Where to Find Free Recipes...

May 18, 2010

Written by:  Aimee Thomes Plesa

I love cooking and am always on the lookout for new and interesting recipes to try. I have my tried and true recipe collection that I have been building since junior high home economics, but there are times that I need something new and different. If you ever find yourself in need of something new and different to try, visit these great web resources.

·         All Recipes This is my go-to website when I need something specific. You can search by ingredient, type of recipe, season and more
·         Martha Stewart Love her or hate her (I myself am ambivalent), the woman has some amazing recipes!
·         Food Network The name says it all. This is a great collection of recipes, many from the Food Network stars, to filter through
·         Cooks.com
·         Recipe Source Includes items for pets, camping and more
·         Examiner I write for Examiner, so my opinion is a bit swayed with this site. The landing page will take you to the front page of your nearest metropolitan area served by Examiner. Hover over Family & Home then click on Food & Drink. A whole world of cooking awaits you
Many food companies also post recipes to their websites. Some great ones to visit include Kraft, Campbell's, Nestle and LorAnn's. When you visit your favorite food sites, be sure to join their mailing lists. Many will email recipes straight to you and include you in money saving offers.

Websites specializing in freebies can also be a goldmine for finding recipes. My personal favorite is Freaky Freddies, but there are many, many more on the internet. Just do a search for "freebie sites". Some of these sites will link to websites like those listed at the top of this article that include a collection of recipes. Others will link you to sites where you can sign up to get a booklet or pamphlet filled with recipes. Jiffy, SeaPak and Sargento. I requested the Jiffy booklet and use it regularly.

If you are web savvy, you may want to check out Facebook, MySpace, Google Groups, Yahoo Groups, Ning, etc for recipe sharing groups. Some are general while others are specific. For those of you who are not comfortable using technology, go to your local library and sift through their collections of cookbooks. You are sure to find some gems. Another often overlooked resource is the newspaper. Not only are there recipes in the "Life" section, you will be sure to find more in the coupon inserts, especially during the holidays. And don't forget to check your food packaging! Where do you think my first chocolate chip cookie recipe came from? An empty bag of Nestle Toll House Morsels, of course!

I hope this article has inspired you to seek out new recipes to make for yourself and your family. If you come across another great resource, I would love to hear about it! Please email me a aimee@shakeyourbonbons.com

Photo Credit Mel B