If you’re anything like me, cookbooks are a necessity in your home library. Perhaps, like me, your imagination draws a blank when it comes to cooking. Or, maybe you occasionally need a little inspiration in the kitchen. This inspiration, however, does not come without a price tag. The cost of all those cookbooks, adds up over the years. Until now. With the advent of the internet and home computing software, you can be a domestic goddess while maintaining your frugality. There are entire websites with the sole purpose of talking about food and sharing recipes. And, there is a ton of free software available to help you organize and collect your favorites. Many of the recipe sites allow you to filter by ingredients, special dietary needs (diabetic, low cholesterol, low carb, low sodium, low fat,etc.), ratings by users, and even preparation (time, equipment, ingredients). Once you find the recipes you like, just pop them in your software and get cookin’. Some software titles allow you to print recipes and shopping lists, and all allow you to quickly find any recipe through searching capabilities. Can’t get that with a cookbook. Not to mention the amount of money, time, shelf space, and paper your saving. Listed below are sites and software to get you started.

Start collecting recipes here:

• RecipeZaar.com (online food forum, and recipe search engine)
• dlife.com (online web resource for diabetics with a comprehensive recipe database)
• allrecipes.com (another online recipe database)
• thefoodnetwork.com (The Food Network’s official website, with recipes from your favorite shows)

Free software to help you organize your own personal cookbook:

• Recipe Ship
• Recipe Center
• RecipeMaster
• Cooking Aficionado

If you’re still dying to peruse the glossy pages of the latest and greatest by Rachel Ray or (insert-famous-chef-here), check the book out at the library, or review it at Barnes and Noble for free. If you have time, and a mobile device/laptop/or paper, entering in your newfound recipes will be a snap. You can also get free cookbooks from time to time at health organization websites, like the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org), and the American Heart Association (americanheart.org). And don’t forget to check out the review I did on WOWIO, where you can download cookbooks for free from this new electronic book service. Trust when I say, you’d be hard pressed to find a more convenient, cheap way of getting free books. Stay tuned for more frugal food tips or subscribe here for updates on this subject.

__________________________

Want more Frugal ’n Fabulous tips delivered straight to your email? Click here to sign up.