When my daughter was a toddler she was shocked to see me writing in a cookbook. "Mommy! No writing in books!" I explained that I always note substitutions, the date I first made it, or even whether she likes it on the recipe. Later I found a cookbook with very nice photos well marked by her. The word "ANY" is very large letters was on most pages with an enticing picture. What does that mean? "You can make that for me any time."

The only cookbook I've really written in is my binder-style Betty Crocker. It has a lot of the same recipes my mother's version has, but they've been "updated" so when I want something the way my mother made it, I need those notes. (The Quiche Lorraine instructions are the best example I can think of right now. They totally changed the oven temps and cooking times, and the new version just DOES NOT work.)

In general, I don't have a problem with people marking up their own books. The trouble starts when people go marking up library books... it's annoying not only for the other patrons who don't want to see someone else's notes, but also for the library folk who have to spend time erasing all those (hopefully pencil) marks.

I write notes, observations, changes I've made to cookbook recipes on post-it notes since I can't bear to mark up or write on any books.

daisy

I never write in regular books, but recently started writing notes in my cookbooks. I don't know what stopped me in the past (tho 12 years of Catholic school might have played a large part), but it's soo very helpful! I have a lot of cookbooks so I tend to forget what I've made - and more importantly, if I even liked it or would make it again. My little notes (and suggested changes, if need be) are invaluable.

I'm the opposite. I ONLY write in cookbooks. I make notes about changes I've made, what's might work better next time, whether I've love it or whether I would ever make it again. For me, it's really helpful.

I always write in cookery books, noting when I made the recipe, whether we enjoyed it (especially the kids!), any changes I made, or suggestions for making next time.

I also note who was with us when we ate it, or whether it was a birthday or other celebration. Now, when I leaf through my cookery books, I can quickly see what has worked or not, and often enjoy some nostalgic moments remembering good times with great company!

My cookery books are very precious to me, some are falling apart, some are years old, (including a first edition Mrs Beeton), but they are all used, and personal to me and my family, and are so much more than just a recipe....

I write in my cookbooks but it never occurred to me to write in any other books. Sometimes I'll write in suggested substitutions to try the next time I make a recipe. Or, I'll jot down the measurements for the recipe scaled differently--I usually make double batches of muffins for example. Some recipes need more notes. The recipe for Quiche Lorraine in my copy of the New York Times Cookbook is heavily annotated with production notes.

I love buying cookbooks where someone has already made notes and substitutions. I like to make the recipe both ways, and see what this mystery person liked and didn't like.

I absolutely write in my cookbooks, for a couple reasons. 1

) when I cook something again 2 years later, it's nice to have notes on what did and didn't work in a recipe

2) I LOVE getting my grandmother's or mother's cookbooks with their notes in the margins. There's something so special and personal about seeing their own thoughts on recipes, and I like the idea of providing that insight to my own future grandchildren someday.

Oh, and one more:

3) I also note the date I made something and if it was for a special occasion (dinner party with friends, my Dad's 60th birthday, etc), which makes for fun reminiscing later.

I keep a recipe journal. My books and computer are full of recipes I'd like to try but my journals are full of recipes I've actually made. Taking notes and rewriting stuff was a study method that always helped me process information better so I still work that way.

I buy cheap spiral bound notebooks and pull a new one out at the beginning of each year. I never feel precious about them, they get splashed on and scribbled in, I can do cooking math in the margins, and write out my recipes in a format that's easy for my instruction-averse husband to follow. This was handy when I broke my ankle and was off my feet for ages and then once again recently when the flu had me in its clutches for weeks on end.

I only write in some of my cookbooks. You can usually tell which ones I use the most -- they're beat up, have wrinkled or stained pages from wet hands and notes in the margins (I'm looking at you How to Cook Everything). Meanwhile, my signed books generally stay on the shelf -- no notes, no writing -- even if they get used.

I don't normally write in cook books but I had to break with tradition recently. Best Recipes from America's Test Kitchen are wonderful books but their instructions tend to be poorly organized and cram way too much into each step. After my husband missed adding the salt to a particular bread recipe (for the third time) I got the highlighter out and marked that very important detail. I love the layout of recipes in Joy of Cooking with ingredients and amounts listed in bold in the step where they are used, particularly when the recipe uses a little sugar here and a little there.

I'm a botanist a we use books called Floras that list all of the plants in a given region. A friend of mine has been a botanist for more than 30 years in California and his Jepson Flora of California has so many leaves and flowers and post-its with notes about where and when each plant was seen, that the book is about twice as wide as it should be and the fabric cover won't close around it anymore. He took it to a workshop and the teacher held it up as an example of what your flora SHOULD look like. Anyway, I guess it's like the cook books with lots of notes, a log of your experiences with the contents of the book.

yes I write in all my cookbooks, when I made it, what I changed, what did not work, who liked it or not, and if it was for a special occasion. And yes, my kids have had fun going through certain books and making notes to make this or that, or what they liked or did not. I love having the notes to reference, especially when it has been a few years since I made a recipe. Often I will ask the kids what it is I should write, and they have great fun coming up with comments.

I hate marking up my cookbooks but I do write in them. I write down what I thought of the recipe and put down notes on how things worked out, what to do differently next time, how long things take, etc. It's helpful when you go to make the recipe again.

I'm with daisyt13. Writing in any book feels like sacrilege to me, so when I need to make a note I use a bookmarker or a post-it.

I learned about writing in cookbooks from my mother. After she passed away it was always a comfort to go back and see her handwriting next to a favorite recipe. I have since added the the date and who I was cooking for, it always brings back memories of the dinner.

I always write in my cookbooks margins: notes, changes in ingredient amounts, possible variations for next time, etc. I also highlight recipes in the index of the cookbook, so that when I'm looking for a particular recipe I can flip through the index and locate the page I'm looking for faster than flipping through the whole cookbook. This is especially useful when I'm trying to remember which Ina Garten or Cooks Illustrated cookbook the particular recipe I'm looking for is in. I keep a separate binder with all of my tried and true recipes printed out from online. Each recipe is organized in a plastic page protector, so I can spatter away and touch them with sticky fingers and then just wipe clean.

I think writing in cookbooks is a good idea - so long as its not too much of a sloppy mess. I like the thought of doing this for recipe change/tweeks, and good memories of who I cooked the dish for. I think I might remember if I didn't like it though (maybe). Lol

I ALWAYS write in cookbooks!

-First, I calculate the Weight Watchers Points Plus Value and that gets entered on the page.
-Second, I note the occassion and who tried it with me.
-Third, I note if it's a "will cook again" recipe.

I second what hmo said above: I love finding mystery people's notations in used cookbooks. I have a hilarious "Cooking for Two" cookbook from the '50s (clearly given as a wedding gift or bought shortly after the couple married) with tons of notes about "Tom" and his opinions on everything from jello molds to pork meatloaf surprise.

The only books I write in are cookbooks and music books (and for music, I'll only write lightly in pencil on pieces that won't be adjudicated or used in an exam; otherwise I make a photocopy for my mark-up pleasure).

I agree it's comforting to see handwriting from a loved one, and see the useful details that need to or could change for a successful recipe.

I write in my cookbooks! I have a paper recipe journal and an online recipe journal but they served different purposes. The paper recipe journal is filled with tried and true recipes and important notes. It's something that I can bring with me to my sister's house if I'm cooking for them. The online journal is filled with recipes that I'd like to try one day.

Megs 1310, what a GREAT idea highlighting recipes in the index is! THANKS!

As for me, I'll write in cookbooks if I want to remember something particular (like set the meat thermometer for 125° so the rib roast won't get overdone as it rests), or if I've made a change or addition that we particularly liked.

Write in other books? My early school teachers and my mother would come back to haunt me...

Yes, I'm going to highlight my indexes now! I have my own unofficial indexes on the blank sheet before the title page--when there's a real family fave that gets requested, I note the page number and name of recipe there. It's handy for menu planning.

I usually just make notes on a slip of paper and keep it in the book. If it's an alteration I've tried many times and I've learned I prefer, then I might actually write it in, but I'd hate to add notes only to decide later that they weren't great additions.

That is so cute :) What a well-brought up little girl you have :)

I write in books like a crazy person and cookbooks doubly so. First time made, substitutions, particularly detailed preparation diagrams (like how to do a six-strand braid in the margins of my challah recipe).

But if it's a cookbook I don't use often, or not a go-to recipe? I'll copy it onto a recipe card and scribble there.

I wouldn't write in my cookbooks because I don't think my handwriting is small enough or neat enough for me to do it well. I usually just make notes on a piece of paper and slip it into the book.

I always write in my cookbooks. I write the date I first made the recipe and I note any changes I made and I rate the recipe. Also, since most of my cookbooks are North American but I now live in France I write all the conversions (volumes to weight and °F to °C). But I do like the idea of a recipe journal - I may have to give that a try!

I do this but admittedly am not consistent in my approach. Some cookbooks I annotate freely with the date and any other cooking notes but others, not at all. I think its a great idea I just dont follow through.

I keep a recipe journal. Much easier to write in new found recipes (with adjustments!) as well as maintain a record of each time I adjust and play around with things. I'd run out of room in a cookbook in a heartbeat!
I'm always modifying things, making incremental improvements so being able to keep track of that easily (including dates) is important for me.

I write in some of my cookbooks. I wouldn't dare mark up my beautiful Jamie Oliver book. I also have a Mennonite cookbook which is excellent but the recipes are huge so I usually quarter them and write the new measurements in.

I try to make a note on a post-it whenever I try a new recipe from a cookbook. If the recipe is from the internet I save it in Evernote and make the note there. I also keep a small handwritten recipe journal to record menus and hospitality. I have designs of streamlining the whole process, but it works for now.

Writing in books is murder. I use sticky-notes.

I write in books that I love and plan to keep forever. I write notes constantly in my cookbooks. One of my friends told me that his beloved More-with-less finally fell apart, so he bought a new one and carefully copied all his notes into it! yes, I understand!

I also keep a supper notebook, which is different from a recipe journal. I record the supper/dinner menu each day and note which recipes I used from what source. Occasionally I write extra notes there, too, but I find it most practical to have the notes directly on the recipe.

I never would have thought to. It just feels like a no-no, but really who the heck cares? they're mine, and It's really smart. Smacking my forehead right now.

I've just started to. Because really, they're my books and my memory fades more quickly now that I'm half way through my thirties! And because I ALWAYS make substitutions to suit my family's tastes.

I write in my cookbooks to clarify instructions or make note of any ingredient substitutions I've made.

Many moons ago, I was a page at a branch library and pen/pencil markings were the least of my worries when it came to cleaning up returned books. Other types of "stains" were a completely different story.

hah smart kid! so cute

Since @Thrift at Home mentions replacing a falling apart cookbook, thought I'd offer this helpful/thrifty tidbit: any Kinko's can replace a binding with a spiral binding for less than $10. Save your old favorites, and now they can even lie flat! This was a super exciting find for my broken cookbooks and garden books. If the type is too close to the binding, there is the possibility of losing some text, but I haven't yet had this happen.

my cookbooks are too precious to be written on. I dont mind printing each time i need that favourite cinnamon roll recipe. :P

my cookbooks are too precious to be written on. I dont mind printing each time i need that favourite cinnamon roll recipe. :P