If the Desperate Housewives, Patti LaBelle, and (no kidding) Liberace can come out with cookbooks, what are you waiting for? We’re not suggesting you find an agent or attempt to get your book into Barnes & Noble, although that’s always a possibility. Rather, we’re talking about preserving and packaging some of your signature recipes in a way that makes the perfect gift for friends and family. Plus, it’ll give you a reference you can use in your own kitchen (not to mention, a generous pinch of self-satisfaction).
The key to this is self-publishing, which is easier and more affordable than ever. These days, anyone can become an author and produce a quality book. And since you probably already have a stack of recipes in your kitchen cabinet or your head, all the necessary research and material already exist. All you have to do is organize, polish, and package it. Here are the steps.
Ready the ingredients. Assuming you don’t have your recipes computerized, this will be your most time-consuming task. But keep in mind that you don’t need to create the culinary equivalent of War and Peace. It’s okay if your book is 50 pages or less. Use Microsoft Word (and spell checker).
Add some seasoning. Divide the book into breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and maybe special occasions. Instead of plain old “Meat Loaf,” call it “Mom’s Marvelous Monday Meat Loaf,” or something to that effect. In addition to the recipe, include a story or two about your memories of making and serving it. In other words, don’t forget the garnish!
Decide how to serve it. When it comes to actually publishing your cookbook, you have three options. The easiest one is to take the manuscript (or e-mail the Word file) to Staples or the nearest office-supply store. For less than $100, they’ll make you a bunch of copies in a format of your choice. You can also check out tastebook.com for a budget-friendly alternative for creating a personalized cookbook. The quality is good, and it comes in a nice binder format. Prices here start at $19.95. Finally, if you desire something worthy of a library shelf (something you can slip to that sexy Bobby Flay if you ever meet him), then investigate AuthorHouse, Xlibris, and iUniverse. These are three reputable Internet self-publishers. Packages at iUniverse, for instance, start at $599 and include cover design, ISBN number (basically your book’s ID), paperback copies, and online distribution. One of the great things about online publishing is that you don’t have to produce and pay for dozens of books up front. Whenever you need more copies, they’ll print them for you.
Enjoy dessert. Use your book as a handy personal reference, give personalized copies as gifts, pack one into your child’s care-box when he or she leaves for college, or (a slightly more vindictive option) simply refer your family to page XX whenever you’re going to be late getting home or are just too tired to cook. Hey, you’re an author now.
I have a very good friend who collected receipes through the years and even had a ton of her own that she tried on family, friends but mostly her grandchildren. After years of hearing what a great cook and baker she was, she finally composed a wondeful cookbook with tons of receipes from breads to dinners, desserts and alot of helpful hints for substitutions of when you run out of an ingredient. She composed all the receipes and had the book done and dedicated it to all her grandchildren. She gave them as gifts and then sold the rest for a couple dollars. Her cookbook is wonderful, I refer to it alot. Mrs. Miller you truly are a very gifted cook and baker also a wondeful friend and grandma. I'll treasure your book always and you have inspired me to make a cookbook of my family and friends receipes. I hope all will do the same and hand them down to your loved ones and friends. It truly is a great book to have in my collection.
Lee DeLano
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