BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: gnu
Date: 18 Apr 03 - 07:30 AM

How's she goin eh ?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 01:24 PM

Doing okay. I need more stuff though, folks. I've got about 100-ish recipes, which is okay (more would be better), but zero on anything else. Songs about food, photos, drawings, etc. Anything to help spice up the pages.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: gnu
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 11:56 AM

Nicole... how you doin ?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 05:45 AM

I may regret volunteering this information, but...!

I've edited course notes (book sized) and papers before, and am pretty au fait with LaTeX (the document preparation system, not the kinky kind) which allows you to keep beautifully consistent formatting and add an index and references very easily. There's probably quite a few Catters who use LaTeX, I would think.
If I can be any help (because I do actually enjoy editing stuff, for some perverse reason) then PM me.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 07:26 PM

Refresh.

Not a single recipe yet, folks... send 'em in!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 07:15 PM

Well, hey, I wasn't going to test them! Ya'll will just have to be sure to send in good ones :)

Here's the scoop again. Yep, send 'em on in:

------------------------------------------------
Ya'll email me your favorite stuff to:
nicole castle at attbi dot com (spam filter... you know the format)

If it's a recipe:
Please include the title of the recipe in the subject line (it'll help me sort), and in the body include the recipe, your MudCat handle, geographic location, and your real name if you want to include it. If you want to include a few lines of intro or history on the recipe, that'd be great. These should all be original recipes, right, so we don't get in trouble publishing something from elsewhere?

If it's a song:
Please include the lyrics and music notation. Dots would probably be best, since it's more universal. It should be either an original or public domain, so no one gets in trouble. Include copyright info if needed.

If it's poetry or art or a joke or a story or a photo or something else:
Just send me the text or image, and any 'splaining if you need to. I can accept most formats, but a postscript or generic image format like JPG or TIF would probably be best just in case.

If you need to send me a hard copy, that's fine, I can do all the electronic converting here. Just email or PM me for my address.

---------------------------------------------
Deadline for submissions: April 18, 2003
Anticipated release date: mid-May 2003
Format/cost of cookbook: TBD.
---------------------------------------------

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 06:54 PM

Yes you will be swamped... I had over 300 entries in 5 days, both on the threads, by PM and by my personal Email. It tailed off after a while, but sorting through 500 recipes and trying to remember who proffered what has taken a longer time than you'd think. Even at 3 a day, it's a year or mores' work. Then there's testing and trying as many as possible......

Good luck, maybe our next effort should be 'Slim with Mudcat'.....!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: DougR
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 03:10 PM

Nicole: I think if you let us know you are prepared to accept recipes you probably will be swamped with them. I think your idea of using the cookbook as a fund raiser is a good one.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 08:44 PM

I don't think a web cookbook is a good idea. How does it raise money for MudCat, for example? And it's hard to cook from a computer screen -- you can't scribble notes in the margins :) Besides, I can't commit to an indefinate web project, and web projects never end.

A hard copy project could be emailed (or a CD mailed) to someone overseas though for reprinting and redistrubition; any printing costs saved by doing a larger project would be ate up (and more!) by the higher shipping rates overseas.

If there's already a dessert cookbook or will be out soon, I agree any new cookbook should exclude desserts -- that leaves a LOT of good stuff though!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: open mike
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 07:49 PM

liz the squeek in UK is mid-project on the desserts...
i was confusing carol c with nicole c..."my bad" as they say
I called the number for the print shop that specializes in fund raiser
cook books and they are sending the brochure..
we porbably do not want to go that way b=eing onl line and all
more likely we will do a virtual book over the internet?
so perhaps the dessert menu should be done thru her and you
do the main dishes, etc.?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 06:54 PM

Dunno, but I volunteered this time. I wasn't aware the desserts book was actually happening.

If someone is mid-project (CarolC?), they should probably continue with it. Otherwise I'm happy to get the ball rolling.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: open mike
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 05:24 PM

liz is offering to do the desserts
and carol c has offered to compile
the other coursee..if youread the
thread wyou will see her e-mail address.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 04:46 PM

So who has taken charge here?   Do we have a volunteer to chair this project??

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 12:50 PM

That ? That ? Than's the second time today ! And the "t" and the "n" are miles apart on the keyboard. Apparently, I have something far worse than lysdexia.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 12:46 PM

Veggies ? Didn't you like my recipe ? You can't get much more veggy that browse can you ?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Sooz
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 12:05 PM

What about us vegetarians?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 11:40 AM

No 'possum?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 10:44 AM

Mudcat's Just Desserts should be available soon on CDRom if people would care to give me an indication how many people would like it?

Troubles with formatting have meant a total rewrite and removal of all but a few pictures.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 05:26 AM

Camp Style Ducks and Beans

This recipe was handed down verbally through the male lineage of my family for generations. This is my father's version, as he told it to me at the old log camp.

Ingredients: Two Ducks, Your favourite bean recipe – any style.

When your beans are about two and a half hours from done, place four freshly cut and split halves of three inch sugar maple saplings into a well greased roasting pan. Add about a quarter of an inch of water and lay the ducks on the maples. Cook uncovered at a high heat for a half hour to rend and brown the ducks. Remove ducks, pour off rendering and replace ducks. Add about a quarter of an inch of water and gently pour beans around ducks and baste ducks with some of the sauce from the beans. Cover and cook at a medium heat for two hours. Open camp door and heave the ducks and beans as far as possible and enjoy gnawing on the maple saplings.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: open mike
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 03:34 AM

I am trying to think of something which will combine the two senses:
sound/hearing/listening as in music!
and taste/flavor/eating as in food & recipes

the sounds of good cookin'
4 food groups/6 senses
Mud Cat Menu
Stew Ball
Hobo Stew
tasting sounds
tasty sounds..
sounds tasty
Cat Fish soup for the soul
Mud cat soup for the soul
Stone Soup
Slow Food
jOYS OF mUDCAT cOOKING
Mud Cat Kitchen
Come on in my kitchen
Commotion in the kitchen...
Sizzle and sing
Whiskey before breakfast
Stir and Strum
Pick and Dice

and here is a printer that put together
a family cook book which included family
tree information and reunion info:
Morris Press-Publish your own personalized,
fund raising cook books 1-800-445-6621 ext. 99
They did this 10 years ago. so hope the numnber is
valid still-

The book they did for our family had 7 segmented dividers
which contained highlighted info--these could be songs,
mudcat info--other fundraiser products for sale--ads for these
or other?? any way i will get a qote from them for how
much they cost in case we sant to do printed versions.
the one i have comes in 3 ring binder format with pages
being 1/2 notebook page size--5 1/2 X 8 1/2 --inches that is...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Neighmond
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 08:48 PM

I'll give freely of My recipe file

Chaz

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 08:28 PM

I'm willing to contribute some recipes, and I prefer an actual cook book rather than a CD - there's no room on my kitchen counter to put the computer.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 07:05 PM

Guest,

I make beans with that same sort of inattention to recipes. Depending on how much room I have for freezing the leftovers, I use 2 to 4 cups of dry beans. Soak the red kidney beans over night or do the boil 2 minutes/sit for an hour trick, then cook them with a hamhock and a couple of bay leaves. That's about the only measured part of it. I look around for whatever meat is in the freezer to add (hamburger, Italian sausage, Jimmy Dean sausage, ham). Tomatoes (canned, diced), tomato sauce, an onion, green peppers, cilantro, cumin, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, chili pepper, eyeball each and put in as much as feels right. The stuff that it makes sense to sautee together is sauteed before being added to the rest (it's best to sautee your dry spices if you can do it without burning them in the pan with the onions, etc. The flavor explodes exponentially in the dish). My not-so-secret ingredient, when it just a couple of minutes from finished cooking, I add a few tablespoons of capers. Those little vinegary bursts of salt are wonderful!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 06:44 PM

SRS, that is a bit like my jambalya recipe....

meat
vegetables
rice water
red pepper
salt
black pepper

sautee meat and vegetables

boil rice

put both rice and meat and veggies in a pot (i use a crock pot)

stir occasionally to keep bottom fro burning

put red pepper and other spices in gradually...spice to taste...

serves as many as you want...

i really like it the next several days as well...it gets hotter and hotter each day afterwards....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 06:40 PM

The Taste of Mud
Down Home Cooking, MudCat Style
Deep Fried 'Cat and Other Recipes
Mud-Kitchen

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 02:38 PM

Acid-free paper seems to be the standard anymore, or at least commonly available unless you go to a place like Kinko's as ask for the cheapest way :)

As for cost -- well I guess it depands on how big this sucker gets.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 02:36 PM

Cookin' Cats-(Includes great recipes like, kitty-ki-bobs , paw-paw stew, canned cat-tails, candied calico)

or; Cats in the kitchen, with mud on their shoes.

or; MudCat Kitchen

or; Flippin' Floppin' Fryin' Folken' Mudcat Style

I'm getting worse as I go!

or;The chefs of MudCat Cafe

or; MudCat Cafe cooks with...? Zest ? (fill in the blank!)

or; MudCat Mirth and Miraculous Meals

I'm getting really bad now! Anyway sounds like a great adventure and lots of work Nicole but I'm in too.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 02:31 PM

The digital printer/copy is going to be by far your least expensive way to go, fastest turn around, but your least durable paper format. Can you get acid free paper? That would help. At work I've learned to pick my words carefully, because if I ask for an estimate to have something "printed," it can get to be pretty complicated if I don't say "photocopy."

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 01:51 PM

Thanks for the info, SRS. I think I mis-spoke by calling it "printing." Generally when I do layout stuff I plop it on CD in PDF or as an EPS file, hand it to the printer and they do a digital print, i.e. digital photocopying. Then they bind it or whatever I need. I do the same thing here, but I can't use our company equipment for the cookbook :)

PDF on CD is possible, but it would actually be a lot more work setting bookmarks, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 01:21 PM

Mudcat Pie in the Sky

By Good'n Plenty folk folks at Mudcat, of course!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 01:19 PM

My ex has commented that I frequently use the "vibration method" of cooking--I just sprinkle in whatever ingredient I need until it feels about right. ;-)

Printing (as in offset printing) a book can come out to a few dollars per book, but you have a lot of upfront costs and a great deal of layout work that I don't think any individual or Mudcat itself would want to deal with (at least, on such a speculative endeavor). What fonts, images, what paper, cover stock, one color ink, duotones, four color. . . a simple format for a photocopy that is xeroxed on both sides and then bound would probably be much cheaper. I get some scholarly journals in the 5 1/2 by 8 inch format that you'd never know to look at them that they're photocopied onto 8 1/2 by 11" paper, cut, then bound. But you have to know how to set up a long text so that the pages are sequential. Or print it in the larger 8 1/2 by 11" format and not have quite so much calculating to do.

The cookbook I posted a link to has been at the press for a couple of months now, and my friend sent them $2000 or so in advance to get started on the copies he needs. (He's getting a big price break due to negotiations, because his business was wiped out by 9-11. Normally they would demand twice that amount upfront. He'll pay them the rest as books are sold and more are printed.) Once it is digitally complete, and after this first run, they will be able to print on demand. He does it spiral so that it is easy to lay flat for cooking, and so extra pages from groups can be bound in (he does tours at Ellis, and lectures around the country, and frequently there is interest from a particular group to add their own recipes to the back). It took me two full weekends of research just to complete the links for two pages of the cookbook--and he had a ton more work to do than I did. If the Mudcat books were published in a compact disk in PDF files with a good index and conversions charts then people could pick and choose what they want and print it as needed. You still have to deal with the layout and burning the CD's, but that is a much cheaper and easier way than ink on paper, sad to say. For those who just can't access it from a CD, perhaps photocopies could be available--but you're looking at a higher cost, the persheet copying expense, and binding it.

SRS (who works closely with a university print shop, but I doubt they could come anywhere near the low bids available in the public sector).

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 01:03 PM

my recipes dont involve measurements either....they go by on what looks like enough at the time....though whether they are or not is a different story...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 01:02 PM

Mudcat Pie, me o my....

The Catspawn Book of Home Recipes...

Mudcat in the Kitchen

The Sweatin' Over a Hot Stove Blues Cookbook...

...well, come on!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 12:51 PM

Heheh. My recipes don't involve measures, they just involve cans. Are cans pretty standard, or are they different too? Like, say, a can of soup, or a can of diced tomatoes?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 12:44 PM

Mud Pies and other Recipes

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 12:32 PM

Great idea! I have various homemade charts that I've whipped up over the years that I thought would be a good idea to include -- like grain, rice and legume cooking charts (how much water, how much time, to soak or not to soak), and flour conversions (to cook bread with barley flour, for example, instead of wheat). Conversion of measurements is another good one to have.

And every cookbook should have a glossary of cooking terms it uses. Not everyone knows what "braise" or "rue" means. Maybe we can presume on one of our pros like Beccy to whip up a glossary?

I think I have finally managed to read through all the other cookbook threads. Clearly, there's interest! So here's the deal:

------------------------------------------------
Ya'll email me your favorite stuff to:
nicole castle at attbi dot com (spam filter... you know the format)

If it's a recipe:
Please include the title of the recipe in the subject line (it'll help me sort), and in the body include the recipe, your MudCat handle, geographic location, and your real name if you want to include it. If you want to include a few lines of intro or history on the recipe, that'd be great. These should all be original recipes, right, so we don't get in trouble publishing something from elsewhere?

If it's a song:
Please include the lyrics and music notation. Dots would probably be best, since it's more universal. It should be either an original or public domain, so no one gets in trouble. Include copyright info if needed.

If it's poetry or art or a joke or a story or a photo or something else:
Just send me the text or image, and any 'splaining if you need to. I can accept most formats, but a postscript or generic image format like JPG or TIF would probably be best just in case.

If you need to send me a hard copy, that's fine, I can do all the electronic converting here. Just email or PM me for my address.

---------------------------------------------
Deadline for submissions: April 18, 2003
Anticipated release date: mid-May 2003
Format/cost of cookbook: TBD.
---------------------------------------------

If anyone has a line on cheap printing, let me know. I think it would be nice to have a real book, even if it's just a spiral-bound book. It's hard to cook off a computer screen!

So what's the name of this cookbook, anyway?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 11:32 AM

If you look back to this thread you'll see one concern that comes up pretty quickly--translating Euro and American measures.

I would suggest, if someone doesn't want to make the calculations for such a book (and check them twice!) that a very good conversion chart be included at the front of the book, and a column should be left open (perhaps with an _____ before each line, like



_____ 1 cup whole wheat flour

_____ 1/2 cup shortening

So that the cook can either go with the quantities as printed or use the conversion chart and write in their preferred measure.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 10:06 AM

I love cookbooks! And I have plenty of off the cuff lets-dump-this-in-the-Crock-Pot-and-see-what-happens recipes!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 09:16 AM

"Sixty-four Ways to Fry a Cat"? "Catfish Delight"? "Mudcat In the Kitchen, Kickin' up Dough?"


A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 08:05 AM

if you're willing to do the leg work I would suggest PDF to begin with - (after all - it would be much of the work towards producing a CD or print version.)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 02:27 AM

Nicole,

At the very least this would be a labor of love, but be warned that a book can be a full-time job for a while. I posted a link to a friend's cookbook over of the "what's for dinner" thread, and should remark that this has been an ongoing project for years with him. Getting it right takes a lot of work!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 01:33 AM

Somewhere int he Back O' Beyond there was a whole Song Challenge ont he theme of food.

One entry went:

Al Jolson enters stage right. Violins set a tone of subdued yearning) 

Is that sauce 
On your thigh? 
Are your cupfuls really that high? 
Oh, I'd like to make food 
Of you, 

We are here, 
Just to spoon 
On a summer sheet, under the moon 
And I'd like to make food 
Of you!

I don't know if it needs pepper 
Or if a little oil would do! 
With a small 
Dose of heat 
Comes the fragrance of simmering meat 
And we both come completely 
Unglued!

And I'd like to make food 
Of you! 

..and then there was the Sous-Chef Suberranean Food Poisoning Blues, which can be found over in Song Challenge 9 as well!! (I found it!)


A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 10:14 PM

Great idea!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 10:06 PM

Count me in, Nicole. Iz got a few recipes I'd love to share. But more importantly, I'd like to pick some Catter's minds.

Great idea! Anything I can do to help?

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 09:54 PM

Yes, but as far as I can tell, no one has ever actually gone ahead and DONE it. If enough folks are interested and will send me stuff, I will make it happen :)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 09:51 PM

It's still a great idea Nicole.....Have you tracked down the other cookbook fundraiser threads and many of the general food threads?

Spaw

Subject: BS: Mudcat Musical Cookbook Fundraiser?
From: NicoleC
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 09:44 PM

What do ya'll think about a MudCat Cookbook for a 'Cat fundraiser? It was mentioned on another thread, but I thought it deserved it's own to see if there is any interest. One thing is for sure -- Mudcatter's like their food and seem to be darn good cooks. Good food and good music certainly go together!

I'll volunteer to do all the layout and legwork if there's enough interest. Or buddy up with someone(s); it may be a big project.

Would people be willing to contribute:
-Recipes?
-Songs about food?
-Food/music artwork or photos?
-Maybe a couple of tall tales about food and music?
-Other food/music related stuff -- ideas?

Would people be willing to purchase:
-A PDF, to print out at home?
-A spiral-bound or paper-bound type book?
-A book on CD?
-Something else?