| | | | | that are easy to follow. Make sure your instructions |
| If you’re like a lot of homemakers, you probably | | | | (like chop, dice or mince) are easily understandable, |
| have a file or drawer full of cookbook recipes | | | | and all measurements and baking times are accurate. |
| collected from family members and friends over the | | | | A trick to making a cookbook more interesting is to |
| years. You’ve likely tried most of them and | | | | include some snappy quotes or jokes, or even better |
| know which ones you like best. They’re probably | | | | - a few of your own comical experiences in the |
| the ones you find at the front of the file or top of | | | | kitchen. You might also want to include such |
| the pile in your drawer. | | | | nutritional information as how many calories are in a |
| Have you ever considered taking all of those great | | | | typical serving. |
| recipes and putting them into a book? If not, maybe | | | | Next, you need to consider pictures. Most people are |
| you should. You just might have a goldmine sitting | | | | very visual and just looking at certain foods make |
| right there and don’t even realize it. Maybe Aunt | | | | them want to eat it. With the advent of digital |
| Millie gave you an unusual but sensational recipe for | | | | cameras, this should be pretty easy. Make the dishes |
| strudel or your mother parted with her secret recipe | | | | you want to feature, prepare them artfully on a |
| for spicy homemade chili. Maybe you’ve also | | | | plate and take some pictures. If you’re not sure |
| done a little experimenting in the kitchen yourself and | | | | how to do this successfully do some research by |
| cooked up some tasty meals. | | | | looking at recipe books at the library or bookstore. |
| The wonderful thing about recipes is that there is no | | | | Bear in mind that you will also need either a photo or |
| copyright, so you won’t have to worry about | | | | graphic for the cover. You might want to consider |
| whether someone else discovered the same secrets. | | | | having a professional photographer do this for you. |
| What you will have to do, however, is decide on an | | | | Once you have your cookbook ready for printing, |
| overall theme for your cookbook. Would it be geared | | | | you should have a professional editor review it to |
| toward big families, singles, diabetics, organic eaters, | | | | ensure there are no errors. You will then need to find |
| etc.? Once you determine your theme, it will be | | | | a suitable publisher or have it done by a printer in |
| easier to realize your target market. Although this | | | | your area. If you choose the latter, you might be |
| may not seem important in the beginning, it becomes | | | | able to find a local community group that might be |
| vital later on when you need to market the | | | | willing to help you pay the printing costs in exchange |
| cookbook to a particular niche audience. | | | | for some copies they could sell for profit. |
| Once you’ve decided which recipes you plan to | | | | Once arrangements are made don’t think your |
| include (there should be 250-500) in your cookbook, | | | | work is done. You will still have to come up with a |
| think about how your cookbook will look inside. How | | | | suitable price, and a solid marketing and advertising |
| many chapters will it have and which recipes will go | | | | plan. This part of the process is vital to the success |
| into each chapter? The best cookbooks on the | | | | of your cookbook. |
| market are the ones that offer well laid out recipes | | | | |