Building A Recipe Collection

We're talking about RECIPES. When it comes to baking, I'm a baker. When it comes to everything else, I'm a "little bit of this and a little bit of that". Even so, having recipes allows me to know what we like, what we don't, and a place to help when it's time to plan a meal. 

I want to challenge you to do three simple things:

* COLLECT recipes - print them off, tear them out, write them down.

* Make recipes your OWN - do not be afraid to change things up when it comes to recipes. You know what you like, make it the way you like it. Just keep track of these changes so you can do it again. 

* ORGANIZE your recipes - get a box, get a binder, whatever you want, just keep them organized. 

When I was seventeen I decided that it was time to start building my own recipe book. Around that time, I got my sister her own recipe book as well. 

Mine is a simple three ring binder with dividers. I rewrite all of my recipes on plain notebook paper. I was going to get cute stationary or make my own, but then I decided against it. It's not pretty, but it's mine and I am okay with it. 

My sister's is cute, it's a binder complete with plastic sleeves and TONS of matching recipe cards. 

Over the last five years, I've copied down recipes as I make them so that all of my recipes are in one place. I've added to the pile and copied down all of the wonderful things my Mom taught me to make. 

Are your recipes already organized? What do you use to keep them that way? 

If you don't collect recipes or keep track of them, what's been holding you back?