How to Make a Recipe Book as a Gift
Taking the time to create a personalized recipe book for a special book is worth the time it takes. Family members can each contribute a few recipes along with a little story about when and where the recipe originated. Then you can gather all these together, add a few photos and have it bound into book form. By letting children add their drawings and handwritten text, your recipe book will become a treasured keepsake. Personalized recipe books also make perfect gifts for new brides. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Start by asking relatives to contribute a few of their favorite recipes to a family cookbook you are planning as a gift for someone in the family. Even small children can be encouraged to include recipes, either one typed up for them by a parent, or, for example, their handwritten directions for making macaroni and cheese from a box. Suggest if possible, that a variety of dishes are included in their contributions, such as a main dish, a dessert, and a side dish. Ask those who are capable of doing so to type up their recipes and email them to you as attachments.
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Explain that you're going to include a little information with each recipe. Ask family members to include information about where the recipe originated, who gave them the recipe (or where it came from), on what kind of occasions the recipe is made, and any other interesting details about the recipe.
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Scan photos of family members to include on the recipe pages. If you have any photos taken at meals or picnics at family gatherings, include those as well.
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Make a title page that includes the date and the names of all the contributors. Create a cover for your recipe book using drawings (perhaps done by children in the family) or clip art designs. Also make divider pages for each type of recipe that will be included in your book.
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Take the pages, in order, to a local copy shop. Have them put together with a spiral binding. It is also possible to have the pages actually bound in a hardcover format, although this would be a more expensive choice. After the book is bound, you might like to ask each contributor to add a personal signature.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan to spend some one-on-one time with family members who might be reluctant to send you their recipes or usually run late.
