How to Create a Free Personal Cookbook

Create a free personal cookbook by gathering special recipes.

Creating a personal cookbook for free gives you an opportunity to pick and choose what recipes to feature. This is a way to gather all the recipes in the kitchen in one organized location. You can also use it for a special family gift or an item in a class-reunion fundraiser. You can gather recipes from family and class members and also include their personal stories or photos. Making a free cookbook is easy with a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Recipes
• Computer
• Template program such as Microsoft Word
• Photos or graphics
• Printer
• Three-hole punch
• Three-ring binder
• Page dividers
• Folder

Instructions

1. Choose recipes to use and determine the sections to feature. Organize the recipes according to sections such as beverages, desserts, side dishes and main dishes.

2. Click on the template program to open it. Save the document under the cookbook name and save often to reduce the risk of losing the information. Choose a font style that is easy to read. Use a creative text for the section identification pages and put it in 36- or 42-point depending on what fits on the page. Times New Roman in 12-point is the most popular font for recipe text.

3. Type in the recipe information starting with the title and then add all important elements of the recipe. It needs to have serving sizes, ingredients, cooking times and preparation directions. Once the recipe is typed, highlight the title and using the tool bar center it and then make it 18- to 20-point to help it stand out from the recipe. Read through the recipe after typing and add page numbers. Repeat this for each recipe.

4. Add photos to the cookbook by going to the tool bar and inserting photos or cut and paste the photos into place. You can use photos your friends and family have submitted, or you can take photos of a finished dish. Place them on the facing page of the cookbook or on the actual page with the recipe.

5. Print out the cookbook pages and proofread the content compared to the hard copy. Check for any typing, grammatical and spelling errors. Make any changes on the computer template and save. Reprint the corrected recipes.

6. Make sure the cookbook is organized correctly and then type the table of contents. Proofread it and print it out.

7. Take the hole punch and place a few sheets of prepared recipe pages in it and close it. Continue this until all pages are punched. Add the pages to the binder according to sections and place the section tab in place in the divider slots.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a section with special stories and photos if it is a cookbook for a reunion. These items can also be put with recipes if they relate in a special way to any recipe donated.

• Make a cover using special photos or recipe photos. Graphics will work well too. Give the cookbook a name and type it on the cover in a creative font that is 50- or 60-point.

• Place a folder at the end of the cookbook to save special handwritten recipes and recipe clippings.

References

• Sparkspeople: Recipe Binder
• Family Reunion Success: How to Make a Cookbook
• Home Made Simple: Create Your Own Cookbook