A Huge Announcement (I Never Thought I’d Make)
UPDATE: Pre-orders are finally live!! Order your cookbook here. 🎉
You guys, I swore I would never, ever publish a cookbook. But it’s happening.
EEEK! It’s happening!
And I am so, so excited to tell you more about it.
The Quick Back Story
As you know, I’ve been food blogging for over 15 years. Many, many, many of my fellow food bloggers published cookbooks by the droves years (even decades) ago. Many are still publishing them.
Even though having my own cookbook has been a filed away bucket list item, I always said I would never write or publish a cookbook. Because a) lack of time and b) lack of time.
Over the years, I’ve declined offers from small publishers and fielded hundreds of questions from readers asking if I’ll ever do a cookbook. It never felt like the right time – especially with the sheer amount of work that goes into writing and publishing a cookbook.
Fast forward to earlier this year.
Brian’s position at work was eliminated and we found ourselves facing an unemployment situation we didn’t see coming. Around this time, we also had several other pretty overwhelming issues on our plate.
I was surprised in the midst of all this chaos to get a feeling that I should write a cookbook (this feeling came after talking to a dear blogging friend, Si from A Bountiful Kitchen). As I sat on that thought for a while, I realized that maybe for the first time in 15 years, despite the current stress I was feeling, it really WAS the right time.
Brian has always worked a traditional corporate job with long hours at the office, but with him unexpectedly being home more, we decided to capitalize on the extra help and time he had available to assist with kid/family life so I could take the plunge on the cookbook front, which would a) fulfill a dream of mine and b) have the cookbook sales hopefully help a bit with the loss of income (giving Brian some breathing room to figure out his next steps career-wise).
And here we are!! Seven months later, the cookbook is *almost* ready to go to print, and it is hard to believe it has actually become a reality.
It has been so much more work than I anticipated. Like, if I had known how much writing and editing and recipe testing and dirty dishes (!!) would be involved, I would have shoved that little random cookbook thought to the side and gone on my merry, stressy way.
But…it is going to be incredible. And so worth it! I know I’m biased, but it is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever beheld. Cover-to-cover, every detail is intentional and meticulously placed.
Do you want to see a sneak peek of the cover?? I just got the cover samples mailed to me this week! (It’s hard to see it in the photo, but the cover and spine have this amazing debossed effect – it in the photo – it gives the book such a unique look and feel 😍)
I promise to give a lot more details in the next few weeks and months about what the process has been like and information on what’s to come! If you are on Instagram, I’ll be sharing a lot of info in the stories there.
I also pre-emptively answered a few questions below that might help!
Mostly, I want you to know that it’s because of you that this cookbook is happening. If it weren’t for all of your support for so.many.years, I wouldn’t even have this opportunity. And for all of you who have patiently asked and asked and asked when I’ll write a cookbook, this book is *finally* for you!
Thank you for being here and for supporting me. It means more than you know. 💗💗💗
UPDATE: I’ve updated some of the information below as I get new details on the timeline!
Pre-sale will happen in November! Make sure you are subscribed to my email list – I’ll announce all the details there first!
Books will ship April 22!
Over 140 recipes! This book is solid!
Well…it definitely has a few pictures of cute pigs and farm life! 🤣
But it is mostly loaded with tons of tried-and-true recipes. Because the book is meant to be a timeless anthem to my most-loved and most-made recipes, it includes many existing recipes. But there are also brand, new recipes in the book that I cannot wait for you to try (it’s been so hard not telling you about them already – spoiler alert: the most amazing chicken tacos you’ll ever meet and a new brownie recipe that is wow, wow, wow!).
Yes, there is a photo with every single recipe! And many of the photos are brand new, updated, and (I don’t want to toot my own horn here) really quite lovely. Additionally, there are photos of farm life, kitchen life, and maybe even one of me hiding in the pantry eating chocolate chips. 😬
Unless the book tour consists of me wearing sweatpants and a hoodie and greeting everyone in my back pasture with the cows and pigs, likely, no. I’m too much of a homebody for a book tour (also: what if no one came??), BUT, I will have some special advanced, signed copies available. More details to come on that!
I am working out the details for this, but it is proving to be quite tricky to get reasonable rates for international shipping as a small business. If you are interested in international shipping, I’ll set up a way for you to contact me directly for a custom quote!
Thank you so much for your genuine kindness and support! 💗
So excited for you! Sorry about your husbands job. Will be buying copies for everyone I know!
MEL!!! I was really REALLY hoping this was going to be the big announcement!! YAY! I am SO EXCITED! Congrats and THANK YOU! What a treasure this will be!
Yay such a great announcement and the one we were all hoping for! Even though it won’t be ready for Christmas the preorder will be on my Christmas list!
Wow!! So exciting! Can’t wait to order!
So very happy for your accomplishment! Looking forward to the presale. Also, I trust the Lord has opened up a door for Brian’s next job! That’s great how it was a twosome effort.
Okay, congratulations a million times! What work, what amazingness! We cannot wait!
I will buy the book just to support the woman who has blessed my family so much. The book is a welcome bonus!
WooHoo!!! I’m so excited for this recipe book and so very happy for you Mel!! What a blessing that you could fulfill your dream! I’ve been with you for a long time and so many of your tried and true recipes have become ours! Congrats!!
Congratulations! I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait for your cookbook. Thank you for always sharing your delicious recipes!
Congratulations! It sound like a blessing for you (and for all of us!)
Yay! I’m so excited about this. I’ve been with you since the beginning and can’t wait to buy it.
Yay!!! So excited for you! As a long time follower, I can’t wait to get a copy.
Oooooo, I can’t wait to have this book in my hot ‘lil oven-mitted hands!! Congrats on what I’m sure will be a best-seller!!
Congratulations!! Wonderful Monday morning news!
This is absolutely amazing news. I am happy to support anything you put out into the world – your recipes are such an integral part of our daily life, it is like you are part of our family. So excited for this print version of the amazing recipes you create!
This is a dream come true for me! Thank you! I can’t wait!
All I can say is……………….I CAN’T WAIT!
Congratulations!
I’m thrilled! You’ve contributed to my family so much over the years, I’m anxious for the opportunity to support you and DYING to have a physical book of your recipes! Happy for you, Mel.
Oh my heart not sure why this made me cry well I do I will be forever grateful for the way you cared and served and fed my sister Hollis family♥️ when they needed it most! I can’t wait to buy your cookbook and it will forever hold a special place in my heart! Congrats! I’ve never made a recipe from you that wasn’t good!! You are amazing!!!
This is the best news ever!
I can always depend on your recipes to be fantastic. Having your recipes in a cookbook will be wonderful. So very happy for you (and all of the rest of us!!!)
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaassssss!
Soooo excited for this! You have been my GO TO since I found you (fyi, it was when you were laying low with new baby Cam )
Congratulations! I will definitely be in the PreOrder crew!
PS Still make your Little Lemonies weekly at my shop/farmers market! ❤️
Mel! I’m so excited about this! I’ve been a long-time reader and use your recipes multiple times a week. My family all knows your recipes are the best! Thank you for putting all the time into this-I can’t tell you how excited I am to own your cookbook!
Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog since college (I am now 35!) and you are a huge reason that I love to cook. I can’t wait to buy your cookbook!
This is wonderful news! I can’t wait! Love that you have been able to do this during a stressful time and feel peace about it. Good luck to Brian on the job front. Get ready for a huge pre-order Your fans are all rooting for you!
This is so exciting!!! And for the record, I would absolutely come to a book signing in your pasture with pigs as long as I got to wear sweats and a hoodie too! You are the best and I can’t wait to get my hands on this book
Many congratulations!
Yay, yay, yay! You are amazing. Cannot wait to order it!
I have absolute chills! This is fantastic news for us readers, and congratulations to you! I have never pre-ordered a cookbook, but come November, I will be for Mel’s Kitchen Cafe!!!!
Congratulations on the cookbook. Tried and true, or new recipes, they will all be great. Yours is always a recipe site that the recipes are spot on, and fabulous.
Congratulations Mel!! I am so excited for you and the amazing community that you have built!! Thank you!!! Can’t wait!!
Exciting! I’ve been using your recipes since I was in college! Now a mom of two I will definitely be ordering and praying that your family continues to find grace in this time.
Congrats! It will be a solid hit, and I can tell that you are proud of the final product!
I can’t wait!! This is amazing!!
I’m SO excited for this, Mel!!! I’ve always wanted you to do a cookbook and I think one full of old and soon-to-be favorites is perfect! I literally cannot wait!
This will be a best seller. I am so excited to have all of my favorite recipes easily accessible. Thank you for this huge labor of love.
Mel!! I am so excited for you!!! Congratulations!! What a great blessing for all!!
So excited to see how you organized everything!! I will be needing multiple copies to pass on to my adult kids…they’ve grown up on these recipes!
Yay, so exciting!!
Yay, yay, yay! Congratulations, Mel! I. Cannot. Wait. I’m so excited!!!
P.S. I’m sure this comment will be buried and you won’t see it, Mel. I just wanted to say that I was so excited about the cookbook announcement, but I didn’t mean to gloss over the job loss. You are so positive and just breezed right past that and focused on the good things about your cookbook, but I can imagine how difficult it has been for you all! (With my hubby retiring from the military, it has been stressful and feels like a job loss situation, moving, preparing for a new baby, etc., so I can imagine the extra stress this has been adding for you all!) Thanks for being in this space and sharing your news and many of your and ups and downs with us over the years. We are happy to be your online friends, and can’t wait to continue to support you by purchasing your new cookbook. 🙂 *Hugs*
Hoooooray!! Congratulations!! I cannot wait.
Congratulations! I have seen you answer that question so many times. Glad to hear you get to cross this off your list. Can’t wait for the pre order announcement!
This made me so happy, I cried! My mom and sisters and I have enjoyed your recipes for almost 10 years when my older sister discovered your blog. My mom loved you so much, she would always text about the latest recipe and ask us if we had tried it. My mom passed away last year and you were one of our favorite memories we reminisced on, it was almost like you were her dear friend. She would be so giddy about this cookbook.
I am so happy for you, Mel! I can’t wait to have this in my home and think of mom every time I open it and cook your recipes. Congratulations!
Such exciting news! Congratulations! I can’t wait to hear more about it!
So excited for you! When I try a new recipe on my family, my son-in-law always asks, “Is this Mel’s?” Can’t wait to order my copy!!
Congratulations! Very excited to order this! You are my favorite!
Congrats! Definitely buying your cookbook…can’t wait for February!
Add to cart! Hooray!!
This is very exciting news and I can’t wait to support you by buying it!
I don’t generally buy cookbooks, but I would buy yours.
Leia – same with me!
I stopped buying cookbooks years ago, but this one will replace one of my cooking binders!
The only cookbooks I still buy are Ina Garten….and now MEL will be right next to her on my shelf and I CAN”T WAIT!!