This is a post about you, not me. Along those lines, I have some questions, I want to get to know you better. To find out what you like, and also what you need.
Why? I’m thinking of writing another cookbook. For the past ten years, I’ve had cookbook writing on the brain. And in the past four years I’ve created two of them. Now, I’m entertaining the idea of writing a third book. If I do, I’d like it to be of benefit to my readers. So here are my questions:
- What, if any, are your dietary restrictions?
- Are there foods you are not allergic to that you avoid?
- Which type of recipe (i.e., bread, salad, entrees, sides, desserts, etc.) do you find most useful?
- Of the cookbooks you own, which sections do you find yourself using most frequently?
- What is your definition of “healthy food”
- If you could ask for one thing in a cookbook, what would it be?
Feel free to answer all of the questions above, or just a couple. I’m really looking forward to hearing from you, and getting to know you a little bit better.
I will (as always) read each and every comment left below and while there may be competing requests and wishes, I will do my best to incorporate them into my future projects.
Laurie says
I am gluten intolerant and avoid rice and corn, as well. I go very light on dairy and find that too much sugar affects my general well-being. I tend to gravitate towards simpler recipes with few ingredients. Even if I have time, a recipe that appears too complex or too long tends to turn me off and I find myself looking for something simpler. I have recently begun using a lot of your almond flour recipes and have been very pleased with the results. In terms of cookbooks, I enjoy ones that aesthetically pleasing, but not so precious that I feel uncomfortable propping them up in the kitchen while I cook. I also enjoy good text, introductions, etc. as I actually read them like books, too.
Your website is an absolute pleasure. I have recommended it to friends all over the world.
Thank you. Best, Laurie
Mary Hecker says
I should avoid egg and dairy products in addition to Gluten. Most gluten-free recipes rely heavily on both. I cook for my diabetic mother and I could also use recipes of the above sort that are sugar-free.
Janette says
Paleo :)
with an emphasis on breads, desserts, and easy dinners.
Thanks for all you do Elana!!
Jenny says
More paleo/primal recipes please! There are so many vegan cookbooks out there- please don’t focus on that. Also I’d love to see more recipes with coconut flour not just almond flour. Thanks!!!
Sara says
My family eats gluten free, two of the 4 of us have celiac. We struggle with lunch recipes that are not leftovers from dinner. We would love some lunch ideas that are quick and delicious. And perhaps some desserts that include coconut flour and or chocolate!
We also love photos of the recipes! We have both your cookbooks and look forward to a third. Thanks for helping make our lives easier!
Danielle says
What I eat: Paleo/Primal (I do eat dairy), I eat lower carb (50-100g)
What I’m also allergic to on top of that: garlic, crab, avocado, mushrooms, walnuts, egg yolk
When I search cookbooks and online I’m typically searching for something that falls within a particular category. Things I always seem to struggle to find:
1. High protein breakfasts that isn’t eggs (low carb)
2. Pack and go meals (things to take to work, breakfast and lunch things
that don’t necessarily need to be reheated that AREN’T salads)
3. Make ahead breakfasts, make ahead lunches
4. I like cook books that organize by cooking methods (slow cooker, grill, bake, braise etc). I’d also love to see some dehydrator recipes that are paleo?
5. Make ahead and serve cold or no cook dinners. You know, when it’s summer and it’s too hot to do anything. Things that are great served cold that can be made ahead of time or things that don’t require a lot of heat (also not salads!)
6. I don’t like salad recipes, I find them to be pointless. I don’t mind a salad dressing recipe with recommendations on what it pair with but I always hate seeing salad chapters, I don’t need help putting greens in a bowl and adding toppings. BUT I love make ahead cold salads…. you know chicken salad, tuna salad, crab salad, potato salad etc I’d love to see a chapter on that
7. I would love for a cookbook to note what meals would freeze well and freezing recommendations for leftovers or large batches. Along the same lines I like to see notations of “make ahead” where it notates a recipe can be prepared up to a certain point.
Maybe you should consider doing a survey monkey, I’m sure lots of people would love to participate and it might help you narrow down what chapters or focus people are looking for in your next cookbook without trying to gauge how many of the manual comments are the same or similar. You could see tallied results for multiple choice and rank the items questions.
jacey says
Things I would love to see in a cookbook:
What to eat for breakfast besides eggs? Getting tired of them.
Like to avoid nuts/especially almonds, almond butter and flour….I love them but they do not like me.
Kid-friendly healthy meals/lunches etc.
Thanks Elena! Good luck with your book!
Amy says
What, if any, are your dietary restrictions?
Are there foods you are not allergic to that you avoid?
Which type of recipe (i.e., bread, salad, entrees, sides, desserts, etc.) do you find most useful?
Of the cookbooks you own, which sections do you find yourself using most frequently?
What is your definition of “healthy food”
If you could ask for one thing in a cookbook, what would it be?
1. Gluten and boiled potatoes
2. Processed foods
3. Take-to-work lunches, recipes for big batches so I’ll have leftovers or be able to stock the freezer.
4. Seasonal recipes or reminders of basic cooking methods like the temperature for roasting vegetables, etc.
5. Healthy food for me is mostly food in its most natural form; fresh fruits and vegetables or food that gives me energy such as beans and legumes.
6. I have your Gluten-Free Almond Flour cookbook and am intimidated by the number of steps needed to make salmon burgers and fish cakes. I don’t like having to flip to different sections to complete a recipe, such as when a pie crust recipe is in a different section. I had thought about making pistachio chicken for a picnic, but it said to serve it hot, so I decided not to risk it, as I haven’t had a chance to experiment with it yet.
Sylvia says
1) What, if any, are your dietary restrictions? GLUTEN FREE & LOW CARB
2) Are there foods you are not allergic to that you avoid? DAIRY
3) Which type of recipe (i.e., bread, salad, entrees, sides, desserts, etc.) do you find most useful? SIMPLE 5 INGREDIENT OR LESS ENTREES
4) Of the cookbooks you own, which sections do you find yourself using most frequently? SHAMEFULLY THE DESSERTS
5) What is your definition of “healthy food” WHOLE REAL FOODS
6)If you could ask for one thing in a cookbook, what would it be? PICTURES OF FOOD (AND STEPS IN COOKING IF POSSIBLE) NUTRITION INFO
MAIRBUNNY says
1. GLUTEN FREE,DAIRY FREE,LOW SALT,NO SUGAR, LOW COLESTRIAL,FRUITS HIGH IN ACID, NO FAKE SUGAR AND NO PRESERVATIVES.
2. HIGH CARBS.
3. I WOULD LOVE DESSERTS THAT ARE HEALTHY TOO,BREADS WITH HIGHER PROTEIN AND LESS CALORIES,LOVE SEAFOOD RECIPES,ALL ENTREES, LOTS OF VEGGIE DISHES. LESS FRYING MORE BAKING. CROCKPOT MEALS ARE GREAT TOO.
4. ENTREES WITH SIDES THAT ARE BALANCED AND HEALTHY
5. HOME GROWN, AND THEN MADE WITHOUT THE INGREDIENTS IN QUESTION #1
6. ONE THAT IS ABOUT 5 INCHES THICK THAT HAS ALL YOUR FAVORITE RECIPES IN IT .PLUS MAYBE EVEN A SUBSTITUTION SECTION. AND I LOVE WHEN IT LIST LEVELS OF SWEETNESS SO YOU KNOW HOW GOOD OR BAD YOU WANT TO BE. I WANT FOOD THAT TASTE GREAT THAT IS EASY TO MAKE OR EVEN YOU COULD LIST LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY A RECIPE IS. FOOD THAT IS GOOD FOR ME BUT NOT SO HIGH IN CALORIES THAT I WILL FEEL GUILTY ABOUT EATING IT.
SORRY I KNOW THAT YOU ASKED FOR ONLY ONE THING IN A COOKBOOK BUT FOR ME THATS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE SO MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS AND DIET RESTRICTIONS THAT IT IS A REAL STRUGGLE TO FIND FOOD I CAN COOK.
THAT IS WHY I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU ARE THINKING OF DOING ANOTHER COOKBOOK. I HAVE BOTH YOUR OTHER COOKBOOKS AND I LOVE THEM!!!
THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT US . IT MEANS ALOT !!!
XXOOXXOO
MARIAN