It’s been a little while since our last post and much has happened!
The biggest news is that close to all SIXTY recipes have been submitted. We’ve got soups; vegetables, seaweeds and salads; tofu and eggs; seafood; meat and poultry (like the Pork and Shitake Gyoza we shared a week and a half ago); rice, noodles and pancakes; sweet and savory snacks; and even desserts (remember these Green Tea Kit Kat? Yea… like that!).
While I’m on the subject of Peko Peko recipes, check out the “Peko Peko Udon” that the unstoppable Alice Currah from Savory Sweet Life created for us. How badly do you want to eat that?!
I find it hard to believe that you don’t know Alice already but, just in case, she is a mom of three and the voice (cook, baker and photographer) behind Savory Sweet Life and Everyday Alice. She also writes for PBS Parents Kitchen Explorers and is a regular contributor at the Pioneer Woman’s Tasty Kitchen Blog.
I cannot thank Alice and all the rest of our contributors enough for their hard work on Peko Peko.
Speaking of work, we’ve been laser focused on raising $15,000. We’ve had many generous individual pledges, but are still looking for the right corporate sponsor. Why $15,000? It’s the amount that will pay for a print run of 2,000 books. With printing costs covered and Blurb, a sponsor and our publisher, willing to forgo their cut, the entire retail price of these first 2,000 books will go to straight to charity. So, let’s say that the book retails for $35 (this is not a final price!), our $15,000 investment turns into a $70,000 initial donation. Powerful stuff.
I will post a PayPal account soon that will allow people to make donations directly into our printing account with Blurb. In the meantime, please let us know if you are interested in becoming a sponsor or introducing us to a potential sponsor.
There would, of course, be no need for sponsors with out a BOOK, so we’ve also been hard at work on a manuscript which is being edited by professional cookbook editor Justin Schwartz of justcooknyc.com. I’ve got two words about Justin: BAD ASS. If you’ve ever been frustrated by a complication cookbook before, you’ll be amazed at Peko Peko. Justin is single handedly harmonizing recipes from over 50 writers, all in his free time. We are beyond lucky to be working with you, Justin. Thank you.
To keep us moving on as fast a track as possible, we’re working on design at the same time as we’re completing the manuscript. (See why it’s been a little while since our last update?!) Our gorgeous logo and site were designed by Ayaka Ito who had to move on to another project. Before she did, she hooked us up with another lovely and talented designer, Rieko Yamanaka who is also volunteering in her free time to make Peko Peko as beautiful as possible.
There are lot of other exciting details in the works… more news to come soon! And, until then, SPREAD THE WORD! Let’s make everyone “peko peko” for Peko Peko!
With love,
Stacie
xox
