RECIPE SITES

I started my recipe blog simply because it was easier to point people there when they asked for a recipe than it was to copy and paste from the Word document where I had them all typed up. Without photos or conversation it's really more of an online recipe file than a recipe blog, but it serves the purpose for which it was intended. A little fringe benefit for me has been how easy it is to search by labels when I'm making up my menus.

Although I did my recipe blog for convenience, not for an income or to share my culinary creations (I mean, we all know I'm a recipe follower, not a recipe maker), it does make me happy when I hear that someone liked a recipe they found on my site. Comments get left sporadically, but I've had a couple people leave a few lately and I love it! In fact, knowing how much I appreciate getting feedback and how helpful I find the comments left by others, each time I try a new recipe, I leave a comment on the site I found it at. I share the positives, negatives, and any changes I made.

So, where do you get recipes? A big website, the blog of a friend or stranger, a forum, magazines or newspapers? Here's my challenge for you. If you've tried a new recipe lately, then leave a comment on that site and let them know what you thought of it. If it was from a friend, then shoot them an e-mail. If it was in print, then see if you can find it on the publication's website.

Show some appreciation. Say thanks ... or "Yum!" Prove to people that the time they put into sharing a recipe they like was worthwhile.

Bonus point will be given for leaving a comment here with links to some of your favorite places to find recipes. I'll start by listing some, though not all, of the places I use.

allrecipes - A huge site with the option of doing all sorts of searches - ingredient (including ones you want and/or don't want), special diets (dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, etc), cooking method, cooking time, etc.

Collector of Recipes - Tannis is a friend who likes to find recipes online, then tweak them a little.

Cooking for the Guys - Kelly is a friend who started Weight Watchers a couple years ago. She's included WW points on over 200 of her posts.

Culinary Cravings - Laura is a friend who enjoys presentation as much as preparation, but she's relaxed enough that you can feel totally comfortable serving her a hillbilly meal on mismatched or paper plates. Ask me how I know.

Eat at Home - Tiffany is a friend who one day mentioned she was thinking about starting a recipe blog and now has a huge site filled with great recipes & photos, menu plans, and occasional giveaways. She, unlike me, has the ability to pull random things out of her cupboards and create something tasty from them.

Hillbilly Housewife - Simple, frugal recipes.

Sonlight Forums - You can't access these unless you've purchased their curriculum or paid for a membership, but since it's one of my top two sources of great recipes I had to mention it.

Now, link us to some sites you use ... and go leave comments at those sites for the recipes you've used.