Q: How to categorize recipes in a cookbook?

Hey, everybody, long time, no see.  

I'm helping a local group put together a cookbook, and have a couple of questions on what would be the best way to categorize some recipes.  Could you all look in some of your cookbooks, like Betty Crocker, Better Homes and Gardens, etc., and tell me this:

Coffeecakes:  Cakes or Breads?  I personally think of them as a quick bread, but would like a second opinion.

Chicken wings, like hot wings, honey BBQ wings, etc:  Appetizers or with the other chicken recipes?  I have them with appetizers, but another lady who is also typing recipes has put hers with Main Dishes-Chicken.

Now if the answers are all over the place, I'll be really confused!!  LOL  We just want to be consistent and have a great cookbook when it's all said and done.  Thanks for your help.

Hi MissEllie!  I've been wanting to put together a cookbook too with all of my favorite recipes, what a lot of typing....eeek.

Chicken wings are definitlely appetizers.  When you go to a restaurant, there they are.

In my Better Homes cookbook, the table of contents says Bread and when you go to the chapter, they are headlined under: yeast breads and quick breads, coffeecake is listed under quick breads.

I would put coffeecakes in with Cakes if that is one of your categories. I would definatelly put Chicken wings in Appetizers.

I made a cookbook out of all the recipes I have printed out off of the net, My categories are

Appetizers

Breakfast

Main Dish

Side Dish

Desserts

Breads

Sauces/Mixes

I had sooo many Dessert recipes that I had to have a separate binder just for those. Funny thing is I can't even eat sweets LOL

Coffeecakes:  Cakes or Breads? = Its a sweet, right?  Most people will associate it with cake, rather than bread... which everyone knows is for sandwiches and toast.

Chicken wings, like hot wings, honey BBQ wings = Appetizers? That's so 50s... who serves appetizers anymore? Anyone who goes to the trouble of preparing a dish from scratch will likely serve it as a meal, but you can always add a, "Cook's Note: Makes a great appetizer too!".

Thanks, Dody!!

lindapearl:

who serves appetizers anymore?

Really?? I do. And if no one serves them anymore, then why in every cookbook I have there is a section entitled Appetizers?

But you're the expert. You published one didnt't you? Or am I thinking of someone else. Hmm.

Good to see you LP Btw.

LP, don't you ever have parties or serve finger foods at some get-together?  I fix things like that all the time for guests when they come over for an evening of movies or games, or take them to other's homes when going for an evening.  I don't see it as being "so 50s", but if it is, then I'm OK with it.

I would tend to put quickbreads with cakes, both because they are generally a dessert item and because they are made with similar techniques and ingredients.  Cookbooks are not very consistent about that.  Amusingly, Joy of Cooking has banana bread in the bread section, and banana cake in the cake section, even though the differences between the two recipes are fairly minor.

Chicken wings I'd put in the appetizer section.  Yes, you could eat them as a main course, but that's not how they're generally thought of.

lindapearl:

 Appetizers? That's so 50s... who serves appetizers anymore?

 

Everyone I know makes appetizers.  Just last Sunday I made two (Baked Brie and caramelized onions and Melitzano-both served with fresh homemade French bread).

In my Good Housekeeping Cookbook coffeecake is in quick breads and in yeast breads.  It depends if it has yeast or not.

I'll really throw ya a loop....I put coffeecakes under Breakfast/ Brunch recipes, LOL.

Chicken wings are an appetizer to me.  We have them as a meal sometimes- but they are still pretty much listed as an appetizer everywhere except a pizza joint. (then they're a side dish, LOL)

sstetzel:

put coffeecakes under Breakfast/ Brunch recipes, LOL.

 

Wow no crap Sue, in the cookbook that I made out of printed recipes of the net, my coffee cake is in that section too GMTA.

I think of coffeecakes as quick breads also and chicken wings, hot wings etc., apptizers for sure!!

There are times I like to order the appitzers in restaurants, there are times I don't feel like eating a plate full of food. :o)

Guess we are all "Back in the 50's Again" lol

Roen1969:

my coffee cake is in that section too GMTA.

LOL that's when I cook them so that's where I look for them, LOL.  Besides - it's DMTA

MissEllie:

I'm helping a local group put together a cookbook

Since it is a group, suggest where you think recipes that cause confusion should be and then ask everyone for their opinions.  Maybe done like a fill in the blank ballot.  Then, whichever category gets the most votes for a specific recipe that is where it should go.  IMO, coffeecake should go in either bread category or a breakfast foods category and wings should go in appetizers.  Again, those are just my opinions. 

I think almost everyone serves appetizers...or eats them at home or even in a restaurant...

There are times when finger foods are the best...And it is handy to look in a cookbook to find a quick appetizer to take someplace in the spare of the moment...

Who has a complete sit down meal ALL the time????

Even taking to work when everyone pitches in for a buffet...There are always appetizers...

50's thing ....I don't think so.....