The Top 3 Family Cookbook Mistakes
September 8, 2007 12:25 am Family Cookbook Ideas
There are many reasons to make a cookbook (church, business, etc), but this story focuses on ideas for family cookbooks.
Maybe you buy my fine software. Maybe you go it alone using Microsoft Word. Or maybe (heaven forbid) you go with one of those scoundrel competitors. Whichever you do, let’s be clear on one thing: You are a saint.
Really.
It was your idea to put together a document of the most precious things you give to your most precious people–the food you feed your family. Someday you’ll be dead and everyone will be very grateful. For the coobook you left them, that is. Not that you’re dead.
But I’m afraid, my poor dears, you are going to screw it up along the way.
Can’t be helped. Nobody every published anything perfectly the first time, and if it’s your first crack at it that’ll be especially true. The following tips won’t prevent all the mistakes, but they’ll at least clear the way for some new ways to goof. Alas, life is about learning.
Mistake #1. Making the One Final Perfect Family Cookbook.
Oh, I see it all the time. You spend hundreds of hours pouring over every recipe, quibbling over every detail. You go with one of these big Vanity printing presses that charge you thousands of dollars to get them printed. You proudly hand them to every family member. And have no idea why they get buried at the bottom of a cupboard.
Why? Because there’s no such thing as The One Final Perfect Family Cookbook. There are ALWAYS new ideas and new recipes to add. There are always little typos you missed along the way. And even if there weren’t, what does that tell the rest of your family when you foist on them a giant tome? “It’s not yours.” That’s what.
Go with a lower budget! Give everyone a cheaper book and say, “Mark it up and return it to me next Christmas!” Make your Family Cookbook a living, breathing document that gets added to every year, not just by you but by everyone. It won’t get buried in the cupboard, dear, if it belongs to everybody.
Mistake #2. Making the Family Recipe Book About Recipes
Last Christmas did you run into the house, tear open the presents and leave without talking to anyone? I certainly hope not. The holidays are the one chance to see everybody. Even the smelly ones are nice for a little while.
Building a family recipe book with just recipes is like ripping open presents and running out the door. Stay a while. Put some photos in there of big events. Write some scuttlebutt. (Nothing too scandalous!) Throw in an address book and birthday calendar if you want. (My software helps you do that, at the risk of tooting my own horn.) The point is to make it a family recipe book and a family year book. Will Great Uncle Larry really care about your new peanut brittle recipe? Probably not. But he’ll take a look at it if it’s got a photo of him at third base seats in Shea Stadium.
The idea of Christmas isn’t the presents. The idea of a recipe book isn’t food. It’s feeding people you love. Let your book reflect that by involving people in the book.
Mistake #3. Bad Proof Reading.
If you are writing your family cookbook, you are going to be a lousy editor. Even if you are a good editor most of the time, you will disappoint yourself with what you missed. Get two or three people to help you.
I always tell my proof readers there’s a Waldo on every page. As in “Where’s Waldo.” The Waldo is a mistake that I know about. “If you are half as clever as you think you are,” I say, “you’ll see it.” Sometimes there isn’t a Waldo, but more often than not the proof reader will find it anyway.
That’s all the mistakes I can think of for now. I suspect I’ll be adding to this as I continue to make more. The most important thing to remember about your cookbook, and life, is that the mistakes mostly don’t really matter. If you’ve shown people you love them and you pass on a little knowledge, the hiccups along the way tend to sort themselves out.
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September 12th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Thank you,for all the information. I have not even started my cookbook so any help will be appreciated. I don’t even know where to begin really. Keep the Mistakes coming.
September 15th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Speaking of proofreading…in your last paragraph, second sentence before Mistake #1, you have written “Nobody every published anything perfectly the first time” should be “Nobody EVER published”
September 15th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Congratulations, Toni! You found my Waldo.
*blushes*
I’m not going to get away with that excuse, am I?
September 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Denise-
Thank you so much for all the kind comments in my new blog. I’ve really enjoyed reading them, and I’m glad you like the feel of my kitchen.
Matilda
September 15th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Here’s a great story about a rather arrogant chef and some mistakes he made in preparing his own cookbook for publication.
The message is critical: Don’t forget to think like somebody who doesn’t know your recipes!
Story
September 18th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I bought this cookbook software and was very pleasantly impressed
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:10 am
I am so happy to “Blog” with you all….I guess we can’t say talk or “type with you” so “Blog” is as good a word as any….wonder who thought it up…..must have been a recipe hunter. LOL
November 4th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
I am about to buy your software. I looked everywhere on the Internet and checked yours over and over. I think this is what I want to make a family cookbook. Is there a way I can put my own pictures on the front cover?
November 4th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Yes, Annette! We’ve added a really easy way for you to put a picture of whatever you want on the front cover.
I hope you enjoy our software. We’ve really built this with the family cookbook in mind.
Matilda
November 5th, 2007 at 12:41 am
I’ve enjoyed checking out your site and product. I promised my mom that I would put her family recipes into a book for all the females in the family for Christmas…..well, here it is only 6 weeks to go and I’m still looking for the right product to use. Would I be able to scan in some of her recipes that are in her own handwriting and also pictures on various pages showing mom with her kids/grandkids cooking up a storm in her kitchen?
November 5th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Similar q’s to Shirly, I too am planning a small Xmas project but don’t yet have the software and don’t think there is time to get it(overseas).
Would like to find a handwriting font similar to Great Granny’s writing and use that.
Would like a mini downloadable template type product for just a very small booklet of a few favourite recipes from our family. I’m thinking ~ 10-12 recipes Xmas treats or something initially.
Sue
November 5th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Shirly-
Yes, you can add photos of people to your cookbook. We’ve got a Biography section that’s very handy for it. Check it out here:
http://www.cookbookpeople.com/recipe%20book%20software%20features/biographies.htm
Unfortunately, you’ll need to re-type the hand-written recipes. It’s not just our software–I think you’ll find that there just isn’t a scanning software out there that’s faster and more accurate than typing it yourself.
You can attach photos of the hand-written recipes, but they’ll reproduce so small that they won’t be legible.
We’ve had a number of people ask about this feature. We may add it to our next version. That won’t be for many months, though.
If you do buy our software now, you’ll be able to upgrade it with the new features down the road. We’re planning on charging only $10 for the downloadable upgrade, and you won’t lose any of your work, so it’s not a bad option.
As I point out in Point #1, a family cookbook is a breathing document. Don’t wait for our software to be perfect before buying (few things ever are)–just plan on a pretty inexpensive upgrade down the road for your next cookbook!
Matilda
November 5th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Sue-
If you need it sooner and you are overseas, email our customer service at info@cookbookpeople.com.
For an added fee, they can put a copy in the mail and also email you a link to a downloadable version that you can get working on immediately.
I understand the nostalgia of putting a recipe book together in a font similar to Granny’s, but be careful. You want a font that’s easy on the eyes, or else it’ll be hard for people with bad vision to use it.
I also understand about just wanting a very small cookbook. That’s how mine started too!
Now I’m at 487 recipes!
The nice thing about our software is that it’s flexible. You can do a tiny cookbook, and you can do a massive one.
You might think you only want a little book with a few choice recipes, but odds are there are a few cooks in your family. And once they see your initial version, there’s a good chance they’ll want to get into the act too!
Matilda
November 10th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Is there a template for blank pages to add poems, short stories, jokes,etc.?
November 10th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Hi Ronda-
It’s very easy for people to add in such a category in our “recipes” section. Just make a new category called “Jokes” or “Poems” or whatever, and they will appear in the cookbook.
If you want “Poems” to appear at the front of your cookbook, just call it “1. Poems”. Placing a number in front of the name helps you control where it appears in the recipe book.
Does that make sense?
Matilda
November 11th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Are the pages nu,bered? Is there an index feature? The contents page doesn’t show the page number of the recipes.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Hi, Jane-
The recipe pages are numbered on the full size pages. They aren’t on the half size pages. There isn’t an index feature for now, but because they are organized by type and alphabetized, most people find it pretty easy to find recipes.
Matilda
November 27th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
When will you have a mac version out?
November 28th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Hi, Mike-
Unfortunately, we have no current plans for a Mac version. We just don’t have the resources yet, but with so many people asking about it we are definitely discussing it.
You can run Windows applications on a Mac with Boot Camp, though. Here’s some info:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html
December 1st, 2007 at 1:32 am
Can I transfer 100’s of recipes all at once from another computer (Networked) directly into your program?
Thanx Matilda
December 1st, 2007 at 8:34 am
Hi, Kevin-
We don’t offer an import feature on the current version. Most people copy and paste the recipes in. It’s something we’re looking into for future versions.
Matilda
December 4th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
HELP!! ALL I WANT TO DO IS WRITE A COOKBOOK FOR MY FAMILY WITH HISTORY. I KEEP READING AND I AM GETTING CONFUSED. i REALLY LIKED THE ONE SOFTWARE BUT I KEEP SEE THNG’S THAT MAKE MY IDEA NOT REAL.. PLEEASE hELP ALL I WANTED WAS RECIPES AND FAMILY HISTORY. IT WOULD ONLY MEAN SOMETHING TO THE FAMILY..
December 4th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Hi, Jeannie-
I’m a little confused by your message. Have you bought our software? Are you considering it? You’ll have to be a little more specific. I’d really like to help you if I can.
Matilda
December 9th, 2007 at 6:42 am
I decided to use this software to make a recipe book from my grandmother’s recipe box, and I love it. I think it’s so easy to use, easy to find the help I need, and a great idea. I have told many friends about what I’m doing, and they all want to do it now too!
December 14th, 2007 at 7:07 am
I am very interested in your software but haven’t found this anywhere, can you print your cookbook any size you want? Like index card size or 1/2 sheets?
December 14th, 2007 at 7:10 am
Another question, does the software provide nutritional info?
December 14th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Hi, Misti-
Our software supports 27 templates at full size (8.5×11) and 5 templates at half page size (5.5×8.5). You can also print off recipe cards.
It doesn’t provide nutritional information. You can, however, get that information here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
I hope this helps!
Matilda
December 18th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Does the software adjust the typing of the ingredient amounts to a uniform look or does the typist have to remember if she is abreviating teaspoon or typing out the entire word?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Hi, Cherie-
If you use the Recipe Builder feature, it will always display “Teaspoon.” However, if you choose not to you have complete control over how words like “teaspoon” appear.
Hope that helps!
Matilda
December 19th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I noticed that all of your samples show two recipes per page. Are the templates designed so that I can have only one recipe on a page? Thanks. I am still deciding whether or not to order.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I also want to know if I wait until the update in Spring if there is anything I can do now to prepare that won’t be a waste of time. Besides organizing my recipes that is. Could you elaborate on the “everytime you go to work on the book you have to go though all the recipes you have already entered” issue?
December 20th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Kathy-
Currently there are no other options than to have as many recipes fit on a page as possible.
Matilda
December 20th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Cherie-
This is a small issue to most people. Whenever you open the software, it takes you to the first recipe and not the one you last worked on. By clicking on “Search” you can easily scroll down to whatever recipe you last worked on.
If you have 500 recipes entered, that can be a nuisance. However, you can bypass this nuisance just by typing in the first few letters of a recipe name and it’ll automatically take you to the recipe you want.
Matilda
December 27th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I have seen great reviews on this software and wondered if it works on a Macintosh? I have Tiger OXS operating system and do not have windows. If not, do you know of any software like yours that does operate on a mac or as we users say Apples. I would not go back to a window pc and if you look at the sales apple computers are taking over the pc’s. Any suggestions???? Please respond, or make your software mac compatable. Thanks
Hi, Karen-
Unfortunately, there isn’t an Apple version available. We’ve definitely got our eye on the great sales growth of Macs, but we just don’t have the resources to go after that market right now. I don’t think there’s anyone out there who makes a decent cookbook software in Mac format, so we definitely see an opportunity there..
Matilda
December 28th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Question-is this program Mac Tiger OS X compatable?
December 28th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
No this program isn’t compatable for MACS. However Apple Stores all carry two different cookbook programs, (online Also), and run about $99.
January 8th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Does this software work with Windows Vista??
Can you back up your work on the internet and share it with family?
January 21st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I have not yet bought your software,but after reading some comments of others, I have questions. If I already have some recipes on Word, it is my understanding that I would be able to “cut and paste” in the program. Any particular formatting required for this? Also, may the recipes be typed directly on the “recipe cards” on the program? How are the recipes formatted to a page? Columns? I am very computer challenged and need an extremely user friendly program in order to produce a family cookbook. Thanks for your help.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hi, D-
Yes, it works with Vista.
You can back up your work wherever you want by just copying the file in C:\Program Files\Matilda\MatildaBack.
Sharing your work with family members is the whole point of this software. You’ll be able to print a cookbook on your own printer for nothing but the cost of toner cartridge and paper. Print as many books as you like.
Matilda
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 am
Hi, Deb Manly-
Yes, it’s very easy to cut and paste from Word. There’s no formatting required–the software does it all for you. It organizes the pages into two column format. You can see samples of all your choices here:
http://www.cookbookpeople.com/samples.htm
It does print recipe cards as well. You just have to select them from the drop down menu and you are off and running. Again, no special formatting, no re-typing.
We’ve involved several grandmothers in building this software, so you can be sure that large, easy-to-read screens and a really simple interface are two of its best features. You figured out how to find us and leave a comment on this blog–our software isn’t much harder to use than that. If you can use email, you can use our software.
Matilda
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I am very interested in purchasing your software and after reading these comments/questions I am almost certain I will do so. However, I am especially interested in creating a PDF file in case I want to take my recipes to a local printer. Is PDF creator available on the software CD?
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Hi, Judy-
Yes, you can create PDF files. Although our software doesn’t include a built-in pdf creator, we have a link in our software where you can easily download one.
Matilda
February 4th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Wow, am I excited!! I have been looking for exactly this program. My question is once I get the receipes loaded on the software can I download them on a cd and use is as a portable cd cookbook?
February 4th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
2nd question: I just ordered your software and then read somewhere on here about a revised version coming out in the spring? Will I get the old or new version?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hi, Jeanne-
We’re having some setbacks in the upgrade. Unfortunately, it may not be ready until the summer.
You can easily transfer your recipe files from one computer to another. It’s just a matter of moving one file. Here’s a very detailed explanation of how to do it:
http://forum.cookbookpeople.com/index.php?topic=60.0
February 6th, 2008 at 9:52 am
How will we know when the updated version is available? I want to wait to purchase until it is available. Do you think that there might be an option on the updated one to have only one recipe per page?
Thanks, Kathy
February 6th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Hi, Kathy-
All existing customers will be given access to a very reasonably priced upgrade. It’s looking like $10 to download, or $15 on disk.
We’re also considering a price increase for the next full version. Nothing is firm yet, but it may be that you won’t be paying much more to buy it now and then download the upgrade later.
One recipe per page will DEFINITELY be an option, Kathy.
Matilda
February 6th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Referring to Jeannie Suman Says:
December 4th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
ALL I WANT TO DO IS WRITE A COOKBOOK FOR MY FAMILY WITH HISTORY.
This is exactly what i
I want to do as well. I would like to use your software and want to add a personal story to each recipe. Is this possible?
February 13th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Mathiila,
Am planning to buy your software but have a question about the page layouts. In the two-column/two-recipe-per-page format, can the second recipe/space have just regular text added instead of a recipe.
Am wanting to put text/history or comments with many of the recipes and am trying to address this issue.
Thanks!
Peg
February 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Garret-
Definitely! You’ll have a giant text box to type in your recipe, an ingredients list, and any family stories that go with the recipe. I’d say that this is exactly what 80% of our customers use our software for!
Matilda
February 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Peg-
You can write all the text/history you want. You can literally add thousands of pages of text for each recipe if you like.
One note, though–the software doesn’t really do 2 recipes per page in the two column format. It often does because that’s just how the formatting works out, but if you have a long recipe it may only do one per page, or if you have a number of short recipes it may do three or four per page.
Matilda
February 13th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I am considering the software and have a question about publishing. I want to publish my cookbook in printed form. Can I take it to a printer and have the book print on front and back like a regular cookbook?
February 13th, 2008 at 11:38 am
tammy-
Definitely. We make it easy for you to create PDF (Acrobat) files out of your cookbook to take to the printer.
Matilda
February 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I am probably going to buy your software so I was glad to read you blogs and watch your video. Can you add pictures or articles to the pages inside the book also if saved in a document?
Thanks for this forum I love it!!
Sue
February 20th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hi, Sue-
You can add photos. We don’t really feature an “Articles” section in the software, but many customers just make a Recipe or Biography category called “Stories” or “Articles” or “Welcome” and use that for their writing.
Glad you enjoy the blog!
Matilda
March 5th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I have your software, and I want to know if my two sisters also get the software, are we able to work on our cook book separately, then combine them into one book? How do we do this?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Can i install different fonts onto this software, or am I limited to the fonts that the software provides?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Hi, Jen-
Currently you are limited to the fonts built into the software. We’re looking at changing that down the road.
Matilda
April 19th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Hi,
I was going to make a rather elaborate scrapbook cookbook of my family recipes and then have photo copies made for my family members. Your software seems to be an much easier and efficient way to do it. However, I have been photographing the food and the people eating it as I have been cooking the recipes …can I include these photos on the recipe page or do I have to uses your sample photos and then put mine on a separate category page? I really wanted the pictures and comments together with the recipes. I appreciate your help. Thanks
April 21st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Hi, Barbara-
Our software currently does allow you to include a photograph of whatever you’d like with each recipe. We supply a few sample photos, but you can use whatever photos you want.
Matilda
May 31st, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I am interested for your software provided I can import recipes from web and more specific Greek recipes. Can I import from Greek text or program is build only for english text?
May 31st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Hi, Irini-
You shouldn’t have any problem with Greek text, provided that same computer also supports Greek text in other programs (email, internet, Word, etc).
Taking recipes off of websites is as simple as copy/paste.
Matilda
June 27th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I want to raise money for my Grandson Jason to have medical treatment. We live on social security and I the prices of the cookbook co are too high for me. Would your software work for this project? BTW - LOVE your site. Thanks, Carole