Craigslist and Cookbooks

I replied to a Craigslist writing gig post that asked for somebody to translate family recipe cards into a publishable document. Recently a reply came through. One phone call and several collaborative emails later, boom, finished product.

I got to use my rad Smart Docs software and exploit some lesser-known Word features. The 70-page cookbook has hyperlinked cross-references and a slick Navigation Panel. As much as I love Helvetica Neue (uh duh, who doesn’t), I used the superior pairing of Gill Sans MT and Adobe Garamond Pro. Somebody change my mind.

It’s downright entertaining to standardize 70 little sets of instructions. I got in there and rewrote the thing into a delicious little piece of TechComm.

In TechComm, as in baking, consistency is next to godliness. Scrolling the finished product, streamlined recipe after recipe, was immensely satisfying.

Compiling family cookbooks is a thing people do professionally but nobody seems to be doing it the way I would. I’ve got that feeling of ambitious inevitability I had when co-conceptualizing Brunch Box, so keep your eyes peeled for more on the cookbook front. In the meantime, if you need a last-minute holiday or New Year’s gift and have a boxfull of family recipes, drop me a line! 🤶🎄🎁 📖