Make a Family Cookbook

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4 steps to an amazing personalized holiday gift

Proud to say, my family can cook. My brothers are all skilled and inventive in the kitchen, my dad has many specialties, and Mom's been turning out great meals for decades. [ I won't say how many, or she'll stop cooking for me ;) ] Creating a family cookbook is on my to-do list because I want to be able to tap into all that talent on a daily basis rather than calling at the last minute to pester people with "Now how did you make those apple pancakes?" It occurred to me that other family members might feel the same way. Creating a family cookbook could be an awesome personal, budget-friendly holiday gift for everyone. It doesn't seem all that difficult...

1. Collect recipes 

Decide on the scope for your effort (will you include recipes from just your parents and siblings? or go broader and ask aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.?). Then call or email everyone to request their favorite recipes. Be sure to give them a deadline--a couple weeks should be enough time for most to respond--and some specifics on what you're looking for.

Here's a sample email request:

Hi everybody--

I'm collecting recipes from our family and would love to include one or more of your favorites. Please email me back your recipe(s) by November 15 and include this info for each one:

~List of ingredients

~Cooking instructions, step by step, with any special tips (e.g., "cake may look underdone at first but will firm up as it sits"; "you don't have to thaw the peas first"; etc.)

~How many people the dish serves

~Roughly how long the dish takes to make: prep time and cook time

Thanks so much!



Then sit back and wait for the responses to--fingers crossed--roll in. If nobody responds, threaten to fill the book yourself with nothing but lima-bean recipes :-P

 

2. Print and format the recipe pages 

You can cut and paste the recipe text from folks' emails into a new document using Word or another word processing program.

Or just print the email as is. (The recipes will be no less tasty with to, from, date, and email addresses on the top...and if they're bad, people will know how to reach the contributors and complain! Just kidding.)

When your pages are printed, punch each on the left margin with a 3-hole punch.

 

 

A Free (and Adorable!) Recipe Template

Putting this lens together, I searched online for an 8/12-by-11 sized recipe template that would pair well with binder-style family cookbooks. I found some card templates, but very few full-page designs. So I asked Kristen of Domestifluff, a fabulous blog on home cooking & crafting that also includes some topnotch graphic design, if she might take on the challenge. She agreed, and the result (above) is absolutely adorable! It's perfect not only for holiday projects but all year round. Go here to access the pdf for personal, non-commercial use. And thanks, Kristen!

 

3. Protect the pages (optional) 

You could take the recipe pages to your local copy shop and laminate them before 3-hole-punching. Or you could just buy some standard-size, prepunched plastic sleeves. This step isn't really necessary -- some of the best recipes are splattered with chocolate, after all :-) -- but it's a nice touch if you have the time and budget.

Another "nice but not necessary" touch is tabs to separate recipe categories, such as:

Appetizers
Salads
Soups
Main Courses
Desserts

 

4. Bind the pages 

You could have the local copy shop bind your family cookbook, but a 3-ring binder allows you to add recipes easily over time. (Your teenage niece or nephew may have no use for the kitchen right now, but in 10 years, who knows? She or he may stumble on--or create--the best 5-alarm chili recipe this side of the Pecos.)

I'm really excited about the new custom binders Zazzle is offering through a partnership with Avery. With help from my kids, who provided the artwork, I designed these binders for family cookbooks--all of which can be personalized on the back:

 

Number 1 has a festive look, with nontraditional colors. I'm kind of in love with this one ;)



Number 2 is more traditional, but still fun and playful.

Holiday Gift Binder for Family Recipes binder

Number 3 is for the family that doesn't mind making a statement.



Number 4 is for an all-desserts cookbook (mmmmmm).

Personalized dessert cookbook binder

Finally, number 5 is a gift for the non-cook! Collect local takeout menus and 3-hole-punch them for this binder. Way better than a junk drawer overflowing with crumpled menus. (Not that I have any, uh, personal experience with that...)

Help me decide? 

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This just in... 

Avery & Zazzle just sponsored a recipe binder design contest and chose a fabulous winner. I love the soft color scheme and vintage (but still fresh) vibe of this design. Congrats to Winter_Wonderland on the win!
Christmas Holiday Recipe Binder Christmas Holiday Recipe Binder by Winter_Wonderland

Buy Now

powered by Zazzle.com

 

Need recipes?

Cheat a little and take mine ;) They're tasty and easy, I promise.

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Food, care & love for every child 

The holidays are a perfect time to start or sustain a family tradition of giving. When you give, please consider Save the Children--a top-rated, time-tested organization working with kids in dire need.

Three easy ways to help today: Click the "donate now" button below. Shop Karate Kat Graphics, home of the binder designs pictured in step 4, above; the "handmade" sticker at top; and many more personalized gifts, all of which benefit Save the Children. Or just send the link for this lens to a friend who'd be interested. (How does that help? Traffic to this lens benefits Save the Children through Squidoo's charity-designation system, which is awesome.)

More info on Save the Children:

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to Save the Children from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

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by KarateKatGraphics

Art lover, freelance writer, music nerd, mom of 3. Goals: raise decent humans, learn Spanish, more veggies, more sleep, keep on the sunny side, *breat... (more)

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