Ever since I was tiny, I’ve loved to write. Before I was old enough to be left in the house on my own during school holidays, my Mum would take with me with her to the office. She’d sit me at a computer (one of those ancient black screens with a flashing cursor, I’m turning 30 this year and I fear it’s beginning to show) and the day would be spent writing stories, lost in my own little world and limited only by my imagination.
Writing, in a way, is a lot like cooking. You spend however many hours alone at a desk or in the kitchen – a solitary pursuit – before the results are shared: writing with readers who give your words a new lease of life and food with friends and family at parties and celebrations or simply round the kitchen table. With this blog I love how I can play around with recipes at home, alone, maybe in my pyjamas with flour in my hair, then write them up, press a button and suddenly people all round the world can read and recreate them, send me comments and share their own stories.
I’m hoping I can share those recipes with even more people next year because (drum roll, this is the REALLY BIG news bit!) . . . I’M WRITING A COOKBOOK! In my three years of blogging I’ve read enough of these kind of announcements to find it completely surreal that I’m writing my own. Right now I’m very busy, slightly scared and most importantly, over-the-moon excited. I’m going to have my name on a book and my recipes inside it, a book that people will (hopefully) buy, hold in their hands, cook from, bookmark, cover in flour and fingerprints and read when they go to bed.
So, this is the reason that recipes have been a little scarce of late. It’s a pretty mammoth project, especially alongside a full-time job, but I promise my book will be as beautiful and brilliant and creative and trustworthy as it can possibly be. Our kitchen (and freezer) are groaning with food that I can’t share in this space, which feels a little weird, but I hope it will be worth the wait. Over a year’s wait to be precise: the book is scheduled for 11th June 2015 from Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
The working title is HOMEMADE MEMORIES and the book will be packed full of childhood favourites with a grown-up, homemade twist. Think chocolate hazelnut caterpillar cake, homemade cornettos, peach melba baked alaska and real bourbon biscuits, midnight feast treats like marshmallows, fruit pastilles and fudge, proper puddings, a chapter on ice cream and maybe even a little loaf or two.
No recipe today, just a sneak preview of some of the recipes that are going into the book. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll have seen these before; if you don’t, come on over – I’ll be putting up more photos as I test my way through the rest, culminating in the PROFESSIONAL PHOTOSHOOT in August (be still my beating heart). Other than that, please bear with me over the next few months – recipes might not be quite as regular until I’ve handed in the manuscript – but after that things should be pretty much back to normal (plus some of those savoury recipes I promised, promise).
I’ve got an army of friends and family growing steadily fatter (kidding, kind of . . . ) as they test my recipes, but if you’re interested in testing for me too, please drop me an email thelittleloaf[at]gmail[dot]com with the subject line ‘Homemade memories’. Finally, please do let me know in the comments below if there are any childhood favourites you’d love to see recreated with a homemade twist. They may be on my list already, but I’d love to hear from you.
Hugest of congratulations to you! You must be absolutely thrilled, what is the book about? X
It says in the post – Homemade Memories – childhood treats for grown up tastes x
Fabulous news Kate! How very exciting. We are hoping to one day have a thingswemake book so I will be watching your journey with extra interest 🙂
I hope you enjoy the process.
Thanks Claire. I would definitely buy a Things We Make book – looking forward to that one! x
Congratluations! I was hoping you’d bring out a book someday and the idea of nostalgic recipes is lovely – maybe pink wafers could feature? They are so disappointing when eaten as an adult.
Gah, I wanted to include them but they are SO HARD to make at home. If I can perfect a recipe, they’ll be in there, but I can’t promise, sorry.
Oh wow!! Congratulations!! What a well-deserved achievement. I’m so excited and happy for you. I’m not sure I can wait so long but the months will no doubt pass by very quickly for you 🙂 And I love the theme of your cookbook – just perfect! I hope we will have some behind-the-scenes sneak peeks 🙂
Firstly – is that last picture MALT LOAF? Amazing.
Second – huuuuuge congrats, so deserved <3
Yep! It’s soo good 🙂 And thank you x
Congratulations on your big news! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!!
Oh Kate!!!! What glorious news!!! MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS – So super happy for you and I can’t wait to see your book!!! It’s going to be a huge success and one that will be much treasured in any home I’m sure. EEK!!! How exciting!!! Lots of hugs xx
Thank you Jaime! 🙂 xx
I’m so, so, so happy for you and so excited for your book!! I know it’s going to be full of the most delicious treats imaginable! xx
Brilliant news! Congratulations and well deserved! Would be happy to test, if you need more? X
great news- you have an amazing blog..follow that dream
I’ve actually got testers coming out my ears but thank you so much for the offer Kavey 🙂 xx
That is fantastic Kate! I am so thrilled for you 🙂 Good luck with the writing and enjoy the process! I will look forward to adding your book to my shelf 🙂
Thanks Sneh! I’ve absolutely loved watching the process of your cookbook as it developed through to the finished product – it’s a thing of beauty 🙂
Oh fabulous news Kate – I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I still way prefer cookbooks to blogs as I can take them to bed with me, pick them up at any time I have a thought or a few spare minutes so I will see more of your work there than I do on your blog probably. Please put my name down for a review copy!
Would be happy to do some testing if needed.
Massive congratulations and well done! Love the premise of the book!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. Very well deserved x
Congratulations Kate!!!! I thought you’d be writing a book sooner or later. What an exciting, and I’m sure is an exceptionally busy time for you. I can’t wait to see the end result!
Excellent news – congratulations! I look forward to the book 🙂
Quick question – I was just wondering what the recipe was for the first picture in the post – lovely looking little aquares, maybe fudge? They look delicious and I would love to try them out
Huge congrats you inspiring lady. Very very exciting!!!
HUGE congratulations! That is amazing Kate, I can’t wait to read it (caterpillar cake is my fave. Then with hazelnuts too? Woaaaah).
many congratulations to you! this really is exciting news and i would be delighted to offer myself for recipe testing! xx
Many congratulations Kate. I love recreating sweet recipes from childhood too – from my brother’s favourite chocolate and mint birthday cake and classic biscuits like custard creams, chocolate bourbons and garibaldi to sweets, ice creams and drinks, and I have always enjoyed your take on them. I have tried some of your recipes too and they are always reliable. Good luck!
Congrats! That cookbook sounds fascinating–sign me up! 🙂
Congratulations, Kate! This is brilliant news – can’t wait to see the book in the shops. And I love the idea of childhood recipes reinvented – ‘Homemade Memories’ is such a beautiful title.
Congratulations, Kate!! How exciting! Your writing is lovely and your recipes are scrumptious; you have nothing to worry about. xo
This is really exciting – congratulations!
That’s so exciting! Huge congratulations – the book sounds delicious already.
What wonderful news, Kate! Congratulations!!! Looking forward to what I’m sure will be an awesome cookbook!
Exciting news, congratulations!!
Kate, congratulations, that is huge news… And so deserved if you ask me. Your blog is beautiful, you create great recipes, you are an incredibly talented girl!
Huge huge huge congrats! I’m thrilled for you and cannot wait for your book!!
What wonderful news to start my week.
xoxo from California,
E
I am so, SO excited for this cookbook. Congratulations!
OH MY GOSH, so many CONGRATS!!!!! This is huge! I’m SO thrilled for you and so excited for this cookbook, Kate! Ahhh this is the best news ever, and so deserved — hurray!
Fantastic news and very well deserved. I look forward to reading your new book and I’m very interested in tasting and testing! X
Thanks Lauren. If you’d like to be one of the recipe testers, just ping me an email with the subject line ‘Homemade memories’ x
Ah I am so excited and happy for you. HUGE congrats!! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the finished product:-)
I always thought all your homemade treats would make a great book! You must be thrilled, what a great idea. Congratulations!!
Wonderful news, congratulations!! I am so looking forward to the book!
That is wonderful news! I hope the experience is thrilling. It will be a wonderful book. 🙂
Congratulations Kate, I am so thrilled for you! I remember noticing the increase in treats you posted on instagram and that were not showing up in your weekly posts and I remember hoping that meant you were working on a book!
I cannot even imagine what it must be like writing a book alongside a full-time job, you must be some kind of superwoman. Also, am highly jealous of anyone within reach of your freezer right now, it sounds like a right treasure trove of everyone’s favourite treats!
Love the title of your book and cannot wait to hold it in my hands!
Aw, thank you so much Sophia 🙂 It’s a lot of work, but lots of fun too, and great to be rewarded in delicious treats! x
Fantastic news, congratulations! Eagerly waiting til next year now… those photos are a great temptation!
Congratulations KATE!! This is so amazing!!! can’t wait to read it xxx
Kate, that really is huge news, congratulations! You are such a talented cook and blogger, you really deserve it. Way to go girl!
Eeep, I’m so pleased for you Kate! It’s all so exciting (and so nice to not have to keep it secret now!) xxx
Dear Kate,
This is so perfect for you:) I am sure it will be a wonderful book which lots of sweet tooths will absolutely treasure!! I have aways admired your eye for detail, knowledge in all food matters and the way you write- truly comforting and honest. I wish you all the best, can’t wait for it to come out 🙂
So pleased to hear this! I’ve been wondering why you hadn’t been snapped up for a book deal yet. Can’t wait to see it!
Very impressed you are doing it all alongside work. Books are very very demanding but the best feeling!
Aw, thank you!
Congratulations! What great news! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Congratulations on your fantastic news! I’m excited for you!
What wonderful news! Congratulations!
Congrats! How exciting! 🙂
Congrats on the wonderful news, how very exciting for you!!
What exciting news, congrats! It sounds like an amazing – and extremely delicious project… From my own childhood memory lane, I’d nominate fondant fancies, chocolate fingers, happy faces, freezer pops, rocket lollies, party rings… And if savouries are allowed, findus crispy pancakes (a bit cringe, I know…!) potato waffles / alphabites, noodle doodles… Mmm, 90s food.
Good luck!
Ah, sadly nothing savoury in this one. Maybe book 2? 😉
Hi, Is that fudge at the top? I’m looking for a fudge recipe but can’t seem to find the one on this site that goes with the photo… is there one? And WELL DONE. Very exciting.
Hi Katherine, Yep, it’s irish cream fudge – one of the recipes from the book so I’m afraid it won’t be available til next year! x
Hurrah! That is truly exciting news and (frankly, your recipes and posts are brilliant) very overdue! All the very, very best with this super project!
Aw, thank you so much Kate! x
PS You’re with Mrs Beeton’s publishers?! Brilliant stuff!
Few days late but woweeee!!!! So excited for you Kate. Awesome news, huge congrats xx
Thanks Emma. If my book ends up half as beautiful as yours, I’ll be happy 🙂 xx
So exciting! Congratulations!!!
I’ve only visited your blog a few times but have loved my visit every time 🙂 … and I can tell you deserve this book deal! All the best with the planning and writing and I will look forward to seeing it when it’s published!
OMG (not an expression I use very often, but highly appropriate here), how in the world have I missed this? I’m very excited for you Kate and for all the delicious treats I’m going to bake from it in my kitchen. I’m sure it’s gonna be a wonder of a book. One year is too long, but damn, good things come to those who wait, and this book promises all kinds of good! xx
Thank you Fanny! Your book is so incredibly beautiful – I’ve only baked from it a couple of times and love it already x
Well done Kate! I’m sure your book will be a great success!
I arrive a tad late to the party but…OMG!!! Congratulations, Kate, this is so awesome and cannot wait to have the book in my hands. Let’s virtually cheer with a glass of spritz 😀
Thank you! And cheers, we have a bottle of Aperol at home that’s begging to be opened 🙂
I must have been living under a rock these past few weeks, how could I have missed the great news?! A big congrats, that’s incredible and I’m so very happy for you!
VERY excited for this 🙂 Best of luck with the recipe development / writing!
I’m so late on this but…WHOA! Huge congrats! So excited for you, Kate. Can’t wait to get cooking from your book.
This is such good news, Kate! I’m so happy for you and look forward to reading/cooking from your book.
good luck with your book! I love the photos on your blog
You are so interesting! I don’t think I have read through a single thing like that before.
So good to discover somebody with original thoughts on this subject.
Really.. thank you for starting this up. This
web site is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with a little originality!