Author: Green Apron Company and Maggie Green

Food and nutrition expert Maggie Green is the founder and owner of The Green Apron Company. The Green Apron specializes in culinary nutrition, food and nutrition writing, and recipe and cookbook development.
Episode 73: Interview with Author and Cooking Expert Peter Hertzmann
Episode 73: Interview with Author and Cooking Expert Peter Hertzmann
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Hi and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I feature an interview with author and cookbook collector and self-proclaimed autodidactic polymath, Peter Hertzmann. Peter has been the creator, author, and illustrator of the e-zine à la carte since its inception in 1999.  He is also the author of 50 Ways to Cook a Carrot and Knife Skills Illustrated. Peter is passionate about teaching people from all walks of life the skills that will enable them to cook almost anything. His obsession and life-long interest in cooking and culinary traditions goes back to the early 1970s and for him, cooking is not just a matter of preparing recipes, it is a total immersion in all things food. As he writes in his e-zine: “I’m obsessive. All my life, when something interested me, I became obsessed with it. I learned all I could about it. I lived it! 

For most of his adult life, my interest was Chinese cookery—its preparation, materials, history, politics, and culture. Besides learning all he could about Chinese food and culture, he became involved with Chinese-American organizations and studied Chinese-American food, history, and culture. He collected English-language Chinese cookbooks and eventually amassed one of the largest collections in the world. (The books are now part of the Pond-Hertzmann Collection at the University of California at Davis.)

Then one fall, during an eight-day trip to Paris—his first—he had an epiphany – that he wouldn’t be able to proceed with my education unless he spent a lot of time in France and learned to at least read some French. In the following two years, he started doing just that. As he was obsessed with Chinese cookery, he is now obsessive with French cookery—its preparation, materials, history, politics, and culture. His e-zine a la carte is part of that obsession.

Listen to Episode 73 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

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Would you like to know …

Episode 72: 10 Questions To Gauge Your Perseverance in Cookbook Writing
Episode 72: 10 Questions To Gauge Your Perseverance in Cookbook Writing
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Welcome to this episode today as we talk about perseverance as cooks, bakers, writers, and podcasters. 

We live in a world where we want everything quick. Better yet, how about immediate, fast, and tomorrow is too late. In an instant-ramen-noodle-style life, we don’t want to wait, work hard, or feel challenged. We just want results.

The truth is that most book projects are more like making a batch of chicken stock than they are like instant ramen noodles. Stock can’t be rushed if we want excellent results. To make the best stock we have to be willing to let the ingredients simmer and allow the heat to extract the flavor and gelatin from the bones. The results are worth the time and effort of preparing stock the correct way.

Perseverance is defined as steadfastness in doing something despite delay or difficulty in achieving success. Making the commitment to anything new provides fuel to get you started. When you sign a publishing contract, you commit to completing a manuscript. When you launch an online program, you see it through in spite of any difficulties you may encounter. Ask anyone who is in the middle of a book-writing project, or launching a new program, and they will tell you that determination and persistence, aka perseverance, drives them toward the finish line.

You aren’t going to find anybody that’s going to be successful without making a sacrifice and without perseverance. – Lou Holtz

While researching material for this podcast I created a set of questions based on qualities that are present in individuals who persevere. With those in mind, and using my experiences with book and work projects (and marriage and raising children!), I added more qualities that I’ve found to be helpful for perseverance. So get a piece of paper and a pen and here are the questions you can ask yourself!

  1. Do you feel resilient?  When you come upon a challenge or setback in a project, you may feel defeated. The choice is now yours: you can quit or bounce back and keep trying.
  2. Do you ask for help if you’re stuck? Feeling supported and connected in the achievement of your goal help you persevere m. Seek out role models or mentors that you can turn to when you have questions.
  3. Do you practice self-compassion? Take it easy on yourself if you make a mistake. Avoid negative thoughts about setbacks and do give yourself a misstep. Practice positive self-talk and get yourself back on track to completion.
  4. Do you accept that uncertainty of the outcome is a reality? Surrender to the fact that you can’t control a lot of what happens in your life. Focus on what you can control – your hard work and effort.
  5. Do you maintain a sense of humor? There’s a time to be serious and strict, but be sure you balance that with the ability to laugh at yourself and your mistakes and move on.
  6. Are you a mindful person? Focus on today, and the hour
…
Episode 71 l Cookbooks from 1920-1940
Episode 71 l Cookbooks from 1920-1940
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Welcome to 2020! And the first episode of the podcast recorded in 2020. Today I had fun sharing with you a passage written by Anne Mendelson and published in the Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink about cookbooks and manuscripts from 1920-1940. At that time, many cookbooks were still focused on all-purpose tomes that covered many aspects of not just cookery but domestic and home economics, but as we learn from Anne, cookbooks started to evolve during the early 20th century even into books that people enjoyed to read and use as armchair cooks and travelers. 

Listen to Episode 71 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 70 l Interview with Cookbook Collector, Author, and Former Television Producer Cynthia Graubart
Episode 70 l Interview with Cookbook Collector, Author, and Former Television Producer Cynthia Graubart
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Hi everyone and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Cynthia Graubart is a food writer, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, speaker, former cooking show television producer, and most recently the author of her 8th cookbook, Sunday Suppers for Oxmoor House. Graubart is passionate about food – from researching its origins, writing recipes, teaching technique, to bringing families together at the table. What began as a small number of cookbooks to help me learn the basics, grew into a large research library of 4,000 volumes. While it is a general collection, I do have a sub-specialty in Southern cookbooks. I also have a collection of 500 community cookbooks, about 300 of which are from the state of Georgia and predate 1980. In this interview, we talk about community cookbooks, Junior League cookbook, Cynthia’s experience producing television, cooking, and writing cookbooks.

Listen to Episode 70 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 69 l Interview with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Cookbook Author Angela Grassi
Episode 69 l Interview with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Cookbook Author Angela Grassi
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Hi everyone and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I have a fun interview with Angela Grassi. Angela Grassi, MS, RDN, LDN is an internationally known nutrition and health expert on PCOS. Named one of the Top 10 Incredible RDNs making a difference by Today’s Dietitian, Angela’s knowledge, warmth, and charisma have made her the go-to nutritionist for women with PCOS. She provides nutrition consultations in person, phone or online to women around the world. Having PCOS herself, Angela knows how challenging living with this condition can be. She has dedicated her career to being on the leading-edge of helping women with PCOS improve their health and their lives through evidence-based nutrition. Angela is the co-author of The PCOS Nutrition Center Cookbook: 100 Easy and Delicious Whole Food Recipes To Beat PCOS and the bestselling, The PCOS Workbook: Your Guide to Complete Physical and Emotional Health. Angela’s other book, PCOS: The Dietitian’s Guide, now in its second edition, is the most comprehensive evidence-based nutrition resource available for PCOS. Today on the podcast we talk about Angela’s love of cookbooks and why she decided to set up her own self-publishing company, and how she self-published her very own cookbook, The PCOS Nutrition Center Cookbook.

Listen to Episode 69 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 68 l Interview with Baker and Cookbook Writer Tina Zaccardi
Episode 68 l Interview with Baker and Cookbook Writer Tina Zaccardi
by

Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I’m excited to share an interview with cookbook collector and baker Tina Zaccardi. Tina is a mom, wife, NY Yankee fan, and competitive self-taught baker. Tina is also the winner of Season 4 Holiday Edition of The Great American Baking Show. Yes, she spent some time last fall in “The Tent”!  Tina has been baking for as long as she can remember, but it’s only within the past few years that this has become a passion. For Tina, baking is about making others happy! Today on the show we talk about Tina’s favorite baking cookbooks, some traditional Italian cookies, and the role of photography in cookbooks for providing visual clues about baked goods with which we are unfamiliar.

Listen to Episode 68 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 67 l Cookbook Publishing Possibility
Episode 67 l Cookbook Publishing Possibility
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. I’m excited to talk to you today about Cookbook Publishing Possibility. Last week we talked about Cookbook Writing Possibility. Did you know there is a better way – that it’s possible you could write a cookbook? You could possibly document your recipes, stories, knowledge, menus memories in a way that you can create a book – a tangible, portable, and potentially profitable record of your recipes that helps other people. That is Cookbook Writing Possibility.  This week I want to talk about Cookbook Publishing Possibility and the 5 ways that you can get your recipes and stories published. My goal today is to highlight the differences between writing a book and getting it published, 

Listen to Episode 67 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 66 l Cookbook Writing Possibility
Episode 66 l Cookbook Writing Possibility
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. I’m excited to talk to you today about Cookbook Writing Possibility. First, I want everyone who is a cook or baker to pay attention here. If you are the go-to person for a cake for the office party, a winning pot of chili for the chili cook or, or a killer appetizer for the neighborhood progressive dinner, I’m talking to you. Because I suspect, that if that is the case people want and ask for your recipes. You dream them up. You dazzle people with food. And you share your recipes. All well and good. I’m not arguing with that at all. But then you may think, I need to share these good recipes in a way that more people can access them. So you start a blog. OK, truth time. I did the same thing. I started a blog in 2009. It was called From My Kitchen Table. I learned a few things. I strongly disliked Food Photography. And writing the content for the blog was an infinite job and I had nothing to show for all my work. And, my recipes we stuck online in a google search among the millions of other Google searches. So this is maybe where you are today. Maybe you have a blog, or maybe you’re starting about writing one? Did you know there is a better way – that it’s possible you could write a cookbook? You could possibly document your recipes, stories, knowledge, menus memories in a way that you can create a book – a tangible, portable, and potentially profitable record of your recipes that helps other people. That is Cookbook Writing Possibility. You could do this. I did it and you can too. So what’s involved in Cookbook Writing Possibility? Head on over to the show and listen in. 

Listen to Episode 66 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you …

Episode 65 l Thanksgiving 2019 and Abundance
Episode 65 l Thanksgiving 2019 and Abundance
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November and Thanksgiving are upon us! And in this episode of the podcast, I’m doing something a little bit different. Today I use my first cookbook, Kentucky Fresh Cookbook, to talk about seasonal eating and cooking here in KY this time of year, and talk a bit about goetta, a breakfast specialty item popular in Northern Kentucky. I also dive into Thanksgiving and share 4 recipes from my book for Carl’s Pendennis Club Punch, Roasted Brined Turkey, Bread Dressing, and Peggy’s Corn Pudding. Recipes can be found on the show notes page.

Listen to Episode 65 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 64 l Interview with Holly Berfield of Book Cook Look
Episode 64 l Interview with Holly Berfield of Book Cook Look
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Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I’m excited to have an interview with Holly Berfield. Holly is a photographer who embarked on a project several years ago in an effort to read more, cook more, and look for more beauty in the every day. The result of this project is her Instagram feed and blog where Holly creates inspired photos and recipes after she reads both fiction and non-fiction books.

Listen to Episode 64 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 63 l It’s Time to Talk November and Thanksgiving!
Episode 63 l It’s Time to Talk November and Thanksgiving!
by

November and Thanksgiving are upon us! And in this episode of the podcast, I’m doing something a little bit different. Today I use my first cookbook, Kentucky Fresh Cookbook, to talk about seasonal eating and cooking here in KY this time of year, and talk a bit about goetta, a breakfast specialty item popular in Northern Kentucky. I also dive into Thanksgiving and share 4 recipes from my book for Carl’s Pendennis Club Punch, Roasted Brined Turkey, Bread Dressing, and Peggy’s Corn Pudding. Recipes can be found on the show notes page.

Listen to Episode 63 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group.…

Episode 62 l Inspiration For Cookbook Writing: Take Time to Ask Your Brain
Episode 62 l Inspiration For Cookbook Writing: Take Time to Ask Your Brain
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When we have a question the first thing many of us do is turn to Google.

Google will tell us the answer.

Google is amazing, but for finding answers that will help us grow and expand, we have to turn to our brains.

My business coach teaches that the secret to anything “better” is better questions – the type of question that inspires high-quality results.

When I ask my brain questions I jot the answers in Google Keep, or my iPhone notes app. If I’m in the car or on a walk I’ll even record the answers on my iPhone. When I’m near my notebook and have a pen, well that’s my favorite spot to answer.

Today I want to share some questions for you to consider. Take time to ask. Your brain knows the answer.

  • What do I need to think and feel so that I can make decisions like a writer who wants to find and pitch a publisher?
  • What does my life or book project look like if I didn’t procrastinate or self-sabotage my project?
  • What do I want to believe about finding a publisher for my cookbook?
  • How could my days or weeks change for the better if I got a grip on my schedule and stopped believing I don’t have time?
  • How could I make pitching a publisher so easy that they couldn’t do anything but offer me a contract?
  • What can I think, feel, and then do to inspire cooks or bakers into action?
  • What new and fun opportunities will I have as a result of being the author of a print cookbook?
  • What thoughts about my cookbook project make me feel inspired? How can I inspire a publisher to take action with me and on my idea?
  • What do I need to think to feel more confident as a cookbook writer?
  • What does my perfect day as a cookbook writer look like? What needs to happen to create that day? 
  • Do I have to have a perfect day to move forward with my project? 

Listen to Episode 62 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.…

Episode 61 l Fall 2019 Cookbooks with Jenny Hartin of Eat Your Books
Episode 61 l Fall 2019 Cookbooks with Jenny Hartin of Eat Your Books
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I feature an interview with Jenny Hartin the publicity director for Eat Your Books and founder of The Cookbook Junkies. Jenny is here today to talk about exciting cookbooks coming up for Fall 2019, her new book, 101 Things to Do with a Bundt Pan, trends in cookbook concepts, and what Jenny’s seeing in cookbook design.

Listen to Episode 61 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group…

Episode 60 l Interview with Collector & Author Marcy Goldman
Episode 60 l Interview with Collector & Author Marcy Goldman
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I feature an interview with Marcy Goldman of BetterBaking.com. March collected cookbooks since she was about 8 and started cooking (the Time-Life Good Cook and foods of the World, Joy of Cooking were here go-to’s). She always wrote and always cooked/baked and so her interest in cookbooks extends to how food is described in books (and portrayed in films too). She loves cookbooks (Julia Child, James Beard, MFK Fisher) that have a ‘voice’ and teach as well as share recipes – which is why she probably became fascinated with recipe headnotes which she (seems) known for in my cookbooks (besides which headnotes came from that era wherein most cookbooks didn’t have any photos). She published the first of her 11 cookbooks in 1998 (Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking) and now both traditionally and independently publish cookbooks, as well as hosts her site of 22 years Betterbaking.com. She still buys cookbooks and hones her collection (with a reasonable amount of classic and new – largely on baking). Food is not just about pleasures of eating or sustenance – cookbooks chronicle our history and social ways.

Listen to Episode 60 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here. 

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group…

Episode 59 l Maybe You Could Write A Cookbook?
Episode 59 l Maybe You Could Write A Cookbook?
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Do you love to create recipes and cook for your family and friends? Have you perfected a method to do something that is kitchen or nutrition-related and you want to teach others about it? Could your work in your kitchen be used to guide someone else in their kitchen? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have what it takes to write a cookbook of your own. Today I want to share 4 basic steps you can follow to explore your cookbook topic. This is for those of you who haven’t even considered writing a cookbook before, with some tips on what to do to hone in on your ideal reader, and what your cookbook might be about. 

  1. Become a student of food, cooking or baking. Pay attention to what you really enjoy in the kitchen and keep track of what it is that people come to you and ask about. Are they asking for just recipes? Or are they asking other questions about what you do and who you know? Keep track of all of it. Start a dedicated notebook to keep track. 
  2. Challenge yourself to cook and create baked goods without an exact recipe. Make up your own creations. Keep track of what you create and make it again. Ask others to taste it and see what they think. Keep track some more. Your recipes in any book you write can be inspired by what you experience in the world, but at the end of the day, any recipes you publish need to be expressed in your own ideas and words.
  3. When you meet people and they ask you what you’re up to tell them that you’re thinking about writing a cookbook. When they ask you what about – tell them your possible idea. The purpose of this isn’t for you to hear if they like your idea or not. The purpose is to start to identify as a cookbook writer. Becoming a cookbook writer is a change of identity – from a non-writer to a writer. So just practice at this identification as a cookbook writer.
  4. Practice believing that you writing a cookbook is totally possible. If I can do it, and if my students can do it you can do it. Your success as a cookbook writer isn’t up to a publisher, it’s up to you. There are many paths to cookbook publication and I talk about the difference between cookbook writing and cookbook publishing in Episode 42, but if you really want to write a cookbook, the commitment, and the decision is up to you. No one can stop you or tell you you can’t and the person you have to face most often in this instance is yourself. Let every cookbook you see published be a beacon of possibility. 

Listen to Episode 59 below:

Things

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Episode 58 l The Value of Writing a Cookbook
Episode 58 l The Value of Writing a Cookbook
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I am here to talk to you about an article in the New York Times (October 2, 2019) Would You Write A Cookbook For Next To Nothing? This article leads with a story of a food-blogger whose first publishing contract involved a very short deadline, no advance, and a non-disclosure agreement. When I first read the article I felt like they were making the case that writing a cookbook isn’t “worth it”.  What I soon realized was that their model for measuring the “worth” of the project was all monetary: How much money did the author spend/earn. In today’s episode, I talk about the value of writing a cookbook beyond monetary measurement: the value to self, your business, and others. I hope you enjoy this discussion. And take time to read the article and the comments on the article. The link is below.

Listen to Episode 58 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here. 

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

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Episode 57 l Search Your Collection: Cookbooks From Restaurants, Markets, & Cafes
Episode 57 l Search Your Collection: Cookbooks From Restaurants, Markets, & Cafes
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.b  Today I’m excited to talk to you about cookbooks from “a place”. This episode is inspired by a recent cookbook purchase about a restaurant The Noma Guide to Fermentation.  In Episode 50 I interviewed the co-founder of Cookbook Village Wendy Guerrin, and in that episode, Wendy talked about her love of vintage restaurant cookbooks.  This really got me thinking: many of my favorite books in my collection are cookbooks about “a place”. This came to light a few weeks ago when The Best Male Cook and I were moving my cookbook collection, stack by stack, off of the shelves, because we were painting my office. As we moved the books, I kept talking about the books: favorite books, where we bought some of the books, gifts I’d been given, etc. Thus, the inspiration for this show: talk about favorite cookbooks from “a place”. I have been trying to figure out why I love these types of books and the best way for me to describe it is because a book from “a place” like a cafe, market, restaurant, or meditation center, is like a book of business secrets. When a business publishes a book of recipes from their business, they are adding an asset to their business. And this book contains the formula for the very thing that makes their business tick: the food. But here’s the funny thing: publishing a book of their recipes ADDS to the business, it doesn’t subtract. It gives them a place to reveal what they do, yet people still walk through the door to buy their soups, salads, cakes, schnitzel, and bread. That’s because a restaurant or cafe isn’t just about the recipes, it’s about the experience and about us being willing to trade our money for the value a good cafe, market, or restaurant offers: delicious, prepared food served well in an environment that we love. And, a restaurant or market cookbook extends the story of the place far beyond the boundaries of a town or city. It extends it across the world I haven’t ever eaten at Noma. But I have read their cookbook. And that’s what cookbooks do, they transport us to a place we’ve been, or back to a place we haven’t been, to enjoy the food and stories of the place, and to experience in print, what their cooks, bakers, and chefs offer in real life. So enjoy this episode as I take a journey through cookbooks in my collection from “a place”.

Listen to Episode 57 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

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Episode 56 l 5 Secrets to Consistent Content Creation
Episode 56 l 5 Secrets to Consistent Content Creation
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Do you struggle with regular content creation? Do you start strong with a good idea for a book, blog, or newsletter, but then fizzle out and lack consistency in the producing of the blog posts, newsletters, or cookbooks?

Marketing yourself and your business require a strategy to build a relationship with your audience. Be it your future customers, current clients, possible publishers, or your ideal reader, they need to get to know you better to have a relationship with you and perhaps buy from you or publish your book. One of my superpowers over the years has been the ability to create consistent content in my business. Consistent content is queen. Customers like consistency. It’s trustworthy. Publishers like consistency. It’s dependable. Your readers like consistency. They want to hear from you. They like what you write about. In order to help you move from struggling and overwhelmed, I want to share my five secrets to consistent content creation.

  1. Decide if you want to create consistent content. You can do this if you want to. If your answer is yes, then let’s do it! If your answer is no, that’s ok. Quit beating yourself up and move on to another way to spend your time.
  2. Pick one day and a specific time: I write newsletter and blog post content once a week on Mondays. I spend no more than two hours to do this. I get it done and don’t have to worry about the newsletter or blog post until the next Monday. On Mondays, my sweet spot is between the hours of  8 – 10 am. I set myself up for success. I don’t schedule phone calls during this time. I don’t run errands during this time. I don’t go get coffee with a friend during this time. This time is for my content. Each and every Monday morning. For you, it might be midnight – 2 am. The time doesn’t matter. Just pick a time where you are awake, alert, focused. And I hear what you’re thinking: but I’ve got little kids, I have a job, I have so much to do, I’m so busy. If that’s the case, go back to #1 and decide. An added bonus secret is to record or write your content in batches. This means you create content for a few weeks at a time. Then you’re ahead of the game and each week it’s not a rush to create content for the next week. 
  3. Get yourself in a good feeling place before you write. I like to show up on Mondays (and every day, quite frankly) refreshed and ready. For me, this means I have completed my morning routine and I’m cleaned up for the day. I can’t produce when I’m sitting around feeling and smelling like I just crawled out of bed. I work better when I’m clean, dressed, smell good, and my household tasks that I do on Monday mornings are underway.
  4. Show up at your computer or laptop. Sit down
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Episode 55 l 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Wrote My Cookbooks
Episode 55 l 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Wrote My Cookbooks
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Writing a cookbook demands a lot of time and energy. You work hard, you write your manuscript, and then after months of editing, design, and production your book lands in your hand. There’s not much else like it in the world, with the exception of delivering a baby. Some people even refer to writing a book as a gestation time and then say they’ve given “birth” to a book.

So what do I wish someone had told me before I wrote my cookbook:

  1. There will be mistakes in the cookbook. Somewhere, somehow there will be an error. You’ll find a recipe where you called for 1 tablespoons instead of 1 tablespoon. Careful editing and even hiring a competent editor will help reduce the number of errors, but just know there will be some errors. Don’t worry though – most publishers let you submit corrections before the next printing.
  2. Not everyone will like your cookbook. Please, don’t let this stop you in your tracks or worry you. It’s just the reality of writing a book and putting your work out there. Your book was written with a specific audience in mind and that means that the people outside of your audience might not like or buy your cookbook. Don’t focus on them. Focus instead on who loves your cookbook. They are the only group worth worrying about. Please them and reach out to them.
  3. Marketing and promoting your cookbook is like another job. Writing the manuscript was the first job. Selling the book and working hard to promote it is another. I know that I have worked as hard and as long to promote my cookbook as I did to write it. Connecting with customers is fun and I’ve traveled while doing so, but the work of promotion is just as time-consuming as the work of writing.

Listen to Episode 55 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review …

Episode 54 l Recipe Copyright Protection
Episode 54 l Recipe Copyright Protection
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Hello and today on the podcast I talk about recipe copyright laws. First, congratulations to Lisa Goldstein of @cookinglikeImeanit. She was the winner of our Celebrate The Cookbook Love Podcast Contest for our first anniversary. Lisa is a supporter of the show, was a guest on Episode 9 (I incorrectly said Episode 2 in the show recording!), and I’m thrilled she won the content. Thank you, Lisa. 

Last year I attended an excellent workshop sponsored by IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) and taught by Joy Butler. Joy has a blog called Guide Through The Legal Jungle and in the workshop, she talked about the principles of copyright protection for recipes. What I find interesting is that recipe copyright protection involves all of us who write, use, and interact with recipes and cookbooks: recipe writers, cookbook authors, and cookbook users or cookbook clubs. Listen in to the show as we discuss how the law affects these three different groups, and how we can protect our recipes as cookbook writers, recipe writers, and restaurant or bakery owners. 

Listen to Episode 54 below:

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Here’s How To Subscribe

I’d love for you to get notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

How to Leave a Review:

And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus,  iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here. 

Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…

Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?

Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?

Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?

Comment below and share your story or visit me on Instagram which is currently my favorite way to connect outside of the Cookbook Love Podcast Facebook Group…