Saturday, May 14, 2011

How to write a cookbook


Writing our cookbook was a two year journey. We often compare it to the birth of an elephant.

After writing to historic venues across the state, we received many recipes from chefs of famous restaurant and inns. But often the recipes were for serving large crowds so they needed to be modified. (No need to have 2 cups hot chile powder in a burrito.) We taste tested every recipe 3 times to make sure they were accurate.

Historymakers and Historical League members also contributed to the book with recipes and food memories of growing up in Arizona. Their recipes were very accurate.

Zona Lorig told the background of Tastes & Treasures A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona at the recent Arizona History Convention in Yuma. Using a power point presentation was a new experience for us, but we learned a lot and shared a lot of information.