I am lucky to be the daughter of a chef. I was lucky enough to learn how to use a stove, what spices go with each other, how to eye if a chicken is ready, and before many of my other peers could do the same. I got to spend a lot of my formative years in the kitchen with my dad watching him flip eggs and give me little tidbits of secret knowledge and tricks that I still use today in my own kitchen. Being raised in a chef’s household also gave me the privilege of a fairly wide library of cookbooks. I had a favorite, of course, as many of us do. I loved the pictures of the food, and its kitsch-inspired details and aesthetics. The instructions were clear and simple enough for 8 years old me to take a swing at a full family dinner, much to my father’s enjoyment and pride. And despite the cookbook’s age, there was not a single aspic recipe in those pages, making it even more approachable and, pardon the pun, digestible.
“If you want happy endings, read cookbooks.”
Dean Young
Food is culture, wherever you are in the world. It brings families together, and I can bet that your best memories happened around food. Recipes are passed down from generation to generation, and a lot of heart and soul goes into curating them. Cookbooks allow us to dive into those traditions and the culture while educating its readers about the importance and joy of cooking. Cookbooks are so much more than lists of ingredients methodically described and placed in pans and casserole dishes, they are photo albums, personal memoirs, and anthologies of memorabilia shared with the public by culinary artists. Many beginner authors publish cookbooks as their debut publications due to the simple, legible, and straightforward nature of these books. The popularity of cookbooks has only increased in popularity, leading more burgeoning authors to tackle the medium and share their unique cookery ideas with the world.
“I think it’s important if you’re going to write a cookbook, it should sound like you’re talking – it should be things you actually believe, otherwise I’m not interested.”
Anthony Bourdain
Any style of cooking can be a popular phenomenon when deciding to write your cookbook. If you love the culinary experiences you’re writing, then the audience will as well. Good cooking comes from the heart, but it also reads from the heart. You follow that and you’ll be good to go as far as content. Cookbooks also have a strong visual element to them. From well-propped photography to cute cartoons, to stunning infographics, always ensure your cookbooks are loaded with pictures and visual details to accompany the recipes. Not only do these pictures employ more entertainment factors, they also give preference to the readers and home cooks trying to get it right. Ensure you choose a sturdy paperweight and stock so that cooks with their hands full can still read their pages. 100lb gloss coated paper to protect from stains and spills is a good choice, and is also available with colorful print so you can customize and accessorize. Coil bound is also a popular binding option as it is cost-effective, simple, and allows pages to move freely without spinal tension. This makes it an ideal kitchen companion that won’t close upon you.
“Beyond the recipes and the glimpse into the mind of the chefs, such books can be souvenirs of experiences that are special.”
David Tanis
Remember to make it personal. It was more than just the pictures and simple recipes in my favorite cookbook that made it my favorite. It felt like it was written for me. It had all my favorites before I even knew what they were. First-time authors will not only enjoy writing their very own cookbook but also have a joy printing it with ease. If you’re looking for a lucrative and popular book, you can’t go wrong when it’s dealing with food. So pull up a chair, and start writing someone’s next favorite cookbook.
FAQs
Cookbooks don't just teach and expand the culinary knowledge of the reader. They're not just instruction manuals. They let you in on someone's life or a country's ways and means sans actual travel. More importantly, cookbooks are central to food heritage and national cultural history.
What are the benefits of creating a cookbook? ›
When you make your own cookbook, you have full creative control. You can decide what recipes you publish, what photos you use, and how everything is laid out, as well as what type of cookbook binding you want- anything from a cookbook binder to a plastic coil recipe book.
Why do people create and write cookbooks? ›
Cookbooks are so much more than lists of ingredients methodically described and placed in pans and casserole dishes, they are photo albums, personal memoirs, and anthologies of memorabilia shared with the public by culinary artists.
What makes a cookbook special? ›
A good cookbook shouldn't just tell you what to make, but also how to make it and why to make it that way. If you start understanding how different ingredients work together in recipes and why to treat them how you do, you can learn to cook just about anything without ever picking up a book over time.
What is the purpose of writing a cookbook? ›
Here are a few examples of WHY you might want to write a cookbook: Teach and influence others about a topic related to cooking or baking. Earn a lot of money off the sale of my book. Raise funds for an organization or non-profit agency.
What is the function of a cookbook? ›
cookbook, collection of recipes, instructions, and information about the preparation and serving of foods. At its best, a cookbook is also a chronicle and treasury of the fine art of cooking, an art whose masterpieces—created only to be consumed—would otherwise be lost.
Are cookbooks still relevant? ›
Publishers and bookstores have noticed a positive trend in the past few years: Their cookbook sales are jumping, with cookbooks flying off the shelves. Always a popular category, cookbook sales have soared in the past three years. In 2021, cookbook sales were 42% higher than they were the year before.
Why are recipes cookbooks so important to understanding other cultures? ›
As artifact, cookbooks illustrate aspects of the broader culture in which the books and recipes were created, serving as a means of understanding people or groups both contemporary and historical.
Why do we love cookbooks? ›
First we must acknowledge that cookbooks are books.
And they really are: They teach us techniques, introduce us to new ingredients, encourage us to expand our palates, riff on old ways of doing things, and promise us new ways of doing things that with time will become old ways. This is very much practical.
How do you make a cookbook interesting? ›
The more places your food appears, the more relatable your shots. Try changing up your dishes and tablecloth. A festive table can help a festive recipe look that much more inspiring. All the variations will keep things interesting across dozens of photos and pages as your readers thumb through.
The Author-Food Connection
Just like a musician penning songs about their own life experiences resonates with fans, an author who uncovers their own connections to the ingredients and recipes in their cookbook is sure to create a magical, memorable experience for their readers.
Are cookbooks necessary? ›
Another reason to invest in a cookbook or two is because there are often general tips in cookbooks that will make you a better cook. If you follow a bread recipe and constantly end up with gummy bread or bread that doesn't rise quite right, it might be your technique that needs refining.
What is the benefit of cooking book? ›
Cookbooks have all the basic knowledge about utensils, flames, temperatures and the items necessary for making foods.
Why do you give a cookbook as a gift? ›
A cookbook is a great way to boost someone else's excitement about a new cooking technique they've discovered or a genre of cooking they want to explore. It's also an easy way to help someone else learn the joy of cooking at home.
