Recipie File - as a Present - Help/ideas please

SuiDreams

Hi,

I've just had an idea for an Extra Xmas Present for my Husband. He's always saying he would like some more recipie books etc. So I was thinking of making him a recipie file for Christmas, with all our favourite meals in. Also thinking of adding an index of unusal veg, with a picture and what to do with them (as we've now joined an organic veg bag scheme). Plus he wants us to start having dinner paries again so a section on enteraining as well. Please can you let me know what you think of this idea and can anyone help with recipies etc. Also I'm a coeliac so all meals must be gluten Free. The big problem is I have no idea where to start.

Thanks

tra_2

Hi. You could go to your library and get some recipe books out and write out any recipes that you fancy. They probably have a gluten free recipe book or can probably order you one.

aimeelister

I think its a lovely idea. If you dont mind i might adapt the idea and start now for when my cousion goes to universiy (shes in for the shock of her life as she has a sheltered life at home!)

I would present it in an A4 folder with the A-Z separators (saving the need to make a contents page they will just be alphabetical order). I would do each recipe on a page of A4 and then present them in a platic wallet. That way he can remove them out the binder when he wants to follow them and they will be wipe clean.

I would start a word document with all the recipies you use and everytime you make one between now and christmas take a digi photo of it and then you can put it at the top of the page under the title.

For the different veg you get you may want to take a photo of it when you get it (or even go round the supermarkets and take some!) give a brief description of how to prepare it and what it tastes like and then you can suggest some reciepes that use it.

Just a quick search has pulled up http://thefoody.com/basic/vegindex.html
which might be of some use.

MimiF

Thats such a lovely idea SuiDreams, if you don't mind I moght pinch it not sure who for though!!

Agree with the lever arch file idea or what about an index file A4 size? You could put them in alphabetically or in sections (lunches/snacks/desserts/entertaining) and keep them all in those plastic sleeves that go in lever arch files so they don't get too dirty when they are out and being used.

MimiF

SuiDreams

Thanks everyone I had thought of the following sections so far but in no particular order.

Hints & Tips
Our Favourites
Entertaining - Starters
- Mains
- Desserts
Everyday recipies
Baking
Unusual Vegtables.

What do you think?

Counting_Pennies_2

To jazz it up when you give it to the person I would recommend either doing an invitation to a night in for you cooking a meal of their choice, or provide some luxurious ingredients that will go in some of the meals.

Like a good quality olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fancy dried pasta, etc

seraphina

A while ago I got something called "The Dodo Book for Cooks" at Christmas.

It's basically a spiral bound notebook divided into sections for each course - starter, fish, meat, veggies, pudding, baking and so on- with each divider having a pocket for cut out recipes etc. It also has a nice wipe clean cover and loads of blank pages to write recipes into.

I love it - I have a bit of a recipe book fetish but now I can just get the ones I want out of the library and copy ones I like the look of into my book!

For recipe ideas you can try the BBC and Good Food website. My local library also has lots of recipe books for specialist diets, including several on gluten free cookery so you could pick up some inspiration there.

thriftlady_2

aimeelister wrote:

I would start a word document with all the recipies you use and everytime you make one between now and christmas take a digi photo of it and then you can put it at the top of the page under the title.

This is a fantastic idea:T and thanks to SuiDreams for the original idea. I'm training my eldest son (11) to cook - he's doing beans on toast tonight:D - and I thought I'd nick this idea for him so that by the time he's flown the nest he has a book of all our favourite family recipes. We've just given him a digital camera for his b'day so he could take the pics himself. And, if it's all on the computer I can print off copies for ds2 and dd:j

SuiDreams

aimeelister wrote:

Just a quick search has pulled up http://thefoody.com/basic/vegindex.html
which might be of some use.

Thanks for this its excellent think I have the veggie section covered now. Think I'll add a herb section as well.