Creating a cookbook is a great way to share your cherished recipes.
Creating a cookbook is a great way to share your favorite, signature recipes with the world. Creating a cookbook can also be a creative means to raise funds for an organization or bring extra money into your household. While motivations for creating a cookbook may vary, a cookbook rich in delicious recipes will bring joy to all who read it.
Instructions
1. Choose a Theme
Consider your favorite types of foods, the ones you are passionate about making. A cookbook tailored to a specific audience---such as working mothers, organic foodies, vegans, the simple but savory Italian chef or the garden canner---will let your recipes to really shine. A general, everyday cookbook runs the risk of being too broad, and your specialty recipes may end up getting lost in the mix. Take time to decide on your unique specialty or niche, but also consider the appeal of your theme to your intended audience. Remember, a community that values fresh, local and organic produce may be less inclined to purchase a cookbook focused on crock pot meals with frozen chicken.
2. Gather Recipes
A well-used cookbook must contain great recipes. Unique and delicious recipes can be found in lots of interesting sources, including your own kitchen. Go through your recipe collection and select recipes that correspond with your theme. If you keep your recipes in your head, write them down to share. A good cookbook recipe will include a list of all the ingredients needed in the recipe as well as the amount needed in the recipe. Next, tell your readers in very clear, simple instructions combine and cook the recipe. Assume that your reader has never cooked before and give very specific instructions in the recipe.
Invite neighbors, friends and family to share recipes for the cookbook. (Be sure to get their permission to use the recipe.) Put out a call for great recipes on your blog or Facebook, or create an ad on Craigslist. (Again, make sure you get permission to reproduce the recipe.) You will be surprised at the number of people who would love to share their secret recipes to benefit a worthy cause.
3. Organize and Anecdote
A great cookbook contains well-organized recipes as well as personal anecdotes and cooking tips from the author. Personal tips and stories allow your reader to relate to you, and they will appreciate the extra advice you share with them. When organizing your recipes, try to share a little something extra with the reader every few recipes.
4. Share Your Work
The most expensive part of creating a cookbook lies in the printing. Printing a packet or bound pages rather than a book with a hard cover saves a great deal of money. Your local business print center or business supply chain can provide you with cost estimates for printing. To begin, select a small number, such as 50 or 100 cookbooks, to compare estimates. Be sure to ask printers if they offer a discount for bulk orders. It may be equally as expensive to print 200 cookbooks as it is to print 50. Be realistic about the money you are willing to devote to this project and how quickly the cookbooks will sell.
If you are really looking to cut costs, consider publishing an e-cookbook. Use the Internet to explore resources on creating and selling an e-book. An e-book offers minimal start-up costs and can be created even if you have limited Internet experience.
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