Recipe for Extra Cash: Publishing Your Own Cookbook

(ARA) - Euny Stoen has always enjoyed cooking. After deciding to create a cookbook for her family and friends, she gathered her favorite tried and true recipes. What started as a small project turned into a three cookbook series that she has not only given as gifts, but successfully sold in her community.

"I wanted to give my recipes to my children and family, so I decided to publish," said Stoen. She worked with a company called G&R Publishing. Located in Waverly, Iowa, G&R has more than 34 years of experience working with individuals and groups to create custom cookbooks. "G&R was very helpful in the process and the books looked wonderful," says Stoen.

Stoen typed up her recipes, picked out a cover and ordered 100 books. She started giving them as gifts, but through word of mouth, people started contacting her to purchase the book.

After her success with the first, Stoen went on to publish two others. She customized the other two books with family photos and original artwork. With each book she published, she included more unique sections, such as cooking for children and Norwegian recipes.

Sharing recipes is a time-honored tradition. Whether it's grandma's chicken pot pie, or your best friend's famous chocolate chip brownies, favorite recipes can tantalize our taste buds while bringing back some of our favorite memories. Sharing these recipes by creating your own personal cookbook is easier than you think.

Creating a cookbook can be a personal gift or fundraising idea that can involve one or many individuals. After considering what type of cookbook you would like to do, requesting more information is the next step by calling (800) 383-1679 or visiting G&R's Web site at www.GandRPublishing.com. Then you simply gather recipes. Once collected, G&R takes over to create the finished cookbooks. From start to finish, cookbooks can be in your hands in less than 10 weeks.

A cookbook can be created in two ways. The first is filling out recipe forms by hand and sending them to G&R. From there you work with the company to design your cookbook. If you want a little more control, and a discount, you can work on your cookbook online by entering your recipes and browsing the many customizable options available.

By providing options for covers, dividers and binding, G&R has made creating a cookbook easy. If you want a custom cover design, as Stoen did, you have the option of submitting your own photos and designs to make a truly individualized book.

Not only is it a unique idea for individuals, but custom cookbooks are a good idea for fundraising. Churches, schools, community groups and businesses regularly create cookbooks for highly successful fundraising projects. Cookbooks are a great way to involve many members of a group, and provide a longer selling period than other fundraising options. The cost through G&R is about $4 per book depending on the quantity of recipes and books ordered, so they can provide a good profit margin for raising funds.

Whether you want to create your own cookbook for your family and friends, or get your local charity or community group involved, cookbooks make a great keepsake with recipes that can be shared and enjoyed by many. For more information about G&R Publishing, call (800) 383-1679, or visit www.GandRPublishing.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content