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.
Everything about you makes me happy, Nagi…..your food, your sense of humor and your dog🧡💕🧡💕🧡💕🧡💕🧡💕🧡💕🧡💕🧡
Love your recipes (they work!) and hanging out for this cookbook. So good to see Dozer getting his fair share too.
Oh Nagi!!!
I think you are going to have to do a SECOND book – the ‘failures’! They look just fabulous!
As well as ‘full blown’ recipes, don’t forget your ‘hints’ – for example, how to cook ‘Crispy Skin Salmon’. This (and other ‘hints’) have changed my life!
Can’t wait for the book!
xx
Hey Nagi I can’t wait till your cook book comes out. I never quite knew how to make my own marinades or how to use spices correctly but I have learnt so much from you. I am so glad that my daughters put me on to your web site.
I made your chocolate fudge cake the other day for a young friends 21st cake ( no party cos of lock down) but it went down a treat.
Is there nothing that you can’t do ….. sweet and savoury…. you have mastered it all.
Ps love your beautiful dog Dozer.
Dear Nagi, what glorious chaos in your kitchen, you must be on cloud nine! Agree with others you and Dozer must be on the cover, the spiral is a great suggestion. Stay as sweet as you are and the book will be a killer! For gods sake don’t go all stiff and starchy on us through stage fright🤪. Xxx
Way to go!
To me, everything was great.
Love your recipes! I enjoy seeing what Dozer is up to all of the time. Looking forward to your cookbook!
Nagi, I have dozens of your recipe printouts, we eat “Nagi Food” almost all the time!
Looking forward to the Cookbook, how exciting!
Shouldn’t that be “me and dozer on a plate” 😀
Breathe. Breathe. Just breathe. This is soooo exciting!!! Having cooked your recipes since 2015 (and sharing many many recipes with my friends who have all become avid fans), I am looking forward to welcoming this cookbook into my home. Maybe I can get it personally autographed by you on a Dumpling Adventure to Eastwood that we planned but never quite got around to taking? 🙂
I was so happy when I came across your website just before I retired. It has given me a new lease of life. We were basically meat and 3 veg – boring! I was really sick of cooking and did anything to avoid it. Now I plan ahead, check the pantry and give it a go!! Your recipes are quick, easy and so tasty. I love the videos you also make and the notes that always go with the recipes. I’ve told so many friends about your site. It’s about the only one I use these days. I can’t wait for your book to come out – it’s in the ‘must have’ category. Have fun putting it all together.
You need to put Dozer in your new cookbook. He makes me smile.
Dozer MUST be on the cover, Maybe in an apron and chef hat?
So excited. My sister and I get together every Thursday to go for a walk and then cook. Our walks have gotten shorter since we are to busy cooking. Your sight is the first one we go to and absolutely love it.
When will hard copy be available and how do I order.
Oh my gosh! So excited to be able to get a cookbook of all your best recipes in one place!!! I hope you’re putting in the Chicken Fricassee!! Made it the other night! FABULOUS!!! Made it for friends in need and they all raved about it as well. So excited! Something to look forward to in 2022! Have fun on the journey!
Can’t wait for the cookbook to come out. I much prefer looking at a book than a screen and yes to the spiral binding! It’s so nice to see the pics of how it’s going we get to see the messy stuff not just the perfect end. Good luck!
So looking forward to your cookbook,a huge success I’m sure
Love your recipes, best of luck…not that you will need it!
Hey Nagi! So excited about the cookbook!! My one request is for it to be bound with coils – so much easier to keep the page open while cooking.
Oh no please don’t have coils. That would look out of place in a cookbook collection. This needs to be a proper sexy hardback cover surely 🙂