Have a plan for collecting recipes from a group to create your family or a fundraising cookbook. We have paper, digital, and online recipe collection options!
Before You Start Collecting Recipes for Your Cookbook…
Decide what categories you would like in your book. For some groups, having specific types of recipes makes your cookbook stand out more. You can ask people to submit recipes they use on a daily basis, for special holidays, potlucks, etc. Selecting categories gives you direction on what to ask for. Examples may include appetizers, breads, main dishes, and desserts.
The number of recipes will determine the thickness of your book, which affects pricing. Our price chart show estimated prices based on the number of recipes. It’s a good place to start to figure out how many recipes you want.
Set a reasonable deadline for having recipes collected. Typically 2 weeks to a month is a good window to request recipes. If your group only meets once a month, you may want to extend that. If you allow too much time, then people will put off their submission until they forget.
Does your group prefer paper and pencil or digital? Handing out forms to collect recipes is great for groups with members who don’t have or like to use technology. We have an interactive PDF recipe form that can be emailed or you are welcome to create your own. For those with a more technology-based group, try requesting recipes via email. Another option is to create a contributor login on a web account and have members type the recipes directly into your cookbook project.
Sending an email or handing out a flyer/newsletter is a great way to let your group know what you are looking for.
Things to Include in Your Recipe Collection Letter:
- What categories you are looking for. Examples: appetizers, desserts and main dishes.
- Let them know how many recipes you expect each member to submit and you can include a note that duplicate recipes may be removed.
- Remind them to include a contributor name (who submitted the recipe and to make sure the name is readable.)
- Make sure recipes are complete and include all steps.
- Include how recipes are to be submitted and when they are due. Make sure you have an easy collection place or email.*
- Finally, ask how many copies of the cookbook they will be wanting. Pre-booking orders and getting a general count from the recipe submissions will give you an idea of how many books to order.
If you need assistance putting together a letter that fits your family or organization’s needs, call or email us – we will be happy to help you put it together.
Options For Collecting Recipes for a Cookbook (Out of the box ideas for recipe round up.)
- Host a potluck and share recipes – Photograph/copy recipes to use for the book.
- Coffee – Meet for beverages and snacks. Have everyone bring their favorite recipe books/boxes to go through.
- Contest – Have each recipe count as an entry to win a free copy of the cookbook.
- Kids – Don’t rule out including cute recipes from children. Ask them to write the recipe how they think their favorite dish is made. We can include them word for word with all the cuteness!
- Visits – Have your committee members go out and meet with housebound members for coffee and look through their recipes. It is a great way to include those that can’t get out and spend quality time with those members.
*Some groups will set up a dedicated email for their cookbook so that more than one person has access to it. They will then use the email as a way for people to request copies of the book after it’s printed. If you set up a cookbook email, make sure that you have someone check it daily – otherwise make sure we have the chairperson’s email so we can get ahold of someone immediately with questions.
Downloads for Collecting Recipes for a Cookbook from a Group
Download free printable recipe forms here – PRINTABLE RECIPE FORM
Download free interactive PDF interactive recipe form here – INTERACTIVE PDF RECIPE FORM
Enter Recipes with a click – Cookbook Specialists Recipe App
FAQs
Options For Collecting Recipes for a Cookbook (Out of the box ideas for recipe round up.)
- Host a potluck and share recipes – Photograph/copy recipes to use for the book.
- Coffee – Meet for beverages and snacks. ...
- Contest – Have each recipe count as an entry to win a free copy of the cookbook.
Here's my questions–who knows, maybe they'll help you the next time you're having brain freeze in the Cookbooks section.
- Question 1: Is it useful? ...
- Question 2: Is it thoughtful? ...
- Question 3: Is it new? ...
- Question 4: Does it tell a story? ...
- Question 5: Is it well-designed? ...
- Question 6: Is it focused?
One of the most common ways of keeping recipes organized is with recipe binders. Rather than keeping recipe books to flick through for recipe referencing, chefs will have the recipes they need collated in binders. This means that they can quickly and easily find necessary items without other recipes getting in the way.
What is a collection of recipes called? ›
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.
Is there an app for collecting recipes? ›
Recipe Keeper is the easy to use, all-in-one recipe organizer, shopping list and meal planner available across all of your devices.
How do you organize a cookbook collection? ›
You should organize cookbooks in a way that makes sense to you. But experts recommend grouping cookbooks by cuisine (such as Indian, Italian, or Mexican), with separate sections for books on specific topics, such as grilling, seafood, or poultry.
How many recipes are needed for a cookbook? ›
The standard expectation is that a cookbook should have between 70 and 100 recipes, but larger compendiums have at least 200.
What should be in first page of a cookbook? ›
The only required front matter is really a simple title page and a copyright page. We give descriptions of the various pieces and provide basic examples below, but we highly recommend pulling a few of your favorite cookbooks off the shelf and looking at how they handle the front matter.
What makes a great cookbook? ›
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.
How do I choose the right recipe? ›
How to choose a recipe
- Choose a recipe with a simple (and familiar) ingredient list. ...
- Choose a recipe that you know what it will taste like. ...
- Consider the recipe time. ...
- Consider the portion size of the dish. ...
- Check for special tools and advanced techniques.
COLLECTING RECIPES
Ask loved ones for their favorite family recipes. Make copies of the recipe cards or pages from cookbooks you receive. Since many cooks don't use recipes but instead cook from habit and memory, ask these relatives to take the time to write down the recipe.
Where do people get recipes? ›
There are many good sources out there, including cookbooks, magazines, and friends and family who are willing to share their secrets. One thing is sure: if you want to be a successful food blogger, you need to have a reliable source of recipes you can use as inspiration to create your own dishes.
What is the oldest cookbook still in print? ›
The first recorded cookbook that is still in print today is Of Culinary Matters (originally, De Re Coquinaria), written by Apicius, in fourth century AD Rome. It contains more than 500 recipes, including many with Indian spices.
What is one word for a book of recipes? ›
Meaning of cookbook in English. a book that explains how to prepare particular dishes: She has written several award-winning cookbooks.
How to write a cookbook introduction? ›
Introduction – List points that you'd like to cover in your introduction. Perhaps a brief history of the subject, your personal relationship to the subject, and your favorite tips for success, etc. Ingredients and Equipment Guide – Most cookbook authors include this in a cookbook, but it's not necessary.
How do I become a recipe tester for my cookbook? ›
To become a recipe tester, you need to have several qualifications, including previous experience in the food industry, an excellent eye for detail, and a wide range of analytical and culinary skills. Some recipe testers begin their careers by working in a commercial kitchen, a restaurant, or a food cart.
