Category Archives: What people are saying about Family Cookbook

Power of a Family Cookbook

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We just received a lovely email from our Cookbook editor Barbara that we wanted to share:

I just wanted to thank you for all your help. I know that no matter what happens with my cookbook, this has been a very good experience for me. My order is a very small, humble one, but please know how very important it is for my family. My mom passed away a few months ago and the 2 year anniversary of my dad’s death is next week. They were married for over 60 years. I feel their absence most acutely. However, my mom was a wonderful cook, and working on this project has really helped me feel closer to her. And my older son, Magnus, is really following in her footsteps. At 26, he is already becoming a very good cook. This cookbook is really for him and me. So, although the project is a small one for you, it is a very big one for us. It has already made a profound impact on my life, one that I know will only be increased as Magnus and I begin using the cookbook to make my mom’s long lost recipes.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
It just goes to show that a family cookbook project is more than just a collection of recipes.
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Meet the Guys Behind Family Cookbook Project

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Chip Lowell and Bill Rice at a beach picnic on Cape Cod

Family Cookbook Project was began 14 years ago and was developed by two friends who both love cooking and food.  Bill Rice is the father of four and has worked on his family’s genealogy for more than two decades.  Over a wonderful summertime family meal on Cape Cod, Bill and some of his family decided to create a family cookbook.  Bill turned to his long time friend and programming expert Chip Lowell to develop a simple website to facilitate the project.  The site was such a hit with Bill’s family, the two decided to offer it access to other families looking for an opportunity to create a lasting family heirloom.

Both Bill and Chip brought a strong understanding of web development, marketing and the need for top notch customer service to help the development of Family Cookbook Project.

Bill Rice is an entrepreneur and the President of the Web Marketing Association. He brings a strong marketing and usability focus to the development of the website and it’s products. He also has written much of the text for the site and many of the blog posts (including this one!). He is an avid photographer and a senior contributor on the TripAdvisor website.

Chip Lowell is the technology guru behind the programming of Family Cookbook Project. He is also the Director of Sales and Marketing at CodeBlue Technology, LLC, based in Richmond, Virginia.  CodeBlue provides IT services throughout Richmond and central Virginia. Chip is also a grill master and loves to spend his free time (if he had any) in his back yard with his wife Sally trying new recipes on his Big Green Egg grill.

In 14 years, we have had more than 60,000 cookbook editors use our system to collect and create online cookbooks for their family, friends, church, school, group or as a fundraiser. More than 227,600 contributors have submitted over 1.6 million recipes so far and hundreds of new recipes are added every day.

So when you wonder why all of our customer service is usually done via email, it’s because we both have day jobs. However, Family Cookbook Project is a passion of ours. We love to be able to help promote the concept of personalized cookbooks for families and fundraising efforts.

Web Marketing Association Names FamilyCookbookProject.com Best Family Website of 2018

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FCBP Homepage 18The Family Cookbook Project (www.familycookbookproject.com) has been named the Best Family Website of 2018 by the Web Marketing Association’s 22nd annual WebAward Competition for Web site development.  The Family Cookbook Project creates personalized cookbooks for individuals, families, church groups and schools.

“The Great Family Cookbook Project is a website dedicated to helping families collect and preserve cherished recipes into a printed cookbook that can passed down from one generation to the next”, says Chip Lowell, Technical Director of the Family Cookbook Project.  “We are proud that our efforts have been recognized by the Web Marketing Association with this WebAward.  We will continue to develop our site to help families, schools and church groups create both online and printed cookbooks that become treasured heirlooms.”

The Family Cookbook Project Website was started as a project in 2003 to help one family collect and organize a family cookbook. Overwhelming feedback from those who used the website led to its continued development and public launch.  Currently, more than 88,000 families have started family cookbooks using the website and have entered more than 1.56 million individual recipes.

“Personalized cookbooks have been around since the 1950s, however the process of collecting and organizing recipes has always been a labor intensive project for the cookbook editor”, says Lowell. “The Family Cookbook Project website provides step by step instructions and tools to help cookbook editors invite others to participate and allow them to enter their favorite recipes directly into the online system.  The editor then simply reviews and edits the recipes, selects printing options, and sends the cookbook to be printed.  The finished printed cookbooks are then received by the editor in a few weeks time”.

Thousands of sites from 52 countries were adjudicated in 96 industry categories during this year’s competition. Entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology.  The competition was judged by a team of independent Internet professionals representing a variety of relevant disciplines of Web site development. Judges included members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, creative directors, corporate marketing executives, content providers and webmasters.

One WebAward judge commented “This is an excellent site. It is easy to navigate and lets the user enter recipes easily. Even someone who is not tech-savvy could probably enter their recipes without a hitch.”

About the Web Marketing Association

Since 1997, the annual WebAward Competition is conducted by the Web Marketing Association, Inc. (WMA), an independent organization founded with the purpose of evaluating and recognizing the standard of excellence on the World Wide Web. Its Web site is located at www.webaward.org. The Web Marketing Association also has established the Internet Advertising Competition (IAC Awards) and the Interactive Investor Relations Awards.

About the Family Cookbook Project

The Family Cookbook Project is dedicated to helping individuals and families collect and preserve the time-honored recipes that are so important to our family traditions. The website at www.familycookbookproject.com provides step-by-step instructions and online tools to create a valuable family heirloom.  Personalized cookbooks are also used by schools and church groups as important fundraisers.

What They Are Saying About FamilyCookbookProject.com

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cookbook_logo1“Writing this little cookbook has been one of the most positive experiences of my life and it was made possible by the Cookbook Project and their OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE team. Chip worked with me – and kept working with me – until the proof was off to be printed. He NEVER complained or even acted agitated as we worked together on every detail of this beautiful little cookbook that is certain to be a treasured heirloom in our family for many, many years. This company is first class, and I would not ever hesitate to recommend them to anyone planning to do their own projects. I will certainly use them again and highly recommend you give them a try as well. I can say with much certainty, you will love them and their beautiful work.”
–Donna Couch, Editor, “OUR FIRST MESS”

“I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I LOVE this site and the options it gives me. Recently my daughter moved out. I was compiling a cookbook for her to use once this happened. As it turns out, I’ve given her electronic access to it and she is using it already incomplete! Fantastic! Hoping to get it complete in the next year and in print for my nephew and niece also and anyone else in our extended family that would utilize it. Such a great option to making the transition into adulthood but also have a taste of home at their fingertips.”
–Lisa Jones, “Mom! What’s That Recipe?”

“I am thrilled with my tiny baking book. It was a lot of fun to do and I am having fun giving copies away. My original plan was much more elaborate, but as I grew older and slower the book shrank to a tiny drop of the old recipes that I wanted to save and share. To my horror I discovered I didn’t include anything chocolate, therefore nobody will ever believe I wrote it! Thank you for doing such a lovely job, and so very quickly. I hope to order more copies in the new year.”
–Thelma Schmidt, “I Love to Bake”

Great Review of Family Cookbook Project

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TestimonialRecently we received an email from a woman who had just completed her cookbook and was very happy with the results. We asked if we could share the comments and here they are:
I have to tell you what pleasure we had creating our cookbook, as a tribute to our recently departed mother. We had some great laughs and giggles during the process of walking down memory lane through each recipe….. as well as a few tears. This whole project was nothing but joy for us.
Your website was so clearly laid out and easily understood….and if you only knew how inept my sister and I are at all things technological, you would then realize what an amazing website you have!
And to top it all off …. we knew you were ever present with us on this journey…someone we could turn to for answers and advice….. and actually receive that guidance within a few hours. (Hmmmmm….kind of sounds like another big man I often turn to for guidance……)
Anyhow……thank you so much! We are already starting to plan our NEXT culinary cookbook!
Best regards,
Valerie N
To see what other people have said about Family Cookbook Project, please visit our Comment’s Page.

Family Cookbook Project Highlighted in Cape Cod Home Magazine

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CCHome Cover SMIn the Winter Issue of Cape Cod Home Magazine, FamilyCookbookProject.com is highlighted in a two page spread by reporter Haley Cote. Haley met with founders Bill Rice and Chip Lowell in Wellfleet this summer and learned how the Great Family Cookbook Project was started 12 years ago and how it has grown to be one of the most successful cookbook making websites on the Internet.

Read the article on creating a family cookbook at CapeCodLife.com

Here is the article if you’d like to read it. Click here if you’d like to subscribe to Cape Cod Home Magazine,

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Family Cookbook Project Wins Best Publishing WebAward From The Web Marketing Association

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WMA_20th_iconThe Family Cookbook Project has been named the Best Publishing Website in the Web Marketing Association’s 20th annual WebAward Competition for Web site development.  The Family Cookbook Project creates personalized cookbooks for individuals, families, church groups and schools. This is the fifth year that Family Cookbook Project has been recognized for their Website excellence.

“The Great Family Cookbook Project is a website dedicated to helping families collect and preserve cherished recipes into a printed cookbook that can be passed down from one generation to the next,” says Chip Lowell, Co-Publisher and Technical Director of the Family Cookbook Project.  “We are proud that our efforts have been recognized by the Web Marketing Association with this Best Publishing WebAward.  We will continue to develop our site to help families, schools and church groups create both online and printed cookbooks that become treasured heirlooms.”

The Family Cookbook Project Website was started as a project in 2003 to help one family collect and organize a family cookbook. Overwhelming feedback from those who used the website led to its continued development and public launch.  Currently, more than 41,000 families and groups have started family cookbooks using the website and more than 100,000 active contributors have entered more than 1.2 million individual recipes.

“Personalized cookbooks have been around since the 1950s, however the process of collecting and organizing recipes has always been a labor intensive project for the cookbook editor,” says Lowell. “Now it’s easy and cost effective to have your very own cookbook printed.  The Family Cookbook Project website provides step by step instructions and tools to help cookbook editors invite others to participate and allow them to enter their favorite recipes directly into the online system.  The editor then simply reviews and edits the recipes, selects printing options, and sends the cookbook to be printed.  The finished printed cookbooks are then received by the editor in only a few weeks”.

The Family Cookbook Project Website previously been recognized as the Best Publishing Website in 2011 and 2013 and Best Family Website in 2005. It also was recognized in 2015, 2014, 2012 and 2009 with the Standard of Excellence WebAward.

More than 2,000 sites from 45 countries were adjudicated in 96 industry categories during this year’s WebAward competition. Entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology.  The competition was judged by a team of independent Internet professionals representing a variety of relevant disciplines of Web site development. Judges included members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, creative directors, corporate marketing executives, content providers and webmasters.

It’s Family Reunion and Summer Planning Time!

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June seems to be one of the busiest months for families. It also is the gateway to summer family reunions, picnics and vacations.

Planning Ahead
If you are using your family cookbooks as part of a celebration, either a family reunion, Mother’s Day gift, Christmas gift, wedding favor, or other specific event, it is important that you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to have your cookbooks printed and shipped for the event.

Family Cookbooks uses the latest in high speed digital printing to produce your family heirlooms. Generally it takes 2-3 weeks to get the files ready for the presses, print, bind and package to ship directly to you. However, during our busiest seasons – right before Mother’s Day and Christmas – it can take much longer.

Another thing to consider is shipping. We use UPS and USPS to ship our family cookbooks all over the USA and Canada. Shipping can take an additional week to have your cookbooks reach you.

Since personalized family cookbooks can make such great Christmas gifts, editors rush to get their print orders submitted in November in order to receive them in time for Christmas time gift giving. Normally, we have a November 30th deadline for delivery in time for Christmas. Save yourself (and us) the danger of not having your cookbooks ready and submit your holiday cookbook orders in October and beat the November rush.

When setting your deadline for recipe contributions, leave enough time for you to review all of the recipes and finalize formatting before you can submit your order for printing. In just 2-3 weeks, your cookbooks should be in your hands!

Wedding Season!

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There is no better way to get wedding guests involved prior to the event than asking them to contribute recipes for a wedding cookbook. Once the recipes are preserved online, they can be shared with other family members by email, individual printed recipes or provide a valuable lasting gift for attendees at the wedding reception.

“I just received our box of ‘Jake and Julia’s Friends and Family Cookbooks’ today! They turned out fabulous! I am so pleased, and so excited to give it to them at their wedding! Thanks so much for the wonderful website! This was just what we wanted, and we received such a great response from our family members who contributed.”
–Rita Flatz, Jake and Julia’s Friends and Family Cookbooks

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April Showers Bring May Flowers – and Mothers’ Day Cookbooks!

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This is a great time of year. It’s rainy, it’s sunny, it’s warm, it’s cold. We are all getting excited for new growth and fun get-togethers outside.

Mothers’ Day Deadline

Mother’s Day is coming quickly – May 10th – and it also is one of the best times to have your family cookbook published. If you are planning on having your cookbook ready for Mothers’ Day, you’ll need to get your print orders in by Wednesday April 22nd in order to receive them on time for gifts.

Wedding season is coming, too! How about a family & friends cookbook for a shower or bridal party gift?
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Getting Ready for Family Reunions

If your family has an annual family reunion in the summer, now is the time to get people contributing to your family cookbook. A cookbook is a great way to get family members excited about getting together – and what family reunion did not feature mountains of mouth watering food and family recipes!
If you don’t want to get people contributing before-hand, use the event to collect email address and get family members eager to contribute their best recipes.

Family Cookbook Project Wins Best Publishing Mobile App From Web Marketing Association

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The Family Cookbook Project (www.familycookbookproject.com) has been named the Best Publishing Website in the Web Marketing Association’s 2014 MobileWebAward Competition. The Family Cookbook Project creates personalized cookbooks for individuals, families, church groups and schools. This is the second year in a row that the Family Cookbook Project recognized with this honor. The free Family Cookbook Project app can be downloaded for iPhone and Ipads at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/family-cookbook-recipes/id503938411?mt=8 or Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_fcbrecipes.layoscreen480x4801ut

The Family Cookbook Project online recipe box allows users to browse and use their recipes. Tools include our blog at your fingertips, latest recipes from our recipe database, notes for in the kitchen, a tip calculator and more! Users can enter their recipes at www.familycookbookproject.com and have access anywhere!

“The Great Family Cookbook Project is a website dedicated to helping families collect and preserve cherished recipes into a printed cookbook that can be passed down from one generation to the next,” says Chip Lowell, Co-Publisher and Technical Director of the Family Cookbook Project. “However, many people also like to access their recipes on the go from their mobile device. iPhone and iPad users now have an easy to use option to access their recipes”.

The Family Cookbook Project Website was started as a project in 2003 to help one family collect and organize a family cookbook. Overwhelming feedback from those who used the website led to its continued development and public launch. Currently, more than 42,000 families and groups have started family cookbooks using the website and contributors have entered more than 836,000 individual recipes.

“Personalized cookbooks have been around since the 1950s, however the process of collecting and organizing recipes has always been a labor intensive project for the cookbook editor,” says Lowell. “Now it’s easy and cost effective to have your very own cookbook printed. The Family Cookbook Project website provides step by step instructions and tools to help cookbook editors invite others to participate and allow them to enter their favorite recipes directly into the online system. The editor then simply reviews and edits the recipes, selects printing options, and sends the cookbook to be printed. The finished printed cookbooks are then received by the editor in only a few weeks”.

The Family Cookbook Project Website previously been recognized as the Best Publishing Website in 2013 and 2011 and Best Family Website in 2005. It also was recognized in 2012 and 2009 with the Standard of Excellence WebAward. It’s Family Cookbook Recipes App was also named Best Publishing App in 2013 by the Web Marketing Association.

“We thank Web Marketing Association MobileWebAward judges for recognizing our work. We will continue to develop ways to help families, schools and church groups create both online and printed cookbooks that become treasured heirlooms,” continued Lowell.

About the Web Marketing Association

Since 1997, the annual WebAward Competition is conducted by the Web Marketing Association, an independent organization founded with the purpose of evaluating and recognizing the standard of excellence on the World Wide Web. Award programs run by the Web Marketing Association include the WebAward Competition for Website Development, the Internet Advertising Competition and the MobileWebAwards.

About the Family Cookbook Project

The Family Cookbook Project is dedicated to helping individuals and families collect and preserve the time-honored recipes that are so important to our family traditions. The website at www.familycookbookproject.com provides step-by-step instructions and online tools to create a valuable family heirloom. Personalized cookbooks are also used by schools and church groups as important fundraisers. Groups looking to create cookbooks for fundraising efforts can also check out www.cookbookfundraiser.com.