- 1). Determine what kind of sayings you want to use in your cookbook. Do you want cute sayings that you find on craft plaques, in women's magazines or online, or do you want to include sayings that are common to your family and attribute them to the person who utters them most or said them originally?
- 2). Create a form letter to send to all the members of your family who may want to contribute recipes and sayings for the cookbook. Briefly let them know that you're heading up this project as editor. Include a deadline for their recipe submissions and sayings.
- 3). Read all recipes and sayings for accuracy once they start pouring in. While you may not know that all the ingredients are included in the correct amounts, highlight anything that seems odd or out of place and question the contributor about it.
- 4). Determine what categories you want to use, and organize your recipes accordingly. Some suggestions include salads, main dishes, appetizers, side dishes and desserts.
- 5). Use a word processing program or computerized recipe program to enter your recipes. Proofread them yourself, and then recruit a few trusted friends or family members to proof them as well, comparing them with the original recipes. Attribute each recipe to the contributor.
- 6). Insert your cute sayings into the cookbook text. Determine whether to place one at the beginning of each chapter or intersperse them in between recipes.
- 7). Create a table of contents. Rather than listing each recipe individually, just list the page numbers for the beginning of each section.
- 8). Insert any clip art images or photographs into the pages of your family cookbook. Use images of spoons, mixing bowls, ovens and other cooking related items.
- 9). Create a cover for your cookbook and choose a title. You may want to include a photograph of the cookbook contributors or use a graphic arts program to create a homey look for your cover. The title can be something as simple as "The Johnson Family Cookbook" or something cute like "From Our Hearts to Your Table."
- 10
Consider hiring a publishing company to professionally publish your cookbook. Many companies offer reasonable rates and will publish as few or as many copies as you choose. Some companies who offer this service are The Cookbook Company, Heritage Cookbook and The Great Family Cookbook Project.
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