3 1/2 weeks into making the first RecipeTin cookbook – take a peek behind the scenes!
Like a GIANT jigsaw puzzle…..!!! 🤯
My publisher put it best when they said that we’re at that stage right now when it feels like we’ve tipped out the contents of a (giant) jigsaw puzzle! That’s exactly how I feel – I can see a gazillion pieces that I know will fit together at the end, but it’s hard to decide where to start.
To be honest, after pottering around for a few days like a lost soul, trying to figure out the best way to tackle this project, I just decided to dive into what I love doing the most – cooking. 🤷🏻♀️ If it’s delicious, there will be a home for it!, is my current thinking. I know I know, the book structure and chapters are important, my publisher keeps reminding me.
But right now, I want to get into the cookbook headspace by getting excited about creating new recipes!
Is it Cookbook Worthy??
Is it Cookbook Worthy? That’s a new official term around these parts that gets thrown around a LOT these days! We even have a rating system:
Room to improve
OK
Good 👌🏻
GREAT! ✅✅ <<– Goes without saying, these are the only ones that make it in!
But then there’s also:
FAIL ❌ 👎🏻
More of those happening than I care to admit….
In case you are wondering, that’s a Chilli Garlic Prawn Pasta. A candidate for the Emergency Meals chapter. Looked so promising, but it just lacked flavour……
More “fails” – Strawberry Custard Tarts. Well, not fails. They were fine and perfectly edible. But they weren’t good enough! Custard not set enough in the large one, and the ratio of crust to custard was out in the small ones.
But so adorable!
Strawberry Tart – not good enough! 
Mini Strawberry Tarts – also not good enough!
Though according to Dozer, I haven’t had a fail yet…. My greatest kitchen cheerleader. Always gives me full marks for my efforts! (Except when it involves raw kale or cucumber).
Post-it notes and spreadsheets 🤯
The other aspect of cookbook making – organisation and brainstorming. So many post-it notes… so many giant spreadsheets! 🤯 I literally have pads of post-it notes all over the house, in my handbag, in the car, even on my bedside table. Whenever a fleeting thought of inspiration crosses my mind, I jot it down then add it to the Wall Of Ideas.
It’s gonna be BIG!
The other thing that became apparent immediately after I put out the call out asking for your input on the cookbook – it’s gonna be much bigger than originally planned! The initial thinking was 120 recipes, the vast majority of which would be new ones.
But then so many of you cried out for existing website favourites as “must include”, it made me realise that I should, I need to include these favourites as well. However, there was no way I was going to rob you of the new recipes I was planning to create.
So instead, I just increased the number of recipes in the cookbook up to a whopping 160 recipes. 😇PLUS all the extras, the life essentials like rice, stock, sides etc.
This is going to be one big cookbook!
OK, signing off for today. I have recipes to create!! Dishes to wash! Back Friday with a brand new recipe…. it’s a big one…… – Nagi x
PS Just a mock cover!!! Absolutely no thoughts yet on the real cover design. And you know full well I’m going to get your input!!
Life of Dozer
When you see his back half, you can pretty much guarantee the front half is up to no good… let’s see, shall we…?
Yep. I knew it.
Hi Nagi. I wonder if your book will be available in Europe too. I’m a big fan of your recipes. I made my own special Nagi file with lots of printed recipes, but a book would be a dream come true! Thanks for you work. Best regards from Switzerland
Are you going to publish it as an ebook?
Living in a unit with a much loved collection of older cookbooks I literally have no room for any more and have restricted myself to ebooks for some years now.
Counting down the days/ months until this becomes available! Your website was a lifesaver for me and my partner who had just moved out of home with both our parents always doing the cooking. I never thought i would be considered a good cook as I never cooked when I was younger.. but you have really inspired to love cooking and be proud of the meals I create. Mostly because your meals are fool proof and just taste amazing. I can’t thank you enough for the website and blogs and I am sure your book will be a best seller in no time! Good luck!
Would love to see included your recipes for all kinds of sauces, marinates and dressings.
So looking forward to your book Nagi and hope it includes beautiful photos of Dozer as well as your delicious food.
Nagi I have been using your recipes for the last 3years My first experience was your Chicken Tikka Masala All my Grandchildren just love it
Can’t wait to get your book
All the best with it
Can’t wait for the finished product
Wow I can’t wait to buy it!!!
Do you think you will have a book signing in Sydney after the release??
Can’t wait for your cookbook
My family absolutely love you recipes
The best Christmas Present for me
Ps. I like the old and new recipes. It’s very comforting to have tested and loved favorites and for me – to see them in print. Then some new recipes too. It gives a good combo of comfort and also new things to look forward to. I love all your Asian recipes. Actually I love most of your recipes. I love the layout. The notes. The piccies of the ingredients and food. And the wonderful instructions. Thanks for being the Nagi. You got me cooking again when my life was knee deep in blah. Aloha Meg xoxo
Can’t wait for the finished product Nagi, looks impressive already! Me On a Plate in bigger text I feel? Dozer looks like royalty with his big flowing cape, but we all know he is 😉 He must be loving the “fails”. From the Dozer Fan Club 🐶
All the best for your cookbook.
Well I have to say the cover really grabs me. Like your recipes. Deceptively simply but full of flavor. I really like the red cover. Very Asian. Good luck and prepares people to eat. Also very sophisticated looking. Like the French Laundry out of Yountville or Eiffel Tower out of Vegas. I have the French Laundry one and still covert the Eiffel one lol. This is one of those cookbooks that I will hold onto along with other top chefs I love to cook from
And deeply admire. It’s simple but very striking. Mock it might be. But I’m already a fan of this design. :-).
Aloha Meg. :-).
Very excited to see your new cookbook. Thanks so much for that behind the scenes look. Really fun. Enjoy the journey….looks like Dozer is. LOL
Awesome, cannot wait for your 1st cookbook release!!! 👍
Keep the good work Nagi. You are an inspiration particularly during lockdown.
I’m putting this in as a request with the family for my Xmas gift. 😊
I love the idea of your cookbook, but in this age of electronics I dont have hard copy cookbooks any more. Will yours be available as an e-copy on its own? I always feel guilty using all your recipes for free so happy to buy the e-book. You should put a donations link on your website, you give away so many recipes for free xx
i can’t wait for your cookbook! when i look for a recipe, my go to is your site. please come to california for a cookbook signing!
Great work Nagi!!! I have definitely been waiting for this one and will be buying up books for the family. I love Susie’s idea of you and dozer on the cover wearing matching aprons 🤣🤣. You are BOTH so much a part of your journey and we all love you both and the stories and pics you share with us. Thank you for being part of our families and communities . Keep up the great work and thank you.