4 - How it's going...

Hi! Welcome back

Since the last time we spoke, I have been busy in the kitchen figuring out some amazing meals to share with you. I would also like to thank everyone who took the time to fill out the google form I posted last week. I got so much information from it, which will help me make a proper and relevant cookbook for all of you!

Boudy, T. (2017, January 15). Cooking with Love [Food Quotes]. Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/eCariJVZ8zSi9m7m9

Where / How can I build this cookbook?

This is a big question that I have been asking myself throughout this process...

The following youtube video has helped me build a platform to start creating my intended cookbook. 

(2019, April 11). Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://youtu.be/cRss0ktsVcw

I don't want to give you too much insight as to what the cookbook will look like just yet, but I am very excited to share it with all of you. The support has been wonderful so far!

What I learned students want from this cookbook

How much time would you enjoy cooking was the first question I asked. The data showed that 33% of the individuals had approximately 1 hour to cook each day, but that 76% would cook anywhere between 1/2hr meal up to 2hrs. 

Then I was curious to know what types of foods those individuals would enjoy cooking. The answers ranged from soups and sandwiches to pasta and quinoa bowls. I had answered all over the board, except I was able to draw a few conclusions

• comfort foods
• quick and easy meals
• healthy meals
• simple one-pot / one-sheet meals

I realized that students are looking for all their favorite takeout meals at a more reasonable price and easily made at home. However, there were a few foods that were on the list of foods I would still buy premade. These dishes included a lot of ethnically diverse dishes that a lot might not know where to begin if they were making them on their own. As well as tried and true ones such as pizza, chicken fingers, and subs. 

What I was really interested in was their weekly budget. My findings suggest that the students polled were willing to spend up to $100 on groceries weekly. Knowing this sort of information will help me decide what sort of recipes to include or not to include based on how much the ingredients will affect their weekly budget. 

And to my surprise, it seems like the cookbook is something of interest to my peers, family, and friends which got me very excited!

Would You Believe it, if I said There Were No Challenges?

I'm kidding... There was so much information to go through this week that I struggled to know where to start, and how to proceed. I am such a visual learner so I took all the information from the google forms, the recipe prep I had done in the kitchen, and the criteria I want from the cookbook and sorted it all out on paper to better understand the goal. When I decided to take on this project I did not think it would be this much effort. However, I am not complaining, because the end result will be something I can continue to use and share. I have always wanted to have my own cookbook, something to call mine. I have such a passion for experimenting in the kitchen and looking at new flavour profiles that I thought this was the perfect challenge for me! As much work as it is right now, I am enjoying the process!

I'm Still Learning...

My Genius Hour Project is going to be wrapping up soon, but there is so much more that I could dive into on this journey. I have learned so much about myself as an individual and have worked on important life skills such as time management, and organization to name a few. 

Up Next!

Using Canva, I will be putting together the cookbook. This means that I will be busy in the kitchen taking pictures of the wonderful creations, using some tips from food bloggers. Along the way making sure the recipes fit the criteria of the book well and can be presented in an organized manner. 

I hope to include recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts. As well as, a little get to know the chef and some insight as to why I chose the recipes and what they mean to me. 

"Row Cupcakes Stock Illustration". (online image). [https://images.app.goo.gl/cw6hy73zZm5mAvMN8].

Sources

Vaughan, E. (2019, April 05). How to Take Food Pictures - Food Photography Tips. Retrieved from https://www.blurb.com/blog/food-photography-tips-cookbook/