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As with any family project, getting everyone to contribute can be a challenge, especially if they have not seen the end product beforehand.

Here are some tips from FamilyCookbookProject.com to keep your contributors motivated:

**The more the merrier** – Be sure to include everyone, not just the great cooks. Everyone likes to be asked to participate and the more you invite, the more recipes you’ll likely get. To add contributors and send an email invitation, > Use the Invitation Tool

**Set a reasonable deadline** – Set the submission deadline on the “Project Information Editor” page, but don’t set it too far in the future. We all tend to put off whatever we can and contributing recipes is often one of those things. A month is usually enough time to give everyone to find the recipes they want to contribute and get them entered. Two things to remember: most of the recipes will come in just in time for the deadline and second, you can always extend the deadline if you want more recipes.

**Send regular updates** – Use the Reminder Tool to email some or all of your contributors on a regular basis. Remind them of the deadline and ask them to meet a specific goal, like “please add one or two recipes to each category”.

**Target the biggest recipe boxes** – Every family has a handful of people who are known for their cooking (you are most likely one of them in your family!). Send a personal message to them either using the remainder tool or reaching out by telephone, Facebook or with a personal visit. People are flattered when their skills are recognized. Let them know the cookbook would not be complete without their contributions.

**Ask for specific recipes** – Send a reminder to everyone asking for a specific recipe from your family’s past that will get everyone thinking of past gatherings. Include your memories of that dish or the person who created it. It might help remind everyone why putting together a family cookbook is important.

**Use social media** – As you add your own recipes to your family cookbook, it is easy to post them to Facebook or pin them to Pinterest. Sharing your recipes this way shows other family members that you are contributing and shows them they should as well.

I love my grandmothers recipe box. I have been able to find many, many family recipes that I remember from my childhood and now can introduced to my own kids. For many years a recipe box on 3 x 5 index cards was the way people collected their written recipes. However this form has many drawback.

• Recipe cards are easy to lose.
• Recipe boxes often have categories but cards are often miss filed and hard to find.
• If you want to share a recipe you have to write out another recipe card.
• Old handwriting is often hard to read
• Old handwriting fades over time
• A single recipe box can only be passed down to one member of the next generation.

However, FamilyCookbookProject.com makes it easy to turn your recipe box into a beautiful printed cookbook that is easy to share, organized, and can be passed down to future generations.

Bill Rice is founder and Co-Publisher of the Great Family Cookbook Project, a website that helps families and individuals collect and share food memories through customized printed cookbooks filled with treasured recipes. Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest!

While you’re at it, scan your shelves for another classic cookbook that could be worth even more money: first editions of Joy of Cooking go for up to $15,000! Or you can buy the current Joy of Cooking on Amazon $17.49. Or if you just want a budget-friendly copy of Child’s quintessential book, you can grab a reprint online (Buy on Amazon, $22.90).

Of course, the value of your book will also depend on its quality. If you have a copy that seems to be in pretty good shape, it might be a good idea to check with a local book appraiser in your area.

Will your family cookbook be worth this much down the road? It will be to your family as your legacy will live on through your recipes.

Bill Rice is founder and Co-Publisher of the Great Family Cookbook Project, a website that helps families and individuals collect and share food memories through customized printed cookbooks filled with treasured recipes. Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest!