inspiration for a meal or side dish, I find myself flicking through it for inspiration. Here's a couple of excerpts, word for word as I have hastily written them down:

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Bean Puree
Butter beans
Horseradish (or mustard)
Lime zest + Juice
Water + olive oil
Seasoning
Stick in Blender.
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Rice + toasted pine nuts

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sauted mushrooms in butter + toasted pine nuts

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this is one of my faves as a great side dish.

Carrot Fritters
flour
soda water
1 egg
cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, salt / pepper
onion
fresh coriander
Carrots!

mix flour, soda water, spices, egg in bowl.
add grated carrots and chopped coriander and stir well
Heat pan with oil until hot and add small batches of mixture.

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As you can see, there's no real exact measurements or anything - it's just an inspiration thing

So I was wondering - anyone else keep a lil book handy for this kind of thing?

[kadesma]

No little blue book, just a folder with scraps of jotted on paper Oh how I wish I had the will power to be a neat person!! It is like a mob scene around here when I want something, know I wrote it down then have to dig for it..My girls have tried, even bought me a wonderful journal to put things, it is still a beautiful journal just like new..no writing to mar it And now it's become a look at each other roll your eyes, look at mom and shake you head and sigh station
kadesma

[Aalyara]

It's not little, but it is blue. It's a three ring binder with various recipies I either find on the web, write down from a source, or make up from scratch. Sometime soon, I might put one of the ones I made up on the forums. I've got to find a good one.

[*amy*]

I used to keep a steno pad in front of me when I watched some PBS (Public Broadcasting Stations) or cable cooking shows I liked - i.e. Biba cooks Italian or Laurie cooks light, and jot down my notes. I did make the recipes, but unfortunately didn't transcribe them and save. Some I have in my head, but some are lost. Wish the networks would bring back the really good cooking shows - with the great masters of cooking.

[iCook31]

I have a book that I write my recipes in. Its a yellow journal. And the front says Boys Have Cooties! Haha.

I just recently started it so it only has a few recipes in it. But I keep it next to me. Especially when I am watching Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals. And all my other favorite food network stars.

[AllenOK]

I have two. Neither are blue.

The first is a purple folder that contains mostly printed recipes, a few photocopies, and one or two hand-written recipes. I call this folder my "slush folder", and it contains printouts of the recipes I use most often.

The second is my laptop. Ok, it's not a book, per se, but it contains, at last count, over 4,100 recipes, most of which have come from the internet. The only cooking channel I watch is The Food Network, and if I see a recipe I like, I just go online to the website and copy it.

[KellySeven]

I have many. One for beef, one for desserts (well - two actually) fish, veg, chicken etc etc etc. I also have a big pile of bits of paper that need to be sorted and put into the books.

[Uncle Bob]

No book per say, but a piece of paper held on the refrigerator by a magnet to make quick notes on for later....



Enjoy!

[Loprraine]

At home I use sticky notes that then go into a folder. When I visit a good friend, I bring a small notebook that fits into my pants pocket. When I'm in the kitchen with him, I can write down notes, then ask him questions later. That way, I'm not slowing him down during service. (very very bad thing to do)

[Harborwitch]

I have a huge binder (still packed -- somewhere) full of recipes that are actually catagorized. It has dividers and pockets for little bits of paper. I've got lots of printed recipes here in the office - and a cookbook holder with ones I'm using or planning to use.

I just got a digital pen - and I'm waiting for the special notebooks to arrive. Then I can write recipes in the notebook, make notes on them, and when I plug the pen into the computer it will transcribe them into typed text. I think this will be great fun - and it means I don't have to put a computer in the kitchen! I'm hoping for organizational improvement.