I'm Hungry!

For about two hours on Saturday, I felt like a superstar. I kinda liked it.

On that wet, gray winter’s afternoon, I headed to our local bookstore to attend a book signing– my own! You see, last year, I was asked to update a children’s recipe book that had been published originally in 1984. I’m a book editor, specializing in food books, and being a mum, the publishers thought I’d be great at a book like this. I ended up completely rewriting it, and most of the recipes are of my own creation. The book was published in Australia in March this year, and its new title is I’m Hungry, Let’s Cook!

I wrote it with eight- to 12-year-old children in mind, and asked heaps of mums and children what they’d like in a really good cookbook. So, the result is a cute little book that will hopefully inspire kids to get into the kitchen, and to use really good-quality, fresh (and organic) ingredients. It’s a conventional cookbook, in that it features cooked recipes and a few “treats”, but I did squeeze in a few raw recipes.

I made sure that the recipes are descriptive enough that kids who are more “kitchen savvy” could make them on their own, and I emphasized the pleasure to be gained from making food for others as well as for themselves. I really think that teaching children to make food is a win-win for families – the children gain confidence in a new skill, as well as the satisfaction of creation, and parents get to put their feet up for while (once children’s skills are honed – especially the skill of tidying up the kitchen!).

There’s been a great response to the book (a couple of reprints already), and we thought a local book signing would be a great idea. So I baked up a batch of my super Crannie-Oatie-Chockie Cookies – a recipe from the book – and let myself be chauffeur-driven to the bookstore. The chauffeur was a lovely chap called Darren. He’s also my husband…

I set myself up with a few copies of the book, and got out my special new book-signing pen. The cookies (and the book) attracted quite a bit of attention. Most memorable is the boy for whom I first signed a book – he had been waiting around for me to arrive, and was quite in awe as I signed the book for him. What a sweetie! A few of my friends and family members also dropped by, which was fun… In fact, that’s my (young enough to be my older sister) aunt in the picture with me, as well as her baby boy, Mitchell.

So, as the afternoon drew to a close, I distributed the last of the cookies to the appreciative bookstore staff and headed off into the sunset (um … drizzly evening). It was so great to connect with people, and to give out a little bit of love. I feel privileged that all the hard work I put into the book could receive such wonderful recognition – if only our job of motherhood could receive public acclaim!

You know, a girl sure could get used to being a superstar…

PS At this stage, the book is only available in Australia, so if you live in Oz then you’re in luck! However, discussions are in progress for possible UK and US distribution.