Creating TCS Cookbook

rapunzel47 · Sep 22, 2003

Originally posted by George'smom
I'm sure glad that you all have computer experience! I wouldn't know where to begin.

I still think it would be nice to have these books printed in hard copy format some day. . . . even if it seems impossible based on the fact that we are all connected by phone & cable lines and have virtual friendships.

And the fact that it costs money to publish. . . . and distribution would be a challenge when we are scattered all over the world. . .

I just wonder how many people will access the thread in TCS to get recipes. . . . instead of purchasing a computer file that contains the recipes.

Good points, but let me just "think into the computer" a moment...

How much are we figuring to charge for this computer file? Probably not the earth, right? For my money, it's probably well worth having it collected in one place; in an organized manner; in a format that I CAN print if I want to; that does not require me to come to the site and find my way around (should I happen to be one of those strange people who is not familiar with it and doesn't want to be

).

Yes, it would be really neat to publish in hard copy, but I, too, wonder about the logistics of doing that, because among other things somebody would have to front the cost and handle other marketing issues, such as just how many of the thing do you print?? My little family affair was enough of a pain in the patoot -- you won't get me volunteering for that job, and I don't blame anyone else for laying back in the weeds.

One woman's opinion...

george'smom · Sep 22, 2003

Originally posted by rapunzel47
Good points, but let me just "think into the computer" a moment...

How much are we figuring to charge for this computer file? Probably not the earth, right? For my money, it's probably well worth having it collected in one place; in an organized manner; in a format that I CAN print if I want to; that does not require me to come to the site and find my way around (should I happen to be one of those strange people who is not familiar with it and doesn't want to be

).

Yes, it would be really neat to publish in hard copy, but I, too, wonder about the logistics of doing that, because among other things somebody would have to front the cost and handle other marketing issues, such as just how many of the thing do you print?? My little family affair was enough of a pain in the patoot -- you won't get me volunteering for that job, and I don't blame anyone else for laying back in the weeds.

One woman's opinion...

Yes. . . . . I suppose you are a wise woman for having experienced first hand the repercussions of getting involved with a printed cookbook for your family. I guess it's just hard for me to visualize the electronic version of the cookbook being marketed. . . . . and I'm still in shock over how fast this whole project took off!! I can't catch up with the development.

Thanks for taking the time to explain things from your perspective.
I do have one question though. . . . if a member pays for a cookbook. . . won't that enable he/she to print as many copies as he/she wishes (if they want to give them as gifts)?

Like I said. . . . I'm computer illiterate

rapunzel47 · Sep 22, 2003

Originally posted by George'smom
Yes. . . . . I suppose you are a wise woman for having experienced first hand the repercussions of getting involved with a printed cookbook for your family. I guess it's just hard for me to visualize the electronic version of the cookbook being marketed. . . . . and I'm still in shock over how fast this whole project took off!! I can't catch up with the development.

I'm sorry if I came on strong there, I didn't mean to put anyone down. I think we're all a little flabbergasted at how this thing has taken off. The ground shifts every time a new suggestion comes up.

Thanks for taking the time to explain things from your perspective. I do have one question though. . . . if a member pays for a cookbook. . . won't that enable he/she to print as many copies as he/she wishes (if they want to give them as gifts)?

You're quite right. There is absolutely no physical impediment to a person printing a hundred copies if they really want to. All we can do is put a copyright notice in our publication. Then it's not LEGAL for a person to print more copies than we authorize, but it's still possible and a matter of honour and honesty. For what it's worth, a pdf file will almost certainly be viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader, that being the most readily available pdf reader. Printing from this software is excruciatingly slow, so that will probably prevent most copyright infringement

Like I said. . . . I'm computer illiterate

Hey, don't apologize

You may be inexperienced, though I'd say "illiterate" is a little harsh, but you gotta start somewhere. No question is stupid.

george'smom · Sep 24, 2003

Fran-

Thanks for taking the time to explain things further.
There's no need to apologize. . . . I don't think you came across as being strong. . . . I was thinking outloud. . . . trying to make sense of all this and sort through the issues.

I am confident that our members are honest folks. . . . and wouldn't take advantage of purchasing cookbooks (buying one and printing multiple copies).

momofmany · Sep 24, 2003

Originally posted by rapunzel47
You're quite right. There is absolutely no physical impediment to a person printing a hundred copies if they really want to. All we can do is put a copyright notice in our publication. Then it's not LEGAL for a person to print more copies than we authorize, but it's still possible and a matter of honour and honesty. For what it's worth, a pdf file will almost certainly be viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader, that being the most readily available pdf reader. Printing from this software is excruciatingly slow, so that will probably prevent most copyright infringement

Copyrighting is quite simple - I was going to double check with some of the folks that I work with that have been copyrighted to see exactly how you do it.

I have another idea to toss into the pot.....I would like to offer limited use to the no-kill rescue group that I volunteer for. Perhaps in the form of if they are willing to print it on their nickel, they can sell them for proceeds to their group. Of course this would change the intro to be for the Israel shelter, but with approval, used by other rescue groups.

This might confuse the entire project, so, any thoughts on this?

btw....haven't made much progress in the last few days....dealing with the latest feral crisis at my house.

rapunzel47 · Oct 1, 2003

I have another idea to toss into the pot.....I would like to offer limited use to the no-kill rescue group that I volunteer for. Perhaps in the form of if they are willing to print it on their nickel, they can sell them for proceeds to their group. Of course this would change the intro to be for the Israel shelter, but with approval, used by other rescue groups. This might confuse the entire project, so, any thoughts on this?

I've come back to this question every few days to think on it. I go back and forth. On the one hand, I'm happy for anyone to benefit who will use the proceeds to help kitties in need. On the other, I think we identified a pretty critical need, and I'm reluctant to take a penny from them. Anyone else got some insights for us?

btw....haven't made much progress in the last few days....dealing with the latest feral crisis at my house.

How's the feral crisis?

coco maui · Oct 2, 2003

I have been out of this cookbook discussion for a long time now and I am just going back through the thread now.
In the beginning I said that my fiance does email marketing (aka spam) and he may be able to send an email campaign to market the cookbook.
What does everyone think of that idea? Should I get him involved and see if it is possible for him to do?

rapunzel47 · Oct 2, 2003

Originally posted by Coco Maui
I have been out of this cookbook discussion for a long time now and I am just going back through the thread now.
In the beginning I said that my fiance does email marketing (aka spam) and he may be able to send an email campaign to market the cookbook.
What does everyone think of that idea? Should I get him involved and see if it is possible for him to do?

Much as we want to raise some bucks -- as many as we reasonably can! -- for the shelter, I think the last thing The Cat Site wants is to be perceived as spamming, or benefitting from spam. Not a rep we want, I think! I, for one, am not interested in having my name associated with such an activity -- "good cause" or not.

coco maui · Oct 2, 2003

It's the legal kind of spam though. Email marketing to be exact. But, I do know what you are saying, spam has a really bad reputation right now. It's too bad.

momofmany · Oct 2, 2003

OK.....time has opened up for me again. I'm heading out on vacation a week from today and will get the first edited draft into everyone's hands for proof-reading!!!! Sorry for the delay.

jenng · Oct 2, 2003

If additional help is needed with editting or anything else for that matter, I wouldn't mind volunteering to help. Just let me know.

momofmany · Oct 4, 2003

I will be sending out sections of the cookbook to all of you wonderful people that volunteered to proofread the recipes. The editing won't be entirely done, but we can get the proofreading done in the meantime.

I will list the sections and generally the estimated number of pages in each. For those that wish to volunteer, pick a section or more that you are good at in the kitchen - I don't bake often so I can't do a good job with cakes and cookies. List your choices in order and depending on the number of volunteers, will send as little to each as possible.

Proofreading will involve reading thru each recipe, judging whether it is complete or not, and making any minor adjustments to it without compromising the submitted recipe. You might have to contact the submitter for verification of your changes. Changes can be made in the Word document directly, and e-mailed back to me.

You can post your selections here, or just e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks all!

Appetizers & Salsas - 13 pages
Salads - 5 pages
Fruits/Veggies/Side Dishes - 6 pages
Sauces - 2 pages
Breads (yeast and quick) - 10 pages
Soups/stews/chili - 7 pages
Entrees - breakfast - 4 pages
Entrees - beef/pork - 8 pages
Entrees - poultry - 8 pages
Entrees - meatless - 5 pages
Entrees - pastas - 5 pages
Entrees - Seafood - 4 pages
Cakes - 16 pages
Cookies - 8 pages
Other desserts - 8 pages
Food for fun - 2 pages
Drinks - 3 pages
Canning/freezing - 3 pages
Cat recipes - 8 pages

rapunzel47 · Oct 4, 2003

I'm strongest in the savouries, where I cook as much by the seat of my pants as anything, and write the recipe down later, so I can repeat it on demand.

I do sweets, but far less, and never by the seat of my pants (well, except for Apple Pie, which I learned from my Mum, by doing it). Canning and freezing are areas I haven't gotten into. So I have less confidence in my ability to see problems with these areas.

So I guess this is the order...

1 Soups/stews/chili - 7 pages
1 Entrees - breakfast - 4 pages
1 Entrees - beef/pork - 8 pages
1 Entrees - poultry - 8 pages
1 Entrees - meatless - 5 pages
1 Entrees - pastas - 5 pages
1 Entrees - Seafood - 4 pages
2 Appetizers & Salsas - 13 pages
2 Salads - 5 pages
2 Fruits/Veggies/Side Dishes - 6 pages
2 Sauces - 2 pages
possible Cakes - 16 pages
possible Cookies - 8 pages
possible Other desserts - 8 pages
possible Food for fun - 2 pages
possible Drinks - 3 pages
unwise Breads (yeast and quick) - 10 pages
unwise Canning/freezing - 3 pages
unwise Cat recipes - 8 pages

jenng · Oct 5, 2003

I don't mind helping with the editting, especially for the dessert section. But I should say that I am far from being a professional baker, and I'm not absolutely certain I would pick up on it if something was missing from a recipe.

I can't cook at all, so I wouldn't trust me with those parts whatsoever.

george'smom · Oct 5, 2003

No need to fear. . . . I don't think anyone here is a professional baker

Common sense would be the best attribute. . . .

For instance. . . . if there was a typo of say. . . . 1 Tablespoon of salt vs. 1 teaspoon. . . . . I think most would know better. . . .

momofmany · Oct 5, 2003

Proofing is really only looking at it for obvious glitches - anyone can easily transpose something when they type it into the forum. In many cases, folks have over abbreviated in the description of the recipe ("bake 350 15 mins" can turn to "Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.") Looking for spelling out some things, making complete sentences, and obvious grammer corrections (I stink at grammer myself).

I can take the odd sections like canning/freezing & drinks - I think I submitted most of those anyway. I can do any section but desserts.

And I put a lot of my family recipes in the book that I didn't get to post out there....they were proofed when I created my family cookbook so if you come across mine, you can assume they have been tested. I'll continue to add to fill out some sections.

This is really beginning to take shape! I'm excited about the final product.

momofmany · Oct 8, 2003

Originally posted by Momofmany
Thanks all for volunteering - I will e-mail these sections to the folks that volunteered. Rapunzel - if I have over allocated to you, let me know and I will try to drum up more volunteers.

MomofMany Appetizers & Salsas - 13 pages
MomofMany Salads - 5 pages
MomofMany Fruits/Veggies/Side Dishes - 6 pages
MomofMany Sauces - 2 pages
MomofMany Breads (yeast and quick) - 10 pages
MomofMany Soups/stews/chili - 7 pages
Rapunzel Entrees - breakfast - 4 pages
Rapunzel Entrees - beef/pork - 8 pages
Rapunzel Entrees - poultry - 8 pages
Rapunzel Entrees - meatless - 5 pages
Rapunzel Entrees - pastas - 5 pages
Rapunzel Entrees - Seafood - 4 pages
George's Mom Cakes - 16 pages
Jgaruba Cookies - 8 pages
Jgaruba Other desserts - 8 pages
MomofMany Food for fun - 2 pages
MomofMany Drinks - 3 pages
MomofMany Canning/freezing - 3 pages
Hissy (complete) Cat recipes - 8 pages

For a deadline, I will suggest that you return these to me in about 2 weeks (10/22). Will this give everyone enough time?

george'smom · Oct 8, 2003

I had volunteered. . . . is "Laurie" me? (aka George'smom)

jenng · Oct 8, 2003

Originally posted by George'smom
No need to fear. . . . I don't think anyone here is a professional baker

Common sense would be the best attribute. . . .

For instance. . . . if there was a typo of say. . . . 1 Tablespoon of salt vs. 1 teaspoon. . . . . I think most would know better. . . .

HAH! You give me WAY too much credit.

momofmany · Oct 8, 2003

Originally posted by George'smom
I had volunteered. . . . is "Laurie" me? (aka George'smom)

That would be you..... Thanks Laurie!

Oh darn..,..Muddy wants to say hi again
E}DD3kj;o wse.,

Creating TCS Cookbook

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