**UPDATE 1/28 at 4:15 PM: WOW!!!! What a response! I already have "tentative" orders for well over 485 cookbooks...and that doesn't include the probably 15-20 that I will want for myself. So I'm thinkin' we're good on reaching the minimum. LOL! It's DEFINITELY a GO!!!! Continue to post on this entry if you are interested in the books and I will add you to the COOKBOOK MAILING LIST! It will take me a good while to input all of my recipes, but I will keep you posted through the process and let you know when it's time for *official* orders and payments to be sent. I am shooting for the end of October to have the books IN MY HANDS and ready to ship!!! Thanks for your support!! You are fabulous! I can't WAIT!! (And for those who asked in comments and e-mails...though this a little embarassing for me (LOL!)...I totally wouldn't mind "autographing" your copies if you want. Though, I'm not sure it's worth much. LOL! We'll chat more about that later!) P.S. If you are my mom, my mother-in-law, my sisters or my sister-in-laws....don't sign up unless you want more than just one for you! YOU are getting one from me for Christmas this year. SURPRISE! Merry Christmas! LOL! ;-)
To address another question....I will MAKE SURE that this cookbook not only features my ALL STAR and personally tested FAVES, but it will LOOK nice too. Many have mentioned that it would be fun to have it customized with my scrapbook design work on the cover and divider pages, etc. The only reason I shy away from that, is that the companies that publish these books CAN do that....for a price. And I would really rather keep the price down as low as I can for everyone. However, I will most definitely look into it. Whether it's customized or one of their nice covers they provide...it will look awesome...and the RECIPES will be FAB!!!
I can't tell you how many e-mails I have received asking that I come out with a cookbook of all of my favorite recipes. I have SOOOO many and have shared a few here and there on my blog, but am more than happy to share many more. I absolutely LOVE cookbooks and they are such great gifts for friends, moms, sisters, etc. etc. And these would be all of my ALL-STAR Recipes from family classics to favorite recipes from friends...and even my all-time faves from recipe swaps! Yummmm! They are the PERFECT Christmas gift for ANYONE...and also great to keep on hand for wedding gifts, birthdays, etc. So here's the deal...I'm just putting feelers out on the interest in an {unwrapped} cookbook....all of my favorite recipes...just in time for the holiday season this year. The reason I am posting about this NOW, is because I have a few options for how to actually "publish" the cookbook. I can do it myself (which would actually be easier, since I could copy and paste all of my recipes that I already have typed) and just have it spiral bound at Kinkos. However, for the SAME PRICE (and possibly even cheaper), I can have them made by the same professional company that made this SNAZZY one that Peg did for a group of us from Two Peas. They are awesome. It is a hard bound spiral bound book and they inside is so organized and CLASSY!! The drawback of this option, as Peg will attest, is that it is an ENORMOUS job. You canNOT copy and paste recipes. Every single one has to be hand typed into THEIR recipe input program...and then edited over and over and over. However, I personally feel like if I'm going to do it, that I would rather have a really AWESOME and sturdy copy for myself and to give as gifts. So despite the amount of work, I would personally prefer the hard bound copy. I would start on this right now and do a little bit at a time and then hopefully have the books by the end of October..just in time for the holidays. Payments would have to be received BEFORE I send the cookbook to print. Here's the kicker. To even have this company do your cookbooks, you have to order a minimum of 200. They would be approx. $10-$12 each plus shipping and this wouldn't necessarily be the cover. There are a few I could choose from. And I would probably buy 10-15 myself...so already we're down to 185ish. LOL! So...here's what's up. Are you interested? If you are, post on this thread HOW MANY you would be interested in purchasing. I will write your name on a list with the quantity you mentioned and will add you to a mailing list. If I have enough interest, I will contact you soon to let you know it's a GO! If not, I will come up with a homemade version. However, keep in mind that the homemade version will be the same price...if not possibly a tad more expensive, since I wouldn't get the price break for bulk. Anyway...maybe there's no interest at all...and that's cool too. After all of the e-mails I received this past year, I thought I would just throw it out there. If not, you know I can fill my time with other things! LOL! ;-)
**LET ME CLARIFY, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE HAD IN COMMENTS ALREADY. I AM NOT SELLING THIS PARTICULAR COOKBOOK. THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE OF HOW IT WILL LOOK. THE ACTUAL COOKBOOK WILL BE A COLLECTION OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES!!! THEY WILL BE $10-$12 EACH + SHIPPING and WILL BE DONE AROUND THE END OF OCTOBER...JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!! THIS IS STILL TENTATIVE....DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS INTEREST FOR 200 COOKBOOKS!!
Oh yummy!!! I wasn't able to be a part of it, but that cookbook would be so awesome to have in my kitchen! Yum yum yum!
Posted by: Molly | January 14, 2008 at 09:08 PM
i would love one
Posted by: jackie gable | January 14, 2008 at 09:13 PM
I'd be interested and love the hard back issue, esp. the M.E. cover, that's so cute. Either way you go I'd like at least one for myself since I love the recipes you post. What a great idea to do this, you're still amazing me. Any idea when it would done? Thanks
Posted by: Sandra | January 14, 2008 at 09:14 PM
what a great idea. are you going to taste test all of them so no gross recipes are put in it? about how much do you think they'd cost?
Posted by: lindsay | January 14, 2008 at 09:15 PM
I would love to order your cookbook-and would order at least 3 of them! Thanks for thinking up this terrific idea... I always just print out your recipes but having them all together would be wonderful!
Posted by: Stephanie Loveridge | January 14, 2008 at 09:19 PM
I would LOVE to order one!
Posted by: Amy | January 14, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Oh you know me and how much I love your recipes!! I'd probably order around 10 or so, great christmas gifts!!!
Thanks so much for such a great idea!!
Posted by: Mere | January 14, 2008 at 09:27 PM
I am always looking for great recipe books and I would LOVE one of yours. I like the thought of it having hard back too and will be willing to pay the $ upfront.
Posted by: chery morgan | January 14, 2008 at 10:43 PM
I would definitely love to have your favorite recipes. If you do it, I would probably order 3.
Posted by: Danielle | January 14, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Like others have said...this is a GREAT idea and have just loved all the recipes you've shared on your blog. If you go through with making the book, I'd order atleast 10 of them. It's never too early to think of Christmas gifts. :) Thanks for asking!
Posted by: Leslie | January 14, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I would love, love, love all of your favorite recipes! I would prefer a harder bound copy (sorry, I know it means more work for you) and I would likely just order one or two copies.
Posted by: Lisa | January 14, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Okay Heather.....I am already trying to figure out how many I want/need! I would say at least 10 cuz the recipes that you already post I share with others and so this would be awesome to be in a fun, cute reci'pea' book. there you go again....amazing us all!
Posted by: julie c in boise | January 14, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Yummmm! I want one, for sure, if not a couple others for gifts. Put me down for 3-5.
Posted by: jen howick | January 14, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I would absolutely buy at least 1 possibly 3.
Great Idea Heather, I love your recipes.
Posted by: Marcy | January 14, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Count me in. I will have to get back to you on the amount I will order. What a great idea. Thanks for including me.
Posted by: letti | January 14, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Perfect! You are talking to a recipe book reading girl herself. I collect like mad! I print all your recipes and save them on my computer too. To have them all in a beautiful hard bound book or soft wouldn't matter to me. I just love the recipes you post. Great idea for Bridal showers, wedding and Christmas gifts. Put me down for 4. Thanks!!!
Posted by: Lynn C. | January 14, 2008 at 11:45 PM
One more thing. Could I have you autograph mine? I love, love, love, your blog and all of your amazing ideas. I will also pay up front for whatever I order.
Posted by: letti | January 14, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Yep....me too. Count me in for 5!!
Posted by: Tiffany | January 14, 2008 at 11:48 PM
I would LOVE this! I would buy 5, at least! I love cookbooks, especially the ones with "tried & true" recipes. I am a regular reader and have tried several of your recipes with great success! Count me in for at least 5!
Posted by: Laura VanHoorn | January 14, 2008 at 11:51 PM
I LOVE your recipes Heather, and would definitely buy one (maybe 2). Oooh... you've got to include your recipe for the Fluffy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies. I make them all of the time and everyone asks for the recipe. They are yummy!
Posted by: Allison | January 14, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I love the idea. I would probably order around 5.
Posted by: Bonnieb | January 15, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I would love two.
Posted by: Lauraall | January 15, 2008 at 12:10 AM
I'm so excited about this! Put me down for 3 for sure but I'm sure I'll order more. You are a brave girl to do a cookbook!
Posted by: Linda U | January 15, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Heather,
I just found your blog and really enjoy it. Your recipes look wonderful. I'm the kind of cook it takes longer to make it then it does to eat it, I don't want to do it! Count me in for 1-2 copies.
Thanks,
Jodie
Posted by: Jodie | January 15, 2008 at 02:37 AM
I would definately want one, I can't wait !!!
Posted by: Natalie vdP | January 15, 2008 at 05:53 AM