Q. Why is Matilda’s Fantastic Cookbook Software so E.A.S.Y.?
A. Two Words: Three Tabs.

Because these three tabs — “Recipes, People and Printing” — are the keys to successful cookbook-making at home with Matilda’s Fantastic Cookbook Software, I often say my software as E.A.S.Y. (Extraordinary and Simple for You). How so?

Extraordinary
We’ve designed in lots of behind-the-scenes features into our cookbook software to make your cookbook happen without your having to think about it or know why. Basic to average users can be comfortable knowing they will produce a professional-looking cookbook. My cookbook software just DOES it. Read the rest of this entry »

There it was, high on the shelf at least 10 feet above me, or so it seemed. That mysterious box containing all sorts of paper recipe cards with magical potions written on them. Some recipe cards were well worn; others were barely used (I could tell because the edges weren’t frayed…the favorite recipe cards always had a telltale sign of use: fingerprints, grease stains, a missing corner, or just the yellow color of age.)

That was my Grandma’s magic box — her wooden recipe card box. It was full of her very own recipe creations, and some recipes given to her by old friends. Some recipes in the recipe box also came from magazines and newspapers clipped close to fit neatly inside the recipe box. Read the rest of this entry »

A dear young friend recently sent me an email warning of the dangers of not washing off the tops of cans before opening them. (Dirty warehouses, grocery store shelves, and disease-carrying critters of all kinds walking about on them, you know.)

We hear about these things every so often: bugs and small rodents found in bottles and cans. (We kids always laughed at my dear Mom, who would habitually check the glass Coke bottle after she took her first sip!)

Aside from the obvious good advice for removing shelf dust, etc. (that originated from who knows where) my young friend’s email reminded me of an even greater bit of wisdom I once heard about the dirtiest inch in your kitchen. Read the rest of this entry »

When I was growing up, the man in the bow tie at the neighborhood store always had a smile as he helped his customers. No matter what they needed, pleaded, or required, he always treated them with respect and dignity. He was even courteous to us kids, who no doubt could have been swept off with a fast broom at the heels.

So, when we decided to pitch our fates to the wind and create Matilda’s Fantastic Cookbook Software and our company, The Cookbook People, one of our goals was to provide good, old-fashioned customer service. 

We are just so pleased around here to know that our products and our service are getting noticed, and that we are getting good customer reviews and feedback on our cookbook software page on Amazon.com. 

Our shipping guru, John, is just about the best there is at making sure our cookbook software orders go out on time (and orders for our cookbook binders and all our other great cookbook-related products). He pays attention to every little detail, and our customers are really appreciating his good work.

In fact, we have a 97% positive rating on Amazon over the past 12 months for our shipping performance. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, okay, I may be late on this topic since it is after St. Patrick’s Day, but this is one Irish coffee recipe you’ll want to include in your next family cookbook. For this year’s “wearin’ o’ the green” celebration, I enjoyed a wonderful Irish coffee made from a distant cousin’s recipe (who is a fabulous bartender and cook).

This Irish coffee recipe is easy and can be adjusted to taste. It can also be made with regular or sugar-free coffee flavorings for those who wish to avoid the alcohol, sugar and calories: Read the rest of this entry »

Some people like to keep their recipes on recipe cards instead of creating a family cookbook. Old fashioned recipe cards are still a great way to collect and keep family recipes.

For those of you who prefer this method of preserving family recipes, we have several templates in our cookbook software that allows you to create old fashioned recipe cards in two different sizes (3 x 5 and 4 x 6).

The recipe card design choices below are found in the “Printing” tab by clicking “Recipes.” (Previews are available by clicking the magnifying glass to see your design before you print.) We are considering adding other design choices when we update our software next time, so your suggestions are welcome. For now, here are the choices: Read the rest of this entry »

Where would we be without onions? For that matter, where would our family cookbooks be without onions as a key ingredient for homemade appetizers, entrees and side dishes? Stuffed onions, creamed onions, onion soup, onion rings. About the only recipes I can think of where onions have not been embraced are dessert recipes (and I’m sure there probably are sweet onion desserts out there somewhere).

Historians say onions were first used in China, India and Egypt, and many of these cultures used onions as medicinal ingredients.  One doesn’t hear much about onion tea, but I found an onion tea recipe in an old cookbook using herbs and such as a remedy for colds and coughing.  (The onion tea recipe suggested sugar and lemon, but I think a little chicken broth would be more palatable.) Read the rest of this entry »

The other day after making my Matilda’s Pretty Good Lasagna, my taste buds drifted over from savory to wanting something sweet and creamy.  So, I thumbed through the printed copy of my family cookbook and came across a Tiramisu Twinkie dessert recipe that I had quite forgotten about (but would have gone perfectly with the lasagna).

The Tiramisu Twinkie recipe reminded me of the days when tiramisu was the dessert rage of the decade after the 1993 movie “Sleepless in Seattle” introduced the word tiramisu to Americans (tiramisu had been enjoyed in Italy and some other countries, I’m told.  I do remember thinking that “tiramisu” sounded much more Japanese than Italian for “pick-me-up”). Read the rest of this entry »

A pair of old, comfortable shoes.
   A floppy garden hat that doesn’t spin around on your head. 
       A beloved sweater that keeps you warm despite the obvious weaknesses in the seams
       and buttonholes.
Or, perhaps a discreet purple wall inside the closet that cheers you every morning.

These are the things that fit you — that match your personality, tastes and dreams. You like them because they suit you, and because they suit you, you use them over and over again. They are much like a good cookbook — another accessory in your life that gives comfort, stability and a sense of place in the world every time you use it.

But what if you could create a cookbook that fits you? One that reflects your personal flair, your enjoyment of good food, your appreciation for family traditions, and your love of your own community? Read the rest of this entry »

1. Put 2 dozen eggs on the stove to boil.
2. Make sure the pot is full of water.
3. Turn on medium heat.
4. Forget to put on timer.
5. Talk to best friend on the phone for over an hour.
6. Go investigate strange popping noises from the kitchen.
7. Remember the eggs!
8. Turn off burner.
9. Turn on exhaust fan to remove smell similar to burnt popcorn.
10. Remove eggs from burning pan with tongs. Let cool.
11. When eggs are cool enough to handle, see what damage has been done.
12. When pan is cool enough to handle, add soapy water and scrub.
13. Make smoked egg salad (or throw away).
14. LOL

(P.S. This is not a recipe I would recommend for the family cookbook!)

Happy cookbooking anyway,

Matilda

Remember how much fun it used to be to make lasagna? Cooking the sauce, then the slippery lasagna noodles, and then layering it all with ricotta cheese. What a great comfort food that used to be in our household, and one that generated about 12 lasagna recipes in my family cookbook from relatives and friends.

It has been YEARS since I made a lasagna recipe from the family cookbook. After awhile it seemed almost too costly and labor intensive to bother. But I got to thinking that making a big batch and freezing it into smaller portions certainly would be cheaper than those expensive brand-name prepared lasagnas I’ve come to rely upon in the frozen food section of the supermarket. (I admit that 2 trays of the stuff in a large pan has been a lifesaver for many a potluck contribution.) Read the rest of this entry »

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: You don’t have to be a great cook to make a great cookbook. That may sound a bit odd coming from me, the granny guru of home-based cookbook-making. But believe me, I created my cookbook software for non-cooks as well as experienced cooks, and for those whose computer savvy may range from basic to advanced.

For example, the three tabs/templates we use for guiding you through making your own cookbook at home are pretty simple: Read the rest of this entry »