Size Matters in Cookbook Writing
As I think of all those people collecting family recipes preparing for their family reunions, I want to remind you that our foods have changed over the decades when some of these recipes have been written. I think it is important to take many changes very obvious to your readers.I think the notes section of a cookbook are perfect for talking about those changes but make those clear to your readers so they understand how those changes have been made. I really think the fundamental reason to write a family cookbook is to pass down traditions and those recipes reflect some of those traditions.
When I talk to audiences about food changes I think part of it not very obvious..the changes of can sizes as well as boxes size. So when you say two cans of creamed corn. Those cans might have been 8 ounces and now are 6 ounces. This also means if you are making cereal bars the size of the pack has become smaller. Even a stable like flour has changed from cake or bread flour which did not exist in my Grandmother's day. My mother in law just created an Angel Food Cake from her Grandmother which had her sift flour six times. She did it exactly as the recipe outlined to respect her grandmother but did she really have to do that.
Items that might be different to think about are butter, milk, heavy cream, sour cream which may have different fat contents than they did in old recipes. Remember you can always change recipes to low salt, low fat or less sugar as long as they do not change the taste of the recipes but again in the notes section let your readers understand those changes are different from the original recipes.
Lastly, when you include portion size remember we have super sized our eating habits and those original sizes may be different today. So a recipe for cookies or muffins may need to be changed. When you taste and test the recipe it is the perfect time to figure out how many our new portion size creates. For bars a family favorite make sure you say how big the bars are- 2 by 2 or 2 by three so the readers really know how many people can be served.
When I talk to audiences about food changes I think part of it not very obvious..the changes of can sizes as well as boxes size. So when you say two cans of creamed corn. Those cans might have been 8 ounces and now are 6 ounces. This also means if you are making cereal bars the size of the pack has become smaller. Even a stable like flour has changed from cake or bread flour which did not exist in my Grandmother's day. My mother in law just created an Angel Food Cake from her Grandmother which had her sift flour six times. She did it exactly as the recipe outlined to respect her grandmother but did she really have to do that.
Items that might be different to think about are butter, milk, heavy cream, sour cream which may have different fat contents than they did in old recipes. Remember you can always change recipes to low salt, low fat or less sugar as long as they do not change the taste of the recipes but again in the notes section let your readers understand those changes are different from the original recipes.
Lastly, when you include portion size remember we have super sized our eating habits and those original sizes may be different today. So a recipe for cookies or muffins may need to be changed. When you taste and test the recipe it is the perfect time to figure out how many our new portion size creates. For bars a family favorite make sure you say how big the bars are- 2 by 2 or 2 by three so the readers really know how many people can be served.
Posted by Hella at 7/9/2010 8:59 AM 
Categories: Cookbook Writing, family recipes, family reunions, cookbook creation, Create a Family Recipe Cookbook
Tags: cooking traditions recipes cookbook writing family reunions family favorite recipes create a cookbook
Categories: Cookbook Writing, family recipes, family reunions, cookbook creation, Create a Family Recipe Cookbook
Tags: cooking traditions recipes cookbook writing family reunions family favorite recipes create a cookbook
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