OK, a few people mentioned it and I think it's a great idea! As you may or may not know, I'm working on cook book and I'm going on vacation. What do those two things have in common? Well... Since I can't post this next week, I thought it would be fun to pose a question to keep you busy! ;~P
What GLB recipes would you like to see in a book?
I'm thinking I'll make it a reader's choice type of thing. I'm not sure. Plus I'm having a hard time picking so I'd rather ask then make assumptions as to what recipes are book worthy.
So please, please, please comment away and give me your suggestions. I'd really appreciate it!
See you next week! (Although there may be a mid week surprise, you know I can't miss a weekly video!) ;~P
roni
*sigh* you caught me. I put the project on hold. I took a full time job and I'm organizing a conference.
I don't know why but I have such a hard time committing to a recipe in print. It scares me and I've trying to get over it!!
-Roni
Jenna
are you still making a cookbook?
Samantha
Roni,
I think the cook book idea is great! I recently bought the Hungry Girl Cook book and it made me think of how come you don't have one?! The two recipes I love of yours are the zucchini pizza bites and simple spaghetti squash. Also, I really like your idea with the plain or vanilla flavored yogurt mixed with cocoa and frozen cherries! I would also love to see some new recipes, perhaps with more ideas related to sugar cravings...since I have a sweet tooth and am always looking for new ways to curb it! Or perhaps ideas that are simple to make in a hurry! Another idea, I recently saw on the Today show a new peanut butter which has less than 60 cals per 2 Tbsp!! It's called PB2 powdered peanut butter...if you haven't looked into it you should!!
Shana
salsbury steak (this is my favorite.)
sweet potato fries
wonton wrapper recipes
salmon cakes
chocolate cupcakes made with pumpkin
Deanna
everything, every single recipe!!
Jen
Ok, after more experimenting with your wonderful recipes over the weekend, I have to add the Lemon-Sage Chicken Packets to my list of recommendations... YUMMM!!! I also started a garden this year, so I used fresh sage from my own back porch as well and served it with brown rice. Thanks again, Roni!
Hana
Pictures, pictures, pictures! Not only are your's so fantastic, but pictures certainly help me decide to make something that I can't tell if it just 'sounds good' from the recipe!
Also - if you can include a lot of your little tips mixed in with the recipes, that would be awesome. Like your grilling tips for veggies in the foil pan, etc.
As for specific recipes, we love the Fast Salisbury Steak & Noodles. Total comfort food, without the guilt! You could do a entire chapter on that category!
Kendra A.
Congrats on the cookbook!! That is so exciting! I can't wait to see how it comes out. Your recipes always inspire me in new ingredient combinations. Too fun. And I actually nominated you for this little blog award on my site! I hope that's okay. 🙂 I just really like what you share with us and want as many people as possible to read it!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Rhonda
A cookbook is a wonderful idea!
Carrot Cake Bread
Pumpkin Spice Loaves
Sweet Potato Fries
Spaghetti Squash (how to prepare & ideas for serving)
Jessica
I've never commented on your site before, but I just wanted to let you know that I've tried some of your recipes and I am thrilled that you are considering a cookbook. I like the Spaghetti Squash Lasagna and the Sweet and Tangy Salmon. Good luck in your endeavor (and check out my blog if you have time: http://seejessrun.wordpress.com/)
Jen
I can hardly wait to get my hands on your cookbook!! And I have to agree with the others who suggested using spiral-bound.
Personally, I think the more involved recipes would be best in the cookbook, and leave the simpler "ideas" here on testsite.prdhost.com... but really, they're all awesome! I love all your ideas, have tried most of them at least once, adapted many on my own and have found several favorites that I fix over and over... in short, you're my healthy-eating hero!!
Anyway... my picks would be the garden salmon cakes and whole-grain pancakes, for sure. Other good ones: all of your soups, pepperoni pizza salad, homemade sauce, turkey meatballs, the fiesta chicken salad made with yogurt (oh, YUM!!!)... better be a big book! 😉
Connie
I think you should do them all! Not everyone likes the same thing...and this way, we can pick our favorites ourselves!
and, yes, include your fab photos
Jen
Hi
VERY excited about the cookbook!
I use your zucchini recipes all the time:
the "fries"
spicy black beans and zucchini (I add corn)
baked rigatoni and zucchini
but also love:
the whole grain pancakes
sweet and tangy salmon
the turkey meatballs
english muffin pizza (I know simple but the measurements and spices are a big help - I love a recipe!)
there are so many that I still haven't tried but can't wait to!!!
Good Luck
Bonnie
YES, you take WAY too good of food pictures not to include pics in your cookbook! I definitely want to see your homemade sauce, meatballs, butternut chicken carrot stew, butternut squash fries and my all time favorite DELICATA steak fries (which by the way, I am actually GROWING delicata squash this year and I have some little baby ones already. I cannot WAIT until they're ready. After starting WW last August and reading your recipe, I only had time to cook them twice before I could no longer find delicata squash at the grocery. There are many many more of your recipes I'd like included, but I'm currently in L.A. on a business trip and can't think of anything else at the moment. Oh! The chocolate meringue cookie bites. And Roni.....I definitely want to pre-order your book...and what about doing a book signing on all pre-orders, or something like that. I would love to have your book, signed by you...and the Toddler's name scribbled in the book too! And then I can say...."I knew Roni and Ryan before they were real real famous...just a little bit famous!"
Virginia
I'm just starting to utilize your recipes, but I will DEFINITELY buy a cookbook!! 🙂
Christy
I agree w/ a spiral bound book. I wish more cookbooks would think of that. I hate to have my book close while I am in the middle of getting my hands dirty.
A book signing is a great idea...ah crap! You need to be on Oprah! Oh ya that is really a great idea. (unless you don't like Oprah and then it is not the best idea) :~)
kyree90
I almost forgot: The pepperoni pizza salad is yummy, too!
kyree90
I'd have to second that first suggestion: Roni's chicken surprise. I make that at least once a month. Yum!
I also like the Polenta pizza bites a whole lot.
There are so many more of your recipes that I've printed out but haven't tried yet. I need to get busy, huh?
Suzzan out of Green Bay
I love the photo ideas, both the food and progress. I often..OFTEN... look at your progress photos, esp when there are some willpower moments, and I get a feel for what my next loss will resemble. (I have take a picture the 1st day of each month since I began March 1, 2008)
Brandy
My all-time favorites:
Onion Turkey Loaf
Yelatin
Whole Wheat Pancakes
Whole Wheat Crepes
Southwest Chicken Salad Topper
and a whole section about your various pizza ideas!
I agree with Christy--include your photos of whatever you decide to put in your cookbook! I mostly choose to make something because I like the way it looks.
Sue
Pizza Bites!
I agree with pictures - I love to see how things "should" look!
Thanks for all the great recipe ideas and enjoy your vacation.
Ryley
Should have read everyones comments first! Sorry..
But I have to agree.. You MUST have pictures for EVERYTHING. I often skip over recipes because there isnt a picture. And spiral bound.. for sure!! Maybe even some step by step pictures (on things that are difficult..)
It would be really neat to have some commentary from your hubby and the toddler too!
oh and meal suggestions! What you typically eat with it for a side dish or desert! That's fun.. and makes it super easy to shop and put together a menu..
and OF COURSE.. nutritional information.. (I bet you can't get away with using points.. but at least the break down.. as close as you can get it.)
Ryley
My ABSOLUTE favorite.. as in.. make at least once a week.. is the salsibury steak.. mmm.. that sounds so good right now.. We havent had it in a few weeks. I think its time! 🙂
Suzzan out of Green Bay
Any and All recipes you place in the book will be great. One design that may be of interest is a place near each recipe where the owner of the book may write their own personal notes about your recipe. This could be a place where they (I)make notes about whether or not I tried it. If I added anything...like another type of fruit/vegi and liked it as well.
You seem to be very interactive, and so maybe the book could be interactive?
Also, I like your commentary for your recipes, such as the why you did something and usually something about ingredients them selves.
Lastly, I am not sure how it all works for you, but if there becomes a point that we may pre-purchase the book I would certainly be interested in doing that. I am sure some upfront assistance could be needed for publishing costs and such.
Michele D
I think I agree with EVERYTHING that everyone said! Pictures, interactive (room to make notes), your personal comments about why you tried something, what the circumstances were, include the toddler and DH...and their faves...The food finds, a pizza section makes sense since you LOVE pizza...maybe include websites for various products so that everyone can find them!!....of course, info on your blogs and websites so lure newbies, progress pics of you and your story...way to grab the reader!...maybe before and after on the cover along with some great dish that helped you get there and stay there....or a before and after pic of you AND a favorite dish...like PIZZA?!....hmmm...nutritional info is probably a must since the whole premise of who you are and what you eat is that it's healthy...back it up with numbers...suggestions for foods that people don't necessarily use daily, like spaghetti squash....
I can't wait to see this book...and of course, you'll need to do a BTL signing.....You're close enough to head to PA for that, right...lol....and like someone else said, if you can pre-order, count me in!!!
And maybe spiral bound...easier to handle while trying to follow a recipe...maybe take a look at how a company like Gooseberry Patch puts their books together...very neat. I am SURE your book will be a winner!!...next thing you know we'll be watching you on the Today Show...or Oprah...COOL!!!
Christy
These are items that I print out all the time…We eat at least 2-3 of these each week.
Spicy Black Beans and Zucchini (you could also add in your taco stuff and make the whole page themed)
Southwest chicken salad topper
Chocolate cookie bites
Zucchini pizza bites
Polenta pizzas
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers (my husband’s favorite)
Butternut squash fries (maybe a whole page on the different veggie fries)
Blacken Ahi Tuna w/ simple mango salsa (my husband’s 2nd favorite)
Sweet & Spicy Black Bean Dip
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Pork Chops
Tortilla-less Tortilla Soup
Provolone Pita Pizza (a page with all kinds of pizza snacks would be cool)
A page all about wonton treats…you have several types
Suggestions:
Definitely ask friends and family what their favorite recipes are. It would be great to see what the toddler and your hubby list as their fav’s. Also definitely include YOUR photos. You are great at capturing wonderful pictures of food. They look so good that most of the time people would think a professional is taking them. Keep it fun for you. This is your first cook book. I imagine you will have many in the future. Once you see how well this one does I bet you will keep creating recipes and end up making volumes of cook books to keep your fans happy.
Christie
I forgot to add -- I have to agree with the comment above from Katie. I love how you put the recipe and tell us what you had with it. I would love to see that too.
MizFit
Ill take anything and help you promote it every step of the way!!
love how you say youre going to do something and then you DO it.
Miz.
Julz
FROZEN YOGURT!!! PLEASE PLEASE AMERICAN CHEESE!! 🙂 You've made some AWESOME Watermelon Ice, etc, but I think FroYo would be A.MAZING! Plus you rock so you could totally ROCK OUT an amazing froyo recipe, I just know it 🙂
Ask your son what he would want!!! I love him and would love to see what he would choose 😉 Too precious
Emily
Ohhh!! Pictures are a must, I agree!
Here's my favorites:
Simple Low Fat Whole Grain Crêpe
Simple Savory Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Fast Salisbury Steak with Noodles
Black Bean and Corn Wontons
Spaghetti Squash Cakes
kate
Marylandish Crab Cakes are a must!!!
Blayne
CA-OOKIES!!!! and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins!! Im new to your site and these are the only ones I've tried so far, made them today - unbelievably good!!!! Can't wait for a cookbook!!
Sally
Im so excited that your doing a cookbook.. I love the wonton pizza bites, zucchini pizza bites, polenta pizzas, margarita asparagus, balsamic cauliflower, simple spaghetti squash, baked rigatoni and zucchini, veggie kabobs and watermelon ice.. but thats only what ive tried so far =]
Rebecca
My favorites that I actually use as recipe and not just an idea are definitely your baked goods
banana pancakes(my breakfast this morning)
banana muffins
pancakes
also the black beans and zucchini and crab cakes.
katie
oh, and also I love little comments under the name of the recipes, like - 7 layer Mexican Casserole- "This one is great for a crowd and pairs well with blah blah blah..."
katie
Include some pictures, I love cookbooks with pictures and yours are so great!
Alle
Definitely the Mexican Pie. My picky husband loves it!
Zoey
Hi Roni,
I love your 7 layer Mexican casserole idea with spaghetti squash. When I make it, the whole family eats spaghetti squash and they love it!
I also love your chocolate quinoa idea. I make that at least once a week. It satisfies a treat craving and it is quite filling.
Thank you for such creative ideas, I am excited to hear that you are making a cook book.
Laura
Definitely the baking ideas. It's quite hard to find good baking recipes that are healthy and low cal, and don't use artificial sweeteners to replace sugar and butter. I've since adapted your whole wheat bananas muffins several times and love them. 🙂
Melissa
I couldn't live without the chocolate cookie bites or the pizza dough recipes.
I'm excited about your new project.
Beanie
All of them, All of them!!! LOL
Christie
The ones that I love and make over and over are:
Fast Salisbury Steak and Noodles
Quick Sweet and Tangy Salmon
Mexican Pie
Balsamic Dijon Chicken Tenders
Spicy Black Beans and Zucchini
Roni’s Homemade Sauce Made with Meat
Turkey Meatballs
and you should definately include these too
Thin Crust Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (it was so long in the making)
something about spaghetti squash.
I think it would be cool to do a couple of things about different vegetables/fruits that you have shown us how to use (like the watermelon and the pineapple etc).
Tamara
The whole-wheat banana muffins and the pizza salad (which my friend, whom I sent your site link to, made for her boyfriend and his brother and they all LOVED as did I!).
Katy
Chicken quinoa, red sauce, meatballs, southwest chicken salad topper, so much to choose from!
Laura Brandon
chicken surprise!! chicken surprise!!