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SubscribeSunday, March 30, 2008
Calling for Cookbook Recipe Testers!
Vietnamese Pulled Pork Sliders (one of the recipes in my cookbook)
The Steamy Kitchen cookbook is well under way. I’ve been working hard refining my photography skills, such as food styling, composition, lighting and learning how to use my camera beyond just the “automatic” settings. You guys want to hear more about my cookbook?
Periplus/Tuttle is my publisher, they’re responsible for at least 35% of my annual cookbook budget, meaning I already own A LOT of their cookbooks:
***
Interested in recipe testing?
Update: **Hey guys! I’m done with the 
Steamy Kitchen Cookbook! I’ll be looking for recipe testers when I start book #2….stay tuned…I’ll post when recipe testing begins.**
So anyways, I’m looking for a few recipe testers to help out with….um….recipe testing. The cookbook will be “Modern Asian: fast, fresh and simple enough for tonight’s supper” (yup! just like what my blog header says! It includes 100 recipes + 160 color photographs in a beautiful hardcover book. Nearly every single recipe will include one of my luscious photos! Because I have so many photos, the book won’t be released until next year.
Why so many photos? I don’t know about you, but when I flip through a cookbook and if it doesn’t have photos, I put it back. I’m a very visual person and my brain just naturally gravitates towards eye candy. Which is why I must be blindfolded whenever entering a Sur La Table store. My mind just goes bezerk with sensory overload!
Here’s what recipe testing involves:
- Testing 3 recipes and providing honest feedback on specifics of the recipe and final dish
- Submitting a photo of the dish – so that we can all see if it looks even remotely like my version that I had concocted in my kitchen
- I’m also looking for one organized, sane individual to help manage all the testers and testing feedback
What do you get? Hmmm….how about your name in bright lights in my book? A big hug? An invite to a big massive launch party with lots of famous people and champagne? Ok, still working on the famous people bit, but I AM one degree from Justin Timberlake, one degree from David Beckham and just discovered last week that I’m one degree from Mario Batali!!! My one degree is heading to NY to visit cousin Mario and get this…she’s promised me that she would give him a big, wet kiss on the cheek for me.
WOOHOO! It’s only a matter of time!
Seriously, your help would be most appreciated and yes, your name will be in the book! As for the organized, sane individual who would like to manage the testing, you will be showered with lavish gifts, my next Chia Pet will be named after you and who knows what awesome opportunities will arise from being the First Mate of a new cookbook?
If you’re interested in recipe testing, comment below or just email me at jaden@steamykitchen.com. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
edit: holy fish sauce! over 250 testers. LOVE IT. The more, the merrier. Let’s make this a fun cookbook testing group. You guys rock. To answer some of your questions:
1) no, your photos will not be published in the book. It’s for our group reference only.
2) yes, your name will REALLY be in the book!
3) you’ll test 3 diff recipes, each one time.
4) no, I haven’ t personally grabbed Beckham’s ass yet. But I WILL one day….and I will have photos for you when that day comes.
5) no word from Mario, whether or not the kiss on the cheek got him to come to my site. When he comes, you’ll be the first to know.
Dang….that sounded sorta kinky.
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229 Responses to “Calling for Cookbook Recipe Testers!”
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Cookbook
101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight's Dinner
by Jaden Hair -
Favorite Stuff
Pitt Mitt - Use all 5 fingers instead of trying to wrestle hot items with puppet hands.
Hurom Slow Juicer - The very best juicer in the world - Bon Appetit names it best new appliance.
Gravity Pepper Mill - Spice it up one-handed, just turn it upside down.
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Hi Jaden,
I’d love to have the opportunity to test some of your new cookbook recipes! It sounds like fun, especially if you really are only one degree away from David Beckham. Be still my soccer hooligan beating heart.
Best,
Erin
Jaden, I’d love to be one of your recipe testers. Last November/December, I did some recipe testing for Lorna Sass and she liked my feedback.
One degree from Beckham, eh? Very hot, lol.
I’m game to test recipes.. can I have ones without red meat?
(oh, and I have Authentic Recipes from Morocco and it’s yummy)
Ooh, me! I love your blog, and I am a total foodie! Any excuse to try something new.
I would love to help out!
OH! ME! PICK ME! MEMEMEMEMeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Uh….sounds fun?
Yes, I’d love to help with testing!
i know you’ll receive scores of helpful hands, but add me to the mix too! would love to be a recipe tester (together with the culinary professional that is the hubby). also, because my middle name is “anal” (in a good way) i’d love to volunteer as the meta-organizer-bitch. because you know, you need to be a bitch in order to be this organized
Ooooh! Id love to be a tester for you!! I’m currently a tester for Leite’s Culinaria so I have some experience.. plus I love making food porn.. my photo styling skills aren’t that great but I do practice.. I have a new lens on the way too for better close up’s! Plus I have an inner Vietnamese woman thats just dying to come out!
Id love to help with any testing you may require. The only problem is I am a vegetarian and thus cannot make meat recipes. Nevertheless, I would love to help out in any way possible!
I’ve been a silent observer of your blog for awhile now and would love to be a tester! Photography is also hobby of mine so I will make sure to take super pics!
i love trying new recipes! put my name in the hat too!
I’d love to test any pork-free recipes for you. I enjoyed taking one of your classes at the Rolling Pin and want to indulge in more of your delicious porn.
Hi Jaden,
I’d be delighted to be a recipe tester for you, I love your stuff!! I’ll try any recipes at all, and will eat it all too!!
Thanks for a great site, definitely my comedy stop-off from lots of blogs!
I am willing to test your foolproof recipes. If there is a loophole I will find it! I am a good tester for cake, bread and non- cilantro recipes. Am I being too picky?
VERY interested in tasting..and testing…your new recipes.
My Japanese husband is game to be a taster, son too.
What quality photos? I’m just a disposable camera, develop at WalGreens on CD kinda gal.
Mary
I’ll be glad to test .. let me kow.. I’mon it.. my hubby would love soem new stuff,a nd I’m good at following recipes and taking photos…
I’ll be glad to test .. let me know.. I’m on it.. my hubby would love some new stuff,a nd I’m good at following recipes and taking photos…
Hey good luck with the book. I can imagine how much hard work its going to be. Your pictures and recipes are always fantastic , so i’m sure your book will do pretty well.
I would absolutely love to help you test out recipes!
I’ll be happy to test out any of your super delish vegetarian, fish or dessert recipes. Can’t promise that my photos will look nearly as great as yours!
Ummm… Yeah. Problem here.
I’m a lazy, lazy, lazy man. In fact, it would be much easier for me to fly down to your place and maybe crash in a tent in the back yard while you take care of all the heavy lifting of cooking and feeding me. I’m even willing to pretend I cooked, and I’ll write sterling reviews if you let me use your shower (or just hose me off) once a week or so.
And, if you’re lucky, you might even be able to find yourself one-degree away from Johnny Depp since he’s in town filming a movie.
Hi Jaden, I would like to try out your recipes as well
Gay
I’m a highly amateur cook, but I have made Crock Pot recipes and annotated the recipes with my comments in my blog. I’m allergic to shellfish and have problems with large amounts of shredded ginger (which might or might not have anything to do with the cigarette butt I found in my food once that a waiter tried to pass off as ginger), but I’m game for anything else!
More than willing to take a crack at some recipes.
As for my special dietary requirements:
- I eat meats, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- I prefer tasty food.
- I’ll eat not-so-tasty food.
I would be interested in helping you out.
I’m organized! The sane part I can’t be sure LOL! I sent you an email. I’m interested but need to know a bit more of what that would involve.
Ooooh!!!!! Me Me Me! I wanna help. I am able to seek ingredients within an hour of me, which includes stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, H Mart, Publix and Kroger’s. I have a picky kid, so I can be the kid friendly recipe tester!
We’d love to be a recipe tester as long as the recipes are vegetarian!
I’ve been a lurker for a while and love your blog! Would love to test a few recipes and try my hand at the food photos in my tiny NYC kitchen.
Count me in!
I promise to read the recipes really carefully, too. Unlike my most recent attempt to make your steamed spareribs, which swerved off-course as soon as I hit the word “ribs.” (The whole sordid story is here.)
But you still get credit for the inspiration.
Count me in! Your recipes haven’t failed me yet! The wife & I are always looking for new things to try, and we’re brutally honest!
count me in!
We eat Asian food almost 4 times a week. Plenty of opportunity to do recipe testings.
Would love to test for you.
I’m not available for testing but good luck with the book. Just wanted to tell you I made one of your prawns recipe over Easter and it was excellent.
I’d love to do some testing and photographing. Do I get to pick any recipes, or do you randomly select (bwahahahaha!)
I too would love to help out with testing if you still need more =)
I don’t think I could be much help (unless you need some simple database and or spreadsheet work done but I wish you all the luck in the world and definately put me down for a signed, first edition of your book!
SpecialEd
Jaden, I’d love to help test recipes! Don’t know how many you need, but count me in if you need me.
I would love to help with the recipe testing!!!
I would love to help out and test. Count me in. Also…am I jumping into the deep end??? I’d be willing to put my organizational skills to the test and help with the testers and feedback fun.
Scott
So I guess you have to be in Florida to be a tester…?
We’ll be there in a few months, though!
I’m your tester in my wildest dreams ;P
easy? did you say easy?? and simple?? well, if its eeeaaaasy and simple, surely I should be able to do it, right?? right???
Hi Jaden…great blog that combines your infectious passion for food, healthy sense of humor plus a photographer’s eye, and always makes me smile. And now the cookbook!! I’ve got a funky little bakery/cafe just up the road in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts, and would be happy to test some recipes. I’ve done it before for Peter Reinhart, Betsy Oppenneer and Linda Stradley’s books. Of course, our ingredient selection isn’t quite as exotic as Sarasota’s but we’re heads and shoulders above West Virginia.
“I flip through a cookbook and if it doesn’t have photos, I put it back.” – Me too! =D Not just I’m a visual person, but I think with photos we can learn a little about composition and food styling. So, improve my amateur skills. Well, I try it!
I would love to be you recipe tester, but I’m ‘outsider’ visitor (Brazil, actually). Is it a problem? =/
Hi, Jaden. I’d love to be a tester, too. I’ve been getting into food blogging lately, and have been doing digital photography since 2000. Check out my blog for samples.
KimL
I’d love to be a tester too. I tested a zillion recipes for our San Diego Junior League cookbook and it was quite fun!
Jaden, I’d be honored to help test your recipes. I’ll help test any type of food. I’ve been a fan of your blog for a long time. And, I find myself with some free time right now!
I’m up for testing, too. I often work late, so quick and tasty is definitely a high priority! I’ve tested for Leite’s Culinaria a few times and had a lot of fun with that. No dietary restrictions here.
Oh wow, a cookbook! How terribly exciting!
If you’re not overwhelmed with volunteers already, I’d love to try out your recipes!