Thread: Creating your own cookbook

On Apr 22, 1:53*pm, "Jinx Minx" <jinxmi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can sell
> for a small profit. *Has anyone here does this before that can offer up
> advice how best to go about it? *Places we can get it printed inexpensively
> but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we can use to put it
> together, etc. *I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print your own
> cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether
> it's a good choice for a larger project like this. *We're just getting
> started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot..
> Suggestions? *Do's? *Dont's?
>
> Jinx


Hi Jinx,

I am not TOO sure if it is ok to list a company link here, so if I
have done the incorrect thing, group moderators please feel free to
let me know. When I published my book of family recipes, the following
company were absolutely wonderful in helping me achieve MY goal -
Morris Cookbooks.

Please let me know if you need any further info as I can pass on
details to you regarding the process I went through to have my book
completed by Morris.

Kind Regards,
Brian Anasta

"Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can
> sell for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can
> offer up advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed
> inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we
> can use to put it together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says
> you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never used it for that
> purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice for a larger
> project like this. We're just getting started on this project so I'd
> like for us to start out on the right foot. Suggestions? Do's?
> Dont's?
>
> Jinx


You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.

Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
time consuming for newbies without experience involved.

Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.

Andy

On Apr 22, 2:12*pm, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:

>
> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>
> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
> time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>
> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>
> Andy

Couldn't agree more Andy - projects such as this NEED expert guidance.
The company I used were very supportive and were always more than
happy to address any queries/issues I had. I would say you DO need to
contact a group maybe close by in your local area who can sit down
with you and your committee members to go through the process. Most
important I believe is what YOU want the book to look like. Your input
throughout the entire process IS essential and in the end, will make
for a product you are all happy with.

Heck, in the end, the company I dealt with were lcoated back home in
The States while I was here in Australia, so even over the internet
this type of thing IS possible to organize.

Kind Regards,
Brian

"Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can
>> sell for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can
>> offer up advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed
>> inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we
>> can use to put it together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says
>> you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never used it for that
>> purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice for a larger
>> project like this. We're just getting started on this project so I'd
>> like for us to start out on the right foot. Suggestions? Do's?
>> Dont's?
>>
>> Jinx
>
>
> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>
> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
> time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>
> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>
> Andy
>
>

Speak for yourself. I never said we were a committtee of completely
clueless newbies, and I wasn't asking on their behalf as a figurehead. I
was asking in the hopes of getting more, different, or better ideas and
printing company leads and referrals than the individuals on the committee
can provide -- some of whom have done this exact same thing previously. I
didn't ask because I "had to", I asked because I wanted to. If we need
breakfast suggestions, I'll be sure and let you know.

Jinx

On Apr 21, 9:03*pm, Brian Anasta <brian.ana...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 22, 1:53*pm, "Jinx Minx" <jinxmi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can sell
> > for a small profit. *Has anyone here does this before that can offer up
> > advice how best to go about it? *Places we can get it printed inexpensively
> > but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we can use to put it
> > together, etc. *I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print your own
> > cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether
> > it's a good choice for a larger project like this. *We're just getting
> > started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
> > Suggestions? *Do's? *Dont's?
>
> > Jinx
>
> Hi Jinx,
>
> I am not TOO sure if it is ok to list a company link here, so if I
> have done the incorrect thing, group moderators please feel free to
> let me know.

What "moderators"? If we had moderators, we wouldn't be seeing spam
and OT discussions, would we?

> When I published my book of family recipes, the following
> company were absolutely wonderful in helping me achieve MY goal -
> Morris Cookbooks.
>
> Please let me know if you need any further info as I can pass on
> details to you regarding the process I went through to have my book
> completed by Morris.
>
> Kind Regards,
> Brian Anasta

On Apr 21, 9:12*pm, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
> "Jinx Minx" <jinxmi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can
> > sell for a small profit. *Has anyone here does this before that can
> > offer up advice how best to go about it? *Places we can get it printed
> > inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we
> > can use to put it together, etc. *I use Mastercook at home and it says
> > you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never used it for that
> > purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice for a larger
> > project like this. *We're just getting started on this project so I'd
> > like for us to start out on the right foot. Suggestions? *Do's?
> > Dont's?
>
> > Jinx
>
> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>
> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
> time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>
> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.

I thought that "chickens without heads" is what most of the recipes
list as the main ingredient, especially for kosher dishes. :-)

"Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:Xns9D622117CB83Co[email protected]..
>> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it
>>> can sell for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that
>>> can offer up advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it
>>> printed inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or
>>> websites we can use to put it together, etc. I use Mastercook at
>>> home and it says you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never
>>> used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice
>>> for a larger project like this. We're just getting started on this
>>> project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
>>> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>>>
>>> Jinx
>>
>>
>> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>>
>> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
>> time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>>
>> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>
>
> Speak for yourself. I never said we were a committtee of completely
> clueless newbies, and I wasn't asking on their behalf as a figurehead.
> I was asking in the hopes of getting more, different, or better ideas
> and printing company leads and referrals than the individuals on the
> committee can provide -- some of whom have done this exact same thing
> previously. I didn't ask because I "had to", I asked because I wanted
> to. If we need breakfast suggestions, I'll be sure and let you know.
>
> Jinx


Jinx,

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!

Production of professional printed texts that anybody else would want to
read AND actually buy is something left to the pros and that talent
doesn't come free!!!

Believe me or not!

Andy

In article <hqoh7c$ia3$[email protected]>,
"Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can sell
> for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can offer up
> advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed inexpensively
> but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we can use to put it
> together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print your own
> cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether
> it's a good choice for a larger project like this. We're just getting
> started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>
> Jinx

Oooh, fun! I've been thinking about one for a reunion but am not sure
I've got the time in the next 2-1/2 months.

Set standards and stick to them at risk of annoying someone;
Insist that recipes be submitted in the format you want, ingredients
listed in the order they are mentioned in the method;

Use the same abbreviations (or no abbreviations) throughout;

Make sure your proofreaders are literate ‹ good intentions are not
enough;

Have someone proofread what the proofreaders approved * you wouldn't
believe the number of changes made to the rfc cookbook after **the
proofread** version (galley proofs) came back from the printer. We were
damned lucky that the guy didn't charge us a boatload of money for
making the corrections that needed to be made;

don't let anyone refer to No. 3, No. 303, etc. sizes for canned goods;

Dummy up a cookbook with, say, 20 recipes in it, from your MC files.
Follow their instructions and try out different layouts and paper sizes,
etc.

And I could go on and on and on.


--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
Updated 4-17-2010

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article <hqoh7c$ia3$[email protected]>,
> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can sell
>> for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can offer up
>> advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed inexpensively
>> but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we can use to put it
>> together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print your own
>> cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether
>> it's a good choice for a larger project like this. We're just getting
>> started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
>> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>>
>> Jinx
>
> Oooh, fun! I've been thinking about one for a reunion but am not sure
> I've got the time in the next 2-1/2 months.
>
> Set standards and stick to them at risk of annoying someone;
> Insist that recipes be submitted in the format you want, ingredients
> listed in the order they are mentioned in the method;
>
> Use the same abbreviations (or no abbreviations) throughout;
>
> Make sure your proofreaders are literate ‹ good intentions are not
> enough;
>
> Have someone proofread what the proofreaders approved * you wouldn't
> believe the number of changes made to the rfc cookbook after **the
> proofread** version (galley proofs) came back from the printer. We were
> damned lucky that the guy didn't charge us a boatload of money for
> making the corrections that needed to be made;
>
> don't let anyone refer to No. 3, No. 303, etc. sizes for canned goods;
>
> Dummy up a cookbook with, say, 20 recipes in it, from your MC files.
> Follow their instructions and try out different layouts and paper sizes,
> etc.
>
> And I could go on and on and on.
>
>

And make sure the ingredients appear in the directions! And that
the ingredients mentioned in the directions are all in the list.

--
Jean B.

Melba's Jammin' wrote:

> Have someone proofread what the proofreaders approved * you wouldn't
> believe the number of changes made to the rfc cookbook after **the
> proofread** version (galley proofs) came back from the printer. We
> were damned lucky that the guy didn't charge us a boatload of money
> for making the corrections that needed to be made;

I never understood how that happened. One of the recipes most
messed up was one of yours. I have no doubt in my mind that you
didn't submit it that way. I was one of the proofreaders, I didn't change
anything beyond the spelling of some words, and the standardization
of things like TBS.

I really don't know how recipes became convoluted in sending them
back and forth.

nancy

Jinx Minx wrote:

> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can
> sell
> for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can offer
> up
> advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed
> inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we
> can use to put it
> together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print
> your own cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not
> sure whether
> it's a good choice for a larger project like this. We're just getting
> started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right
> foot.
> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?

I agree with Barb, but some other points:

I am fairly sure you can import recipes (or even cut 'n paste them) from
word documents or just plain text documents into Mastercook ? If so,
you can choose a simple layout that's easy to read and stick to that.

How many recipes are you thinking of publishing? Are you going for color
printing (on the pages, not covers) or black and white? Are you going
to use graphics e.g. plated pictures of the food on the recipe pages,
etc. How many copies are you hoping to print and/or sell?

What kind of budget does the committee have for producing this (because
you're going to have to cough up *some* money up-front in order to have
them printed etc.)? Not that I want you to tell me the exact amount
<lol> but that has to be a key factor for consideration in this
venture...

If you're not doing more than say, 100-150 recipes, pretty sure it would
easy enough to use your Mastercook recipe manager software, print out a
copy of the 'final' collection and then take that copy to one of those
photocopier/print shops and let them copy and ring-bind them for you.
However, if that's too costly - does anybody on the committee have a
(fairly fast) laser printer? Might work out cheaper to print the
(recipe) copies yourself and buy one of those 'punches' and do the
binding yourselves. Covers might be more of an issue, if you want to
use thick-ish cardboard (or whatever).

Anyway, here's a link to give you some ideas as to what these on-line
places charge for creating/printing recipe books such as yours (and
what you have to provide):

http://www.cookbookco.com/index.html
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On 4/22/2010 9:55 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> I never understood how that happened. One of the recipes most
> messed up was one of yours. I have no doubt in my mind that you
> didn't submit it that way. I was one of the proofreaders, I didn't
> change
> anything beyond the spelling of some words, and the standardization
> of things like TBS.
>
> I really don't know how recipes became convoluted in sending them
> back and forth.
>
> nancy

One of my recipes had a glitch in it, but Damsel found it right off the
bat. This was my fault for not making sure the recipe correct. It
really does help to have proofreaders.

Becca

Andy wrote:

> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]..
>>> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it
>>>> can sell for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that
>>>> can offer up advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it
>>>> printed inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or
>>>> websites we can use to put it together, etc. I use Mastercook at
>>>> home and it says you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never
>>>> used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice
>>>> for a larger project like this. We're just getting started on this
>>>> project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
>>>> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>>>>
>>>> Jinx
>>>
>>>
>>> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>>>
>>> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing
>>> and time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>>>
>>> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>>>
>>> Andy
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Speak for yourself. I never said we were a committtee of completely
>> clueless newbies, and I wasn't asking on their behalf as a
>> figurehead.
>> I was asking in the hopes of getting more, different, or better
>> ideas
>> and printing company leads and referrals than the individuals on the
>> committee can provide -- some of whom have done this exact same thing
>> previously. I didn't ask because I "had to", I asked because I
>> wanted
>> to. If we need breakfast suggestions, I'll be sure and let you
>> know.
>>
>> Jinx
>
>
> Jinx,
>
> I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!

Sure you didn't...

>
> Production of professional printed texts that anybody else would want
> to read AND actually buy is something left to the pros and that talent
> doesn't come free!!!
>
> Believe me or not!

Not. I've bought many a cookbook that was published (in ring-binders
i.e. not glossy, expensive books) by local Church Groups, and various
other groups, who were doing it to raise money for charity. (And FYI -
you pratt - I actually worked as a DTP person - many years ago - in a
place where a f***ing fortune was spent to produce 'professional
printed texts'). And (another) FYI - the recipes in
those 'non-professional' cookbooks were every bit as good as
any 'professional' ones I've bought. The RFC Cookbook comes to mind;
that was published (with a lot of blood, sweat and tears) by a bunch
of 'non-professional' people and it turned out pretty
darn 'professional', IMNSHO.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

"Melba's Jammin'" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> In article <hqoh7c$ia3$[email protected]>,
> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can
>> sell
>> for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can offer up
>> advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed
>> inexpensively
>> but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we can use to put it
>> together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print your
>> own
>> cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not sure
>> whether
>> it's a good choice for a larger project like this. We're just getting
>> started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right
>> foot.
>> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>>
>> Jinx
>
> Oooh, fun! I've been thinking about one for a reunion but am not sure
> I've got the time in the next 2-1/2 months.
>
> Set standards and stick to them at risk of annoying someone;
> Insist that recipes be submitted in the format you want, ingredients
> listed in the order they are mentioned in the method;
>
> Use the same abbreviations (or no abbreviations) throughout;
>
> Make sure your proofreaders are literate ‹ good intentions are not
> enough;
>
> Have someone proofread what the proofreaders approved * you wouldn't
> believe the number of changes made to the rfc cookbook after **the
> proofread** version (galley proofs) came back from the printer. We were
> damned lucky that the guy didn't charge us a boatload of money for
> making the corrections that needed to be made;
>
> don't let anyone refer to No. 3, No. 303, etc. sizes for canned goods;
>
> Dummy up a cookbook with, say, 20 recipes in it, from your MC files.
> Follow their instructions and try out different layouts and paper sizes,
> etc.
>
> And I could go on and on and on.
>
>
> --
> Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
> http://web.me.com/barbschaller
> Updated 4-17-2010



I might add - TEST all recipes to make sure.

Dimitri

ChattyCathy <[email protected]> wrote:

> Andy wrote:
>
>> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]..
>>>> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it
>>>>> can sell for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that
>>>>> can offer up advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it
>>>>> printed inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or
>>>>> websites we can use to put it together, etc. I use Mastercook at
>>>>> home and it says you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never
>>>>> used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice
>>>>> for a larger project like this. We're just getting started on this
>>>>> project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
>>>>> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>>>>>
>>>>> Jinx
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>>>>
>>>> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing
>>>> and time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>>>>
>>>> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>>>>
>>>> Andy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Speak for yourself. I never said we were a committtee of completely
>>> clueless newbies, and I wasn't asking on their behalf as a
>>> figurehead.
>>> I was asking in the hopes of getting more, different, or better
>>> ideas
>>> and printing company leads and referrals than the individuals on the
>>> committee can provide -- some of whom have done this exact same thing
>>> previously. I didn't ask because I "had to", I asked because I
>>> wanted
>>> to. If we need breakfast suggestions, I'll be sure and let you
>>> know.
>>>
>>> Jinx
>>
>>
>> Jinx,
>>
>> I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!
>
> Sure you didn't...
>
>>
>> Production of professional printed texts that anybody else would want
>> to read AND actually buy is something left to the pros and that talent
>> doesn't come free!!!
>>
>> Believe me or not!
>
> Not. I've bought many a cookbook that was published (in ring-binders
> i.e. not glossy, expensive books) by local Church Groups, and various
> other groups, who were doing it to raise money for charity. (And FYI -
> you pratt - I actually worked as a DTP person - many years ago - in a
> place where a f***ing fortune was spent to produce 'professional
> printed texts'). And (another) FYI - the recipes in
> those 'non-professional' cookbooks were every bit as good as
> any 'professional' ones I've bought. The RFC Cookbook comes to mind;
> that was published (with a lot of blood, sweat and tears) by a bunch
> of 'non-professional' people and it turned out pretty
> darn 'professional', IMNSHO.


Cathy,

I'm NOT going to "toot my horn" over my accomplishments.

STOP THE PRESSES.

Shame on you!

I'm insulted.

Andy

Becca wrote:
> On 4/22/2010 9:55 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
>> I never understood how that happened. One of the recipes most
>> messed up was one of yours. I have no doubt in my mind that you
>> didn't submit it that way. I was one of the proofreaders, I didn't
>> change
>> anything beyond the spelling of some words, and the standardization
>> of things like TBS.
>>
>> I really don't know how recipes became convoluted in sending them
>> back and forth.

> One of my recipes had a glitch in it, but Damsel found it right off
> the bat. This was my fault for not making sure the recipe correct.
> It really does help to have proofreaders.

I'm reading through the list of corrections and this is the funniest one:

Change 'tatas' to 'Tabasco' ... (laugh) Okay,then.

I don't have a cookbook from the first printing, so even reading the
corrections, I don't know what the recipe said before.

nancy

Andy wrote:

>
> I'm insulted.

That was the the intention.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:12:35 -0500, Andy wrote:

> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can
>> sell for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can
>> offer up advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed
>> inexpensively but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we
>> can use to put it together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says
>> you can "print your own cookbook", but I've never used it for that
>> purpose so I'm not sure whether it's a good choice for a larger
>> project like this. We're just getting started on this project so I'd
>> like for us to start out on the right foot. Suggestions? Do's?
>> Dont's?
>>
>> Jinx
>
> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>
> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
> time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>
> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>
> Andy

any committee *you're* involved with, sure.

blake

> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
>> "Jinx Minx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> You're hopeful but honestly in over your head if you had to ask.
>>
>> Stop the committee idea. It's too costly and it will be confusing and
>> time consuming for newbies without experience involved.
>>
>> Chickens without heads are what committees mostly amount to.
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>
>
> Speak for yourself. I never said we were a committtee of completely
> clueless newbies, and I wasn't asking on their behalf as a figurehead. I
> was asking in the hopes of getting more, different, or better ideas and
> printing company leads and referrals than the individuals on the committee
> can provide -- some of whom have done this exact same thing previously. I
> didn't ask because I "had to", I asked because I wanted to. If we need
> breakfast suggestions, I'll be sure and let you know.
>
> Jinx

<snort>

your pal,
blake