When we remodeled last year, I put an office in my kitchen. Essentially we built in a hutch where dish cabinets once stood in the inglenook by the big fireplace and I wired in a phone when the floors were up. I am running in and out the back door all day with the business, so this couldn't be more convenient and I can take business phone calls with the puter handy under my nose and enter the data directly to my programs instead of later at night.

Of course, as you say, my Betty Crocker program is also handy as I cook, and I am sitting here right now with a little fire nearby in the hearth and it's PDC.........pretty danged cozy.

But how do you keep the computer clean of cooking debris? How do you know if you have made a recipe before? I know by the stains on the paper. Not sure if this would work for a sloppy person like me. Last night I made a chocolate birthday cake. I am still finding evidence this morning though I thought I cleaned everything. How did the chocolate get on the toaster? and the wall?

Like Tibs, I would need a plastic cover over my puter, how did flour get on top of the fridge ? This morning while baking bread, I hit the hi speed by mistake on the mixer ... needless to say the kitchen looked like a winter wonderland LOL !!

Moral of this story: Have a cup of (or two) of coffee before baking.

I guess I'm dyslexic when it comes to doing things like cooking or baking off a computer screen. I need that recipe propped up in front of me & I don't want to be walking back & forth checking my computer.

Besides, there's something familiar & reassuring about my favorite cookie recipes that are scarred with steins of flour, vanilla & shortening from years of use.

Andie, this only works if you use a laptop - mine was right on the counter where I would normally put a cookbook or a recipe. And I have a small kitchen.

I am laughing out loud right now knowing I am not alone trashing the kitchen when I cook. There are trails of footprints in the flour on the floor, and I have found dried blobs of debris flung by the mixer on every kitchen appliance and cabinet I own. Any stranger could also tell our fav dishes by the greasy, grungy pages of my cooking books as well. I don't even need to look at the index anymore, I just flip from one soiled page to the next, like bookmarks.

Grandkid and I baked cookies yesterday and today I found sprinkles in my plants and in the cat food. Wonder what a keyboard in there would look like after a Christmas cookie session?

Colorful?

I have a nice acrylic bookholder which would protect my cookbook but usually don't bother with it. The recipe probably already has a greasespot and my notes like "use almond rather than vanilla extract" or "needs extra onions and garlic"...LOL

But if you did want to protect your book or laptop...Reynolds Plastic Wrap is good and not so aggravating as Saranwrap to use. I actually keep my remotes and laptop keyboard covered since I invariably have a cigarette in my hand...the ashes are bad for electronics. Not to mention spilled coffee, etc. josh

I use the 18"-width Stretchtite to protect the recipe. Started doing this after a blob of dark chocolate obliterated a couple crucial measurements.

I've gotta say, there is no way I'd want a computer in or on my refrig, range, or any other appliance with the potential for breaking down. Between the necessity for regularly updating the computer's innards and the potential for spaghetti-sauce-covered key boards, I just don't want the added aggravation of having to consider the refrig's feelings. Besides, when aggravated, I can always dump the laptop into the trash can... but I don't think I could heft a fridge that far.

Well all I can say is....I have one of my Grandmother's old Betty Crocker cook books, I can tell every one of her favorite recipes by the smudges, notes, and gosh knows what stuck to the pages. How are future generations going to know when all they will have is a disk, if that.....
Every time I look at this falling apart book, with scraps of papers with recipes, ones cut out of old newspapers, I feel as if I am on an adventure with my grandmother. She is right there in those pages, forever...........bet a computer will never be able to do that!

Linda J

Linda, I've got a Joy of Cooking like that...and I treasure it.

My laptop won't every replace using that for my well stained favorites in there, like Gaston Beef Stew. The best stew I ever made or tasted.

My cookbooks look like they've been "wet and run up the flue" the very best recipes are covered with ingredients that have dripped from spoons and beaters
over the years.
I also make notes and there is one recipe with the word
(YUCK) written by it.
I am always experimenting with different recipes and if
I add an ingredient and it enhances the final product, I
make a note beside the recipe.

There certainly would be an advantage of having a computer nearby. I used to have one in the pantry area of the mountain house but I just printed out the recipe and put it
on the counter by the mixing bowl.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that makes a mess in the kitchen when I cook. Neil says I'm the only woman he knows
who can dirty all the dishes, pots and pans in the kitchen making toast.

Thanks goodness, I am not alone when it comes to messes in the kitchen. A computer there would never do. I don't even have ever a cup on my computer desk, that has to stay on the other side of the room! My house seems to be haunted by a poltergeist who flings edibles through the area.