Compiling a Cook Book

[2LaneCruzer]

Sharn Jean and I are contemplating putting together a cookbook for the Elks Lodge. We cook for the Lodge, probably average once a month, for about 40 or 50 people, and we get lots of compliments. We would like the theme to be "tried and true family recipes", and maybe even set up a table specifying portions for say a family (4 or 5), a big family (12 or 15) and a large crowd (40 or 50). Anyone here had any experience creating and selling a cookbook? We really aren't looking to get rich over the deal, but it would be nice to make a few bucks for the Ladies Klub.

I already have a lot of recipes, from smoked ribs to stuffed peppers that are pretty much ready to go. Would anticipate a lot of input from the other members too.

Any insight and suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Dennis

 

[om21braz]

Here is a source we have worked with in the past - good results:
The Nation's #1 Cookbook Publisher - Morris Press Cookbooks

Count me in for one when you are taking orders!

 

[RobertN]

Interesting you mention that... I'm looking thru "Let's Cook; Cooking with the Carpenter's Ladies Auxiliary". It's the 1962 cookbook by the Carpenters Ladies Aux #338 Roseville, Ca. My Grandmother had six recipes in there.

I have a number of cookbooks like you describe; some I bought, some my wife, and a bunch my late Mom and Grandmother had collected. Grange, Elks, Moose, various volunteer firehouses, etc.

Cookbooks like this are really fun, but my concern would be could you sell them. There are so many organizations that do this; make sure you can sell them. You don't want to be stuck with a stack of them, and the bill from the printer.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Here is a source we have worked with in the past - good results:
The Nation's #1 Cookbook Publisher - Morris Press Cookbooks

Count me in for one when you are taking orders!

Thank you! I will! And thanks for the publisher's info!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Interesting you mention that... I'm looking thru "Let's Cook; Cooking with the Carpenter's Ladies Auxiliary". It's the 1962 cookbook by the Carpenters Ladies Aux #338 Roseville, Ca. My Grandmother had six recipes in there.

I have a number of cookbooks like you describe; some I bought, some my wife, and a bunch my late Mom and Grandmother had collected. Grange, Elks, Moose, various volunteer firehouses, etc.

Cookbooks like this are really fun, but my concern would be could you sell them. There are so many organizations that do this; make sure you can sell them. You don't want to be stuck with a stack of them, and the bill from the printer.

Good advice; but I don't think anyone is expecting a big profit. I think there are several objectives; one is a group effort; one is to produce a good product, and another is to get the Lodge's name out in the public a little bit more...and maybe the Ladie's Klub can make a few bucks. I don't think we'll commit more that a minimum, maybe $300 or so. If they go like hotcakes, we can order more; if they don't sell, we can give them away as door prizes or some such. I'm a sucker for these cookbooks, I have bought several in the past, and they have a lot of good recipes. Somewhere we have a cookbook compiled by a group of firemen! My brother was a fireman in Albuquerque, and did most of the cooking. I have several of his recipes, and they are top notch...including his recipe for Green Chile Stew (I think it's posted some where on one of these threads).

 

[prichard]

This used to be a very common fundraiser. Maybe it still is. I've seen lots of church and civic organizations selling cookbooks in the past. My mother had a part in a few for her church years ago. I'm guessing there are publishers that cater to this.

 

[RobertN]

If your Elks Lodge has a Scout Troop or Cub Scout Pack, they may be able to help sell. I know Elks are a big supporter of Scouting;the Troop my son was in is still sponsored by the Placerville Lodge #1712. The Troop does an epic pulled pork sandwich feed fundraiser every October at the Lodge. Last one my son was involved in, the Troop leaders helped the kids smoke 150lb of pork butt.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

If your Elks Lodge has a Scout Troop or Cub Scout Pack, they may be able to help sell. I know Elks are a big supporter of Scouting;the Troop my son was in is still sponsored by the Placerville Lodge #1712. The Troop does an epic pulled pork sandwich feed fundraiser every October at the Lodge. Last one my son was involved in, the Troop leaders helped the kids smoke 150lb of pork butt.

Wow! What a great idea! I'm unaware that they sponsor a pack, but it's never too late! Thanks!

 

[RobertN]

Our local Placerville Lodge charters a Troop and a Pack. Your's may be different. Worth checking in to though.

My son is 6 years out of Scouts, but the Placerville Elks Lodge charters that same troop still. They also allow the Troop to use the lodge for Troop meetings. The Scouts help out waiting tables etc at Elk events; they earn tips that go towards their summer camp.

Wow! What a great idea! I'm unaware that they sponsor a pack, but it's never too late! Thanks!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Thanks for the input guys. It also occurred to me that we might be able to sell a bit of advertising that we could insert at strategic places in the book. I'm going to pass these ideas on.

Dennis

 

[bunyip]

I did some a while ago for some friends who suddenly found themselves single again and were living from freezer to microwave.
Used photobooks about 30 pages which gave an illustration one side and directions on the other.
There was a cookbook template available on the site, cost was about $20 but only did a few.
Called it 'The Born Again Bachelor' and it went down well.
Just a thought as an intro so you can gauge what sort of reception it will receive.
I cannot recall the photo book company but there certainly are no shortage of them.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Yeah, I think the title will be important, although we haven't decided on that yet...but it will be something to emphasize the Lady Elks and the down home tried and true origin of the recipes.

 

[tallyho8]

My wife collected cookbooks until we remodeled our home and did not have a good space for all the books so we tried to sell them.
After listing them on eBay, Craigslist and in the local newspaper for several months at prices as low as 50 cents a book, we gave up. We then tried to give them away. I brought a couple bushels of them to civic club meetings where people took about half of them and even after offering them for free on Craigslist for a month, we threw the rest away.
It seems that cookbooks are out of style now that everyone is looking up things on the internet but they can still be sold if you have salespeople who are willing to work for free and go door to door, such as Scouts. Not that the buyers want the book so much but that they are trying to help out the Scouts.

 

[downsizingnow48]

When this thread came up I stopped by the Barnes and Noble to look at cookbooks. I would guess there is 70 ft of wall space with shelves from floor level to about 7 ft, filled with cookbooks. Someone is buying them. There are so many different cookbooks it was confusing, I could not really take it all in.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My wife collected cookbooks until we remodeled our home and did not have a good space for all the books so we tried to sell them.
After listing them on eBay, Craigslist and in the local newspaper for several months at prices as low as 50 cents a book, we gave up. We then tried to give them away. I brought a couple bushels of them to civic club meetings where people took about half of them and even after offering them for free on Craigslist for a month, we threw the rest away.
It seems that cookbooks are out of style now that everyone is looking up things on the internet but they can still be sold if you have salespeople who are willing to work for free and go door to door, such as Scouts. Not that the buyers want the book so much but that they are trying to help out the Scouts.

I have to agree; we are going to try to counter this by personalizing it, i.e. family tried and true recipes from local folks, and maybe a section on BBQ/Smoking, with some personal commentary, techniques and recipes. We'll see; maybe get some local sponsorship. It's going to be a big job, so it's not at all a certainty at this point.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When this thread came up I stopped by the Barnes and Noble to look at cookbooks. I would guess there is 70 ft of wall space with shelves from floor level to about 7 ft, filled with cookbooks. Someone is buying them. There are so many different cookbooks it was confusing, I could not really take it all in.

Didnt know Barnes and Noble were still around.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Five of them in 10 mi radius from the Sacramento house.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Five of them in 10 mi radius from the Sacramento house.

Guess we still got one around, had to google it. must have been borders books that closed.

 

[bunyip]

I have a few 'foreign' cook books and took a while with google to find out what some common ingredients were that change names from country to country.
Aubergine (Eggplant) Courgette (Zucchini) Cilantro (Coriander) and even cuts of meat just to name a few, snags (Aus) snorkers (UK).
There is probably a published dictionary somewhere but google works for us.

 

[om21braz]

How is the cookbook coming 2Lane?