<p>I’ve been thinking more about this, and I do think I’m going to (self-)publish my cookbook. It’s got about 30 recipes so far, all things that our family loves (appetizers, soups, main dishes, sides, desserts) and that have been reconfigured by me in ways that are most economical for a student budget, written in such a way that even a sleep-deprived clueless-cook college student could follow, and user-tested with my own such child. I have an uncanny inner ability to naturally cook all parts of a meal timed so that everything is ready at just about the same time, so I’ve tried to order the steps in the order I do them, leading to greater likelihood that each part of a meal is ready when the other parts are. Each recipe is on two pages (including clear lists of equipment and ingredients needed), and is slipped into clear binder inserts (and all put into a small binder), so it can be opened flat on a counter and wiped clean of any spills. I’m in the process now of adding pictures of the completed dishes, a “shopping list” checklist, and maybe even some pictorial sections on things my kid appears slow at learning to do, like slice an onion.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m wondering if y’all think there’d be a market for this sort of thing? And if it sounds good to you, would you be interested in contributing any recipes for me to try out and add in proper format, with attribution of course? It doesn’t just have to be <em>MY</em> greatest hits, after all! Just fishing… I know my kid, having to cook for himself right off the bat, would have been flailing without this, and the results have gotten him some good feedback so far. And besides, everyone needs a hobby, right? :)</p>
<p>mootmom–You’ve got a built in market here on CC :). Here’s my idea for an appendix. Get some students to “test” the recipes in the MIT kitchen (maybe you could recruit some students from other colleges to do the same as well ) and write some commentary. It could be really fun! And make sure you give the recipes “interesting names.”</p>
<p>A friend of mine self published a cookbook. It is really cute.</p>
<p>Mootmom, I think it’s a great idea. I have one recipe that I’d be happy to contribute for Taco Lasagna. I given it to dozens of people and haven’t heard of anyone who doesn’t love it. Easy to make, economical, freezes well, what more could you ask? ;)</p>
<p>Mootmom, I think it’s a great idea! I did something similar for a Christmas gift for my son this year but yours is much more ambitious, with photos, shopping checklists and pictorials! I’d be happy to contribute a couple of recipes if you decide to do it.</p>
<p>My son is actually a pretty good cook and has been since high school. In fact, one of his college app essays was about his love of cooking and how it set him apart from his fast-food friends. Since he moved out of the dorm into an off campus apartment, he calls me occasionally with questions about recipes. So I went through my cookbooks and recipe files and printed up about 20 of his favorites and, like you, I put them in a plastic binder inside clear plastic inserts. There’s room to add more as time goes by, if he wants. I think he really appreciated the gift as well as the effort and love that went into it.</p>
<p>Your idea is super! Heck, I’d even be interested in your timing secrets to getting everything to be ready at the same time. That seems to be my downfall :(</p>
<p>Your idea is great. When my son moved into his apartment, I put together a binder with all our favorite (and fairly easy) family recipes.
I put each in a page protector. My son learned a lot about baking and new recipes from cooking with his girlfriend – even surprised me. My middle son asked me if I’d compile a similar cookbook for him and I will – but right now he only makes tacos and Easy Mac in his apartment. I
think it’s especially neat that our boys are learning how to cook.</p>
<p>I think this is a neat idea, especially if it contains some healthy recipes that could help our kids avoid joining the ranks of our overweight majority. </p>
<p>When my friend’s daughter recently came home for the holidays after her first semester away at school, one of the first things she did was make her family’s tuna casserole as she is unable to make that in her dorm room. :-)</p>
<p>I’ve long made it a practice to use as many affordable fresh ingredients as possible, add little to no extra salt, and offer lighter-calorie/low-sodium alternative ingredients (which I would usually use at home) as options. Any specific “healthy foods” you’d like to see?</p>
<p>Recipes/dishes to suggest, anyone? Drop me a PM with ideas, or send me email directly. And thanks for all the positive energy so far: sounds as if I ought to keep at this! Y’all will be the first to hear once it’s ready to roll.</p>
I have an uncanny inner ability to naturally cook all parts of a meal timed so that everything is ready at just about the same time, so I’ve tried to order the steps in the order I do them, leading to greater likelihood that each part of a meal is ready when the other parts are. Each recipe is on two pages (including clear lists of equipment and ingredients needed), and is slipped into clear binder inserts (and all put into a small binder), so it can be opened flat on a counter and wiped clean of any spills. I’m in the process now of adding pictures of the completed dishes, a “shopping list” checklist, and maybe even some pictorial sections on things my kid appears slow at learning to do, like slice an onion.</p>