I am so excited to share a big, fun announcement today. The cover of my next cookbook has just been finalized, and HERE it is! Woohoo!
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As you can see, the theme of my second cookbook is "fast & fabulous," which means this one is full of the quickest, easiest, and tastiest real food recipes I could come up with (75 of which are new and have never before been published on the blog). It also includes loads of color photos, simple cheat sheets on how to avoid processed food, more packed lunches (for kids and adults, this time!), new meal plans (with shopping lists, of course), my top 10 grocery products from a variety of national chains, the truth behind more than a dozen supermarket myths, food prep guides, storage cheat sheets, and more. I've been a busy little bee! :)
And with it hitting store shelves on October 25th, it's already available for pre-order on some sites (hint, hint). Click the buttons below if you want to check it out in more detail!
Amazon | Indie Bound | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Books-a-Million
Behind the Scenes
It's so exciting to finally have a cover I can share because let me tell you what - it was no easy task getting to this point. As with my first cookbook, I had planned several different photo shoots to capture all the lifestyle pictures I thought we would need. This is not something my publisher handles - it's completely up to me to make it all happen!
So several months in advance--while my food photographer was working away on the close-up food pics at her studio--I started working on our lifestyle photos by selecting dates, figuring out all our outfits (with the help of my friend Erin, who's much better than me at that sort of thing!), picking local photographers, making a list of pictures we'd need to get, hiring food and prop stylists, scheduling someone to do my hair and make-up, inviting friends to be in some of the pics with us, willing the sun to be out and shining, and ...trying not to stress about so many different details. In case you don't already know, I can sometimes be wound pretty tight. :)
We had a lot to accomplish over the two different weekends I chose (when the sun did end up cooperating like I was hoping!), and the festivities began at a beautiful local, organic farm called New Town Farms. We shop at their booth at our farmers' market, and the owners (Sammy and Melinda) were kind enough to not only allow us to use their property, but to share their chickens, baby chicks, and baby pig with us. Baby farm animals, people - my children were in heaven! This was definitely the first time in my life my children actually thanked me after a photo shoot of any sort. I couldn't believe it. Things were definitely off to a fabulous start.
Here is a quick close up after they were given the baby chicks (look at those smiles!). Trust me, though, the pics that will be in the book are MUCH better than any of these that I took with my phone!
The day after the farm visit we were up at the crack of dawn (on a Saturday!) to get ready for more family pictures at our farmers' market. It was chilly and early, but we thankfully got some good stuff. Then we had a few days in-between to "rest" (or more accurately to live our normal busy lives of work/school/activities) before the real deal lifestyle pictures began the following weekend. This was when we had the whole crew there to help because I had a couple dozen recipes I wanted us to interact with in the photos. So, for the first time ever, I enlisted the help of a food stylist to completely take charge of that piece by purchasing the ingredients, making the recipes, AND cleaning it all up, instead of doing it myself while simultaneously trying to actually be in the photographs. Best. decision. ever!
But wait, here's the best part. Even with all of that help, this is how we felt after four solid days of being in photographs...absolutely exhausted! We were feeling so happy about a job well done but were not able to move from these spots for hours, LOL.
But then this is what happened next. I got the photos back and truly LOVED everything that was captured except for one thing...the cover photo (the original one - not what is pictured above). As soon as I saw it, I knew in my heart that one scene had to be redone. I just couldn't put a cover out there I didn't love. Soooo, we got to do more pictures!! The joke's on me, right?! Not exactly what I was hoping for, but in the end, it was totally worth it because I am just thrilled with how it turned out. Now do you see what I mean about it being no easy task getting to this point? I now appreciate every cookbook cover I see so much more! :)
What's Next
The hardest part is definitely behind me, although I am still in the middle of all the final edits before this thing can go to print. I am counting down the days to not only be able to hold it in my hands (October 25th!), but to be able to share it with you! Your feedback helped me decide what should be in this cookbook, and I hope you are as pleased as I am with the outcome. It truly contains the easiest and quickest (and tastiest) real food recipes I could come up with as well as all the food shopping resources you could possibly need to painlessly cut processed food out of your life. I cannot wait to get it into your hands and see what you think! :)
Amazon | Indie Bound | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Books-a-Million
Martha Macias says
Congrats! I can't wait to have your second book. I own a copy of the first one and I love it! Some of my favorite recipes are the corn chowder and the vegetable chilli (I love soups). I wish you continued success and thank you for sharing your passion with so many people.
Elizabeth Marsh says
Congrats and thank you for doing another cookbook. I LOVE your first one and it really helps me cook healthy meals for my 3 1/2 year old triplet girls. Barely any processed foods here! Thank you for motivating me and teaching me!! Keep up the great work!
Barb DeWitt says
I just pre-ordered my (your) cookbook and am so excited to get my hands on it! I love 100 Days - use it regularly and long to have more control in the life of my family. Congratulations on a huge job well done!
Lauren Carawan says
A huge accomplishment! Keep up the great work and writing! It's inspiring :)
Meg says
Can't wait!!
Carrie says
Will be ordering! We use your first one ALL the time. My son and his family have their own copy too. They use theirs as often as I use mine. One of our faves is the Cheesy broccoli soup recipe!
Jenifer Parris says
Lisa, I'm so excited for you!!! And for us to get our hands on this cookbook! I've given away your first book on my blog and I can't wait to host a giveaway of this one too!! EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!
Vanessa says
Very nice! I can't believe how big your kids are getting! Great family project :)
Rachel says
Just pre ordered mine! Can't wait!
Mike Zielonka says
Congrats!
Cindy M Westphal says
I am super excited to get your next cookbook. I love your first one and use it a lot. Thank you for sharing your recipes in your cookbooks and for all your hard work creating them. It certainly has changed my eating habits..
Erin Smith says
How exciting!!! Congratulations and it looks great. :)
Cheryl Sameit says
Congrats on your new cookbook!! The photos look super fun, and I am headed to Amazon to pre-order now :-) Thanks for always providing timely and helpful info on real food for me and my family to enjoy!
Adlen Robinson says
Woohoo!!! So excited!!!
anonymous says
That is disgusting that the photographer has their shoe up on the counter!
Maureen says
SO excited for you!!! We've been following you for a long time and this feels like a win for everyone! Keep doing what you're doing; you're changing lives - one meal at a time. Kudos to you, your mission & your success!
Kristi says
OMG Lisa I sooooo can't wait to go through it!!! I've pre ordered mine on Amazon:). I've been following your blog for about three years now, love your cookbook and use it often!!! You changed our lives and am so grateful I came across your blog three years ago!!!! Thanks to you, your family and team for all your hard work and dedication because I'm sure it's not easy:). Much love, cheers!!!
Barb says
Congratulations! I love your first cookbook and look forward to seeing this one. I am baking granola as I type this - something my family wants me to make every week. (I simply double the recipe and only make it every other week :-) I appreciate your hard work as it surely benefits my family.
Diane says
Woohoo! Congratulations. I've made pretty much every recipe from the first book, so looking forward to new recipes!
Colleen says
I am so excited for your new cookbook! Your first is my favorite cookbook and I own too many to count! I love how everything is super easy and approachable, with 2 small kids of my own I turn to your lunch ideas to change things up about every week! Thanks for all you do, can't wait to see all the goodness in the next book!
Rachel says
Thanks to all of your family for the effort you spend on educating us and making it easier for us to be healthy. Looking forward to the new book!
Lisa says
You are so welcome - it's our pleasure! :)
Jen says
Just preordered my copy! I can't wait :D
Lisa says
Yay! :)
Mindy says
The best news about this is the theme of "fast meals". 90% of the meals I make need to be eaten between activities, with little time for me to spend on prep. This is right up my alley. Thanks so much...I can't wait to get it!
Lisa says
It's exactly what everyone asked for ...can't wait for it to hit shelves!
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life says
Congratulations Lisa and team on your second book. I know it will be just as successful as your first book.
Lisa says
Thank you! :)
Marty says
I'm so excited for cookbook #2 (perfect timing for holiday giving!)! I still use your first cookbook every week so cannot wait to have another one to put into my weekly rotation!
Lisa says
I'm so glad to hear that!! :)
Cathy says
I'm sure the results of all your hard work will be very satisfying, and you'll be so glad you held out for a cover you're happy with! As a learning blogger, I am beginning to appreciate how much time goes into a good photo.
Lisa says
Yes, I knew the extra work would be worth it in the end ...a book is just too permanent to not be pleased with how it turned out! :)
Barrie says
How exciting! Looks like all the hard work was well worth it! Can't wait till November!
Lisa says
Totally worth it! Counting down... :)
Jill says
Yay! I can't wait for your new cookbook to come out. I'm so excited! Thank you for all the work you have done that helps my family eat better and actually enjoy it too boot! Mealtime is far less of a hassle now, since I discovered your first cookbook. Rest now, you certainly deserve the break.
Lisa says
I am so glad to hear that - you are so welcome!! And yes, once all the copyedits are behind me I hope to get some rest for sure :)
Emily says
Congratulations!! I just pre-ordered my copy from Amazon!
Lisa says
Yay! Thanks so much! :)
Barbara says
Wow I had no idea of all the hard work and the amount of people that went in to making a cookbook…… congratulations! I love your first cookbook and it is amazing how much your girls have grown up since then. Cant wait for this new cookbook, with as yet unseen recipes, and shall be preordering it for sure. Thank you for keeping my family eating healthily with all your recipe ideas.
Lisa says
Thanks for the kind words ...glad to be a part of your family's real food journey! :) And yes putting together a cookbook is A LOT of work! Worth it in the end though :)
Trudy McDermott says
I'm so excited for you! I love your first cookbook, and I'm so looking forward to your second!
Lisa says
Thank you!! Looking forward to it myself :)
Ruth says
Can't wait to see it! Sounds awesome.
Julie says
Yay!!!! So excited. I have given your 1st book away many times as gifts. I'm excited to have another one to share. I'm known at my daughters school as the gourmet lunch maker, haha, thanks to your inspiration. I even have people telling me i should start a lunch making service, as if they are that difficult to make. Thanks for your inspirations. Keep it coming! (P.s please seriously consider a kids cookbook!)
Lisa says
Love that! Plus thanks for giving it at gifts. :) And honestly, most of the recipes in this next book are easy enough for kids to make on their own (depending on how old they are). Can't wait for it to hit shelves!
Jana Sutter says
I am so excited for your new cookbook release! I already preordered my copy. The words "easy," "fast," and "fabulous" are musts in our three-child family, and your recipes are consistently reliable. I never stress about spending the money on quality cuts of meat, etc. for a "new-to-me" recipe from 100 Days of Real Food, because you are a trusted name and if it is on your website, I am confident it will be delicious. Thank you for testing the recipes so we don't have to, and thanks for showing us all that real food doesn't have to be bland and flavorless :)
Lisa says
Thanks for your lovely comment! And as a busy mom myself I totally get it ...easy is where it's at! :)
Juli says
So excited!! My son loves helping me pick dinner recipes to cook for us from your cookbook :-)
Lisa says
Love that he is involved! :)
Courtney says
So excited for your new cookbook (just pre-ordered it!) I don't have kids yet, but I love all your recipes and tricks! I've been following you since 2013 and I really love that you include all food groups! Bravo!
Lisa says
No kids required to enjoy these recipes! :)
Cindy says
I am excited to see your new cookbook. I saw your other one at our local library and wrote down a lot of your recipes. I keep going back to check it out again in case I missed something. I will definitely be putting your new one on my Christmas list this year. I am opening a small home daycare and use lot of your recipes for my family and can't wait to use them for snacks and lunches for the little kiddos too. Thank you !
Maureen @Raising The Capable Student says
Looks Great! I really can't wait to get my hands on it!
Lisa says
Thanks! :)
Trish F. says
I am so excited to get the new book! I ended up buying a total of 6 of the first book and gave 5 of them as gifts. Thank you to you and your family for working so hard to make my friends and family healthier!
Lisa says
Love the bulk ordering ...thanks!! :)
Taste of France says
Congratulations! Not just for having done another cookbook but for having done one on this topic. I learned to cook like you when I was in Peace Corps in Kenya and had access to basic ingredients only--nothing processed. But not everybody gets that experience. Anyway, the focus on real food is why I follow you.
Lisa says
Thanks!! :)