I have written down recipes for other people since I was 17-18. Today, I write them to leave a legacy for my daughter - if she ever wanted to cook. Although my old notes are far gone and perhaps even lost, my current notes became a cookbook, first there was one and then there were more. I believe that cooking should be a natural urge, not a task or chore.
'Crack The Code' is an excellent place to start.
As you gain confidence, you'll want them all.
Why self-published?
While writing 'A Dozen Ways to Celebrate', I was not sure a literary agent or publishing house would want to take me on, so I became a self-published author. The Kickstarter community helped build my confidence and as I wrote the book, and later Crack the Code, I realized how much I loved doing it all. Being a self-published author allows me more control on the content, the design work (oh yes), and of course, there is a completely indescribable joy of seeing your methods take tactile form on paper. Perhaps one day I may find someone eager enough to see my projects as enthusiastically as I do.
What all does this indie cookbook author do to create a book?
Everything. Unlike the fine craft of writing fiction, cookbooks are completely different. In my cookbooks, in addition to developing the recipe itself, I do the prep work, the cooking and testing, the clean-up, I take the photographs and then fuss with it in design programs to make them look right, do the first cut of editing, do the graphic design for a possible print version, and then I switch gears into delivery - via different platforms (Kindle, Nook, iBooks). Each format involves another round of design work. For ADWTC, my husband took the time to do it. The rest, I am learning and trying to do it myself.
About our indie small press... 'Turmeric Press'.
Purchase and download my cookbooks here:
 Roti: 40 Classic Indian Breads & SidRoti: 40 Classic Indian Breads & Sides explores essential breads like roti and chapati, alongside classic festive dishes like Puran Poli, and Kheer Patishapta. It also includes classic techniques applicable across many preparations, building confidence. To pair with these, Roti includes easy classic chutneys, raitas, relishes and desserts that effortlessly grace dinner tables whenever Roti’s are served. |  Ten Thousand Tongues: NovelFeatured in Forbes, NBC-News and NBC Asian America, this biographical fiction is based on the authors' family stories of strong matriarchs. Ten Thousand Tongues is The Langauge of Baklava meets Climbing Mango Trees & Joy Luck Club. |
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 Ten Thousand Tongues: cookbookTen Thousand Tongues: the companion cookbook covers many gastronomical regions of India and some in the US. It takes readers through both rural and urban kitchens, contrasting hearty rustic meals from the farmers' huts to restaurant eats and favorites at a charity fundraiser, from care packages for family members to dishes that launched a career in food. |  A Dozen Ways to CelebrateA Dozen Ways To Celebrate: Twelve Decadent Indian Feasts For The Culinary Indulgent.Using her unconventional approach to Indian food and cookbooks, Nandita’s maiden outside-the-box cookbook, is a richly visual resource with more than 100 recipes in 12 elaborate menus, a shopping cheat-sheet and a wealth of practical notes. |
 Crack The CodeDo you stress out when you see Indian spices? Do you wonder what goes when?? Crack the Code: Cook Any Indian Meal With Confidence is a methods-book about how to best use spices in Indian cooking. It is a short ebook and goes through the process of composing a dish v.s. using a recipe. The book is a cheat sheet for Indian spices, for example, if you are on Chopped and need to cook an Indian meal! |  Five Vegetarian, Gluten-free FeastsFive Vegetarian, Gluten-free Feasts is a collection of 19 dishes grouped into 5 Indian themed menus. Each one of these recipes is both decadent and easy to assemble. This book presents unique alternatives for a festive dinner table - for five or fifteen. |
 The Family FeastThe Family Feast: 12 More Indian Recipes – represents the Curry Cravings™ approach towards traditional holiday staples such as mashed potatoes, green beans, sauces, stuffing, baked meats, pies and desserts – to give feast-ers a refreshed look at the holiday table. It includes a make-ahead guide, a shopping spreadsheet and is filled with ideas to help make a memorable gathering. Recipes are adaptable for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. |  Street Eats: A Simple Indian FeastIndian street-foods are popular the world over for their tangy flavors, crisp textures and the large variety of offerings. Here is a book to help you make a selection of tasty delicacies that are most often found around the streets of India. These and other recipes are included in a larger volume, 'A Dozen Ways to Celebrate', also by the same author. |