How I Create a Digital Cookbook: From Idea to Launch
Introduction
When you download a digital cookbook, it might look seamless - beautiful pages, polished photos, recipes laid out with precision. But behind that clean file is a messy, joyful, and sometimes chaotic process of brainstorming, cooking, testing, writing, and designing.
Creating Cozy Kickoff: Fall Comforts and Game Day Bites wasn’t just about recipes. It was about capturing the feeling of comfort and connection that food brings to my family, then finding a way to share it with others. I wanted to show that plant-based recipes can be approachable, budget-friendly, and filled with flavor, while also weaving in the philosophy behind Fettling Fine.
Here’s a peek into the journey - from the very first spark of an idea all the way to clicking “publish.”
The Spark of an Idea
The inspiration for my first cookbook started the way most of my projects do: with a notebook, a pen, and a cup of coffee. I had been sharing recipes online for a while, but I wanted something more permanent than scrolling through Instagram captions. A cookbook felt like a way to bring everything together - a place where recipes could live side by side and tell a bigger story.
The theme came naturally. Fall is my favorite season to cook in - the cozy flavors, game day spreads, and warm comfort foods all invite people to gather around the table. I wanted this eBook to feel like a cozy kickoff to the season, full of dishes you’d want to cook for family, friends, or just a quiet night in.
From the start, I knew it wouldn’t just be about food. It would be about creating a sense of wellbeing, joy, and connection, values that live at the core of Fettling Fine.
Recipe Development & Testing
Every recipe in the eBook started in my kitchen - not in a test lab, but in the same space where I cook for my family every day. These weren’t “staged” dishes for the sake of a cookbook; they were dinners and dishes that made their way to our table, often still warm from the photo shoot.
Some recipes came together quickly, others needed tweaking. I’d make notes while stirring a sauce or jot down ideas while washing dishes. Testing wasn’t just about flavor, but also about time, budget, and accessibility. As a working mom, I know how important it is to have recipes that feel do-able after a long day. If something took too long, required too many specialty ingredients, or didn’t feel approachable, I scrapped it or simplified it.
There’s a kind of honesty that happens when recipes are cooked for the people you love. My family was my taste-testing panel. If they went back for seconds, I knew it was a keeper.
Photography & Styling
All of the photos in Cozy Kickoff were taken right in my own kitchen. These weren’t staged in a studio - they were the real dishes my family was about to sit down and enjoy.
Food photography may look effortless when you see the finished images, but behind the camera it’s often anything but glamorous. I’d be shifting plates, adjusting angles, and sometimes asking my family to wait just five more minutes before digging in.
My goal with styling is simple: let the food shine. A drizzle of sauce, a sprinkle of herbs, or a slightly imperfect spoonful makes the dish feel alive. I don’t use elaborate props or distracting backgrounds - just clean, inviting shots that show the food the way you’d see it at your own table.
That’s part of what makes this cookbook so personal: every recipe was not only tested in my home but photographed there too, capturing the kind of cozy, approachable meals I hope others will enjoy in theirs.
Writing & Designing the Cookbook
Once the recipes and photos were ready, the next step was turning them into a book. I used Canva to design the eBook, and I loved how flexible it was. I could move text boxes, play with fonts, and adjust colors until it felt cohesive and true to Fettling Fine’s style.
Writing the recipe headnotes - the little introductions before each recipe - was one of my favorite parts. They’re not just instructions, but tiny windows into why a dish matters. Sometimes it’s the memory of making it on a chilly evening, sometimes it’s a tip I wish someone had told me when I first tried the recipe.
Formatting for digital reading was another layer. I wanted the cookbook to look beautiful on a tablet, phone, or laptop, but also be printer-friendly for anyone who prefers paper. That balance was important because I wanted the recipes to be used, not just admired.
Preparing for Launch
Once the eBook was designed, the real nerves began: launching it. Sharing recipes one post at a time is one thing - putting them into a polished collection and asking people to download it is another.
I built the launch around three things:
My website as the home base, where the eBook could live and be downloaded instantly.
Instagram as the place to share teasers - recipe photos, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and countdowns.
Email alerts so readers could be the first to know when it went live.
There was a mix of excitement and doubt as I hit “publish.” Would anyone download it? Would they enjoy the recipes as much as my family does? But then the messages started coming in - readers cooking the dishes, tagging me in photos, sharing their own cozy meals - and I realized that the cookbook had already done its job.
Conclusion: More Than a Cookbook
Creating a digital cookbook was more than a creative project. It was a reminder that food connects us in ways beyond the plate. Every step - brainstorming, cooking, photographing, designing, and launching - was fueled by the hope of helping others feel “in fine fettle” in their own kitchens.
This is just the beginning. More cookbooks will come, each one carrying the same heart: recipes that nourish, connect, and invite joy.
If you haven’t yet, I’d love for you to:
Grab your copy of Cozy Kickoff and start cooking.
Sign up for email alerts to stay updated on future recipes and eBooks.
Follow along on Instagram to join the day-to-day journey in the kitchen.