• Buy a cookbook with recipes you will actually use. Don’t buy it simply because the cover is appealing or the pictures inside the look incredibly tasty.
  
• Scan the recipes and note the kind and amount of ingredients listed, ask yourself if the ingredients are things you already have or are easy to come by.
  
• Make sure the recipes portions to suit your needs. If a recipe typically feeds eight, and you're a household of three, you're not going to take the time to convert each recipe.
  
• Look for how detailed the instructions are and if the diagrams or pictures are clear and helpful. You want a cookbook with instructions that are easy to follow.
  
• Cookbooks that list recipe alternatives or variations allow you got get additional uses from those recipes. For example an apple pie recipe might have instructions listed at the end for turning that recipe into Dutch apple pie or French apple pie etc.
  
• If purchasing a basic cookbook or a cookbook for a specific type of cooking (Pies, Asian Cooking, Fish), look for one that offers cooking tips. Betty Crocker’s basic cookbook cooking tips, ingredient substitutions, a glossary of terms, menu planning, etc.

Many cookbook companies also have excellent websites where you can look up tips and also purchase books. Some really good cookbook sites are:

www.ghb.com www.starchefs.com/Jchild.html
www.bettycrocker.com
www.italiamia.com/cuisine.html
www.index-china-food.com
www.japanesefood.about.com
www.africhef.com
www.exoticrecipes.com/MexSACarib.htm
www.exoticrecipes.com/EuropeanCookbook.htm
www.epicurious.com

Other good websites that offer cooking information are:

www.verybestbaking.com
www.hersheykitchens.hersheys.com/index.asp
www.campbellsoup.com/index.asp
www.pillsbury.com
www.chex.com
www.getfitwithfosterfarms.com
www.beeftips.com/recipes/
www.otherwhitemeat.com
www.fish4fun.com/seafoodrecipes.htm
www.vegkitchen.com

One of my favorite cookbooks growing up was our ward cookbook. I loved choosing and preparing recipes from people I knew. You can create your own valued cookbook, whether it is a ward, family, or friend cookbook. Here are some simple steps to create such a treasure.

First, choose a theme. A general cookbook appeals to most people, but you may want to get more specific. Your theme could be recipes that use a certain ingredient, timesaving recipes, recipes kids can make, or other such topics. Once you have chosen a theme, you need to create a timeline.You want to allow

After you have your timeline in place, it is time to gather the recipes. Gathering recipes can be as simple as going through your own files and choosing your favorites and asking family and friends for theirs. It could be as complex as sending out letters to everybody in your ward. Be sure to give specifics on how to submit recipes. You might also want to request any interesting information about the recipe, such as why the person chose it or the history behind the recipe.

Once you have gathered all the recipes, it’s time to start inputting them into a program. You may want to use a simple word program to type in recipes. Add any clip art, borders, or other items to make the pages more decorative. There are also several websites that will create a cookbook for you, all you do is input the recipes and they do the rest.

When inputting recipes, make sure your style is simple and easy to understand. Are you going to include abbreviations for teaspoon or write it out? Be consistent. Don’t use abbreviations in some recipes, but not others. Also make sure to give exact measurement. Most people prefer an exact amount to a “pinch of salt.” List ingredients in the order they are used. If possible, recommend substitutions for hard to find or expensive ingredients. Use consistent terminology. Calling for flour in one recipe and all-purpose flour in another will make people wonder if these are different products. Include sizes for cans and packages. Don’t forget to have a creative title for each recipe.

Be sure to write the recipe preparation and assembly in a step-by-step, logical order. State any utensils or equipment needed to make a recipe successfully. Define any terms that may not be familiar to most cooks. Break longer methods into paragraphs so they are easier to follow. List the number of servings a dish makes.

After you have input all the recipes, proofread. Print out the pages and check for errors. Have a family member or friend check the recipes as well. Make sure all the directions make sense, all ingredients are used, and the recipe styles are consistent. After proofreading, make any corrections needed.

Now that the proofreading and corrections are done, it’s time to publish! Publishing your book can be as simple as taking your pages to a printing shop. They can print a certain number of copies for you, as well as bind them. It’s a good idea to call and get prices in advance. There are also several websites that will do the publishing for you. Some of them are www.bhg.com and www.cookbookpublishers.com. A standard web search may reveal more.

These tips can help you create a successful cookbook. It takes some work and effort, but creating a cookbook is worth it. Having a book of recipes from ward members, family, or friends can be a treasure that lasts a lifetime.

Info comes from www.bhg.com

Other useful sites:
www.dianaslegacy.net
www.thehollandsentinel.net