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! 💗
I’ve been waiting for this! Hands down will be my most used cookbook on the shelf.
Congratulations to you!
Best news! So excited to get one! Congrats!
I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! Congrats Mel!!! This is so very exciting! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Very excited for you….amazing that two of my favorite to follow are from the great state of Idaho! Congratulations Mel!
Congrats, Mel!!
So excited! You just gave me the perfect stocking stuffer for my adult children!! Congratulations. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Yes!!!! It’s the perfect Christmas gift for literally everyone! Guess what, everyone? You’re all getting Mel’s cookbook for Christmas!
Yay!!!!!! I’m so excited for the cookbook! I use your recipes several times a week. Will definitely purchase in November!
I have been waiting for you to write a cookbook! I want to buy one for all my friends and family! They love my cooking and they know I get the recipes from you! Congratulations!!!!
YES! YES! YESSSS!! SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! CAN’T WAIT TO BUY THE BOOK!!! LOVELY,HAPPY NEWS!!
Yes! Yes! YES!! I’m so excited for this! Thank you for putting in all the time and effort, this is going to so worth it!! Your recipes are just always spot on. You’ve been my “go-to” for years and years. I’m sorry you’re in the predicament you’re in and at the same time I love what you’re doing about it ❤️ Hope all gets settled soon
Hooray! Congratulations! I can’t wait to buy my copy!
So exciting!!! Congratulations!! This is going to be a hit!
Wow! This is great news. Good work on the cookbook front!
Yay and congratulations! Still have family in the Portland area?? At least do one signing there! (Speaking for us Oregonians!)
Congratulations!
Súper excited for you!!! We are all blessed to have you and your recipes in our lives. You are so easy to relate to and your recipes are always ones we can count on.
So excited for this! Congratulations and can’t wait to get one!
It’s a shame that these comments don’t allow for gifs to get posted, bc boy do I ever have a reaction gif to post for this exact thing!!!!!! Omg it’s happening!!!!!!
Congratulations, Mel! I have been following your blog for years! I am so excited you decided to do a cookbook! I can’t wait to get a copy or two!
Best news ever! Congratulations!! Can’t wait to get my hands on one!
Hooray!! I am so happy for you, and also for all of us who have relied on your “tried-and-true” recipes over the years.
Best Wishes, Mel!!
A Happy Follower,
Nancy
So pumped for you!
how about a reverse book tour where we party on your farm with the animals and eat delicious food?
Congrats!
Early congratulations Mel
I am looking forward to November to order my cookbook from you have a wonderful week Christine
Yay!! I’ve been a faithful reader/maker of recipes for nearly 10 years now; and always wondered if you’d do a cookbook. I love cookbooks, I read them like magazines and find them inspiring and life-affirming. People ask me, what is this sugar cookie recipe, it’s the best I’ve ever had! Mel’s. What homemade pizza crust recipe do you use? Mel’s. They ask all the time, and it’s always your recipes.
So, THANK YOU and congratulations!!
Fun!! Maybe I can retire my sad binder of all your recipes I have printed out. So excited for this, and for you! Congrats!
Congratulations!!!!!
Congratulations Mel! I got married 15+ years ago and that’s when I discovered your food blog, so many recipes from you have become family favorites. So happy for you and excited for your cookbook! As a fellow kunekune owner I approve of your cute piggy photos.
This is awesome news! I will definitely be getting one! . Your blog is my go to blog for all recipes. So excited for this!
So excited for you and so excited for me!!! I also had no clue what your last name was. For a second I thought maybe someone else had written part of it and was so confused
SO SO excited! I love your recipes. And I love a cookbook with pictures of every recipe! This is definitely a book I have wanted to have happen. Yay!
Mel, it’s been so amazing to watch you grow over the years. I got to see how much work went into my friend Natalie’s cookbook (Perry’s Plate) and I know it is an EXHAUSTIVE effort — but what a treasure! Your recipes have been interwoven in our family’s lives for the past 15 years, ever since a friend came over and shared some Divine Breadsticks with us. Way back in the beginning.
Anyway, I’m just super excited for you. That’s all <3
Congrats Mel! Who is your publisher? I buy books for a library system and want to make sure I don’t miss it.
I am so excited! We have been wanting this for so long and I’m so happy ym
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!
Best of everything to you and your family. I think your recipes are some of the best on the net and it will be very nice to have the recipes all in one place.
Yay! Congratulations. That is fantastic news!
Mel,
The best of wishes on your new cookbook! Love the cover and I know the recipes will be great, as yours always are. And on the note about thinking you would NOT do a book tour, be careful saying that because you also said you didn’t think you would do a cookbook! LOL! As someone once said, “Please make my words tender and juicy because tomorrow I may have to eat them!” 😀
Hahaha — this is awesome!! And also how awesome would it be to meet our online-only friend Mel? So excited to order!
Wow. What an accomplishment. Congratulations! I look forward to I the pre-sale and can’t wait to receive it in February.
Yes, yes, yes!! Oh my gosh, this is the best news ever!!!!!!! And the best way to wake up on a Monday morning. I’ve been patiently (or not-so-patiently) waiting for this day to come for a long time! Cannot wait to get my hands on one of these incredible cookbooks….and to gift one to each of my favorite people! So excited and happy for you, Mel. No one deserves the success and happiness than you!
Congratulations!!!! This is wonderful news!!! Prayers that it sells beyond your wildest expectations!!!!
Consider this my order form. I am so excited to own this beautiful book!!
I have to add my complete and utter joy over this announcement! I am so glad the timing finally worked and you were able to do this. You are amazing and I can’t wait to buy one for me and all my family!
I am so excited for you, Mel! Congratulations! I cannot wait to get my copy!!
Finally….we will now have “Mel’s” cookbook in our hands! Me and my three daughters will be very excited. Congratulations!! You’re a legend around here 🙂
Congratulations Friend! For the years of experience you have, yes, it is time to join your peers in creating your own style cookbook! Amazing what God works on, behind the scenes, in now having this bucket item became a reality!! So so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This news makes me so happy! I have been following your website/blog since the earliest days, and your recipes are the ones I come back to time and time again. I can’t wait to have a physical book of your recipes in my hands!!
Wow, I’m so excited! This is big and so delightful. I can’t wait!
Great news! I love all your recipes!!! Can’t wait to get the book!
Best.news.ever. Yaaaay!!! So excited for you and for all of us who get to have you in our kitchens and homes via your cookbook! Congrats Mel!