The Journey Behind Beautiful Boards: Crafting a Culinary Dream

Creating a cookbook is truly a labor of love, an intricate dance of passion, dedication, and countless hours. Join me as I unveil the incredible journey of bringing my cookbook, Beautiful Boards, to life – an experience that reshaped my understanding of authorship and culinary artistry.

Before embarking on my own cookbook adventure, I often found myself wondering about the process, the immense effort involved in conceptualizing, writing, and publishing a culinary guide. Now, having navigated this intricate path, I can confidently say I hold a profound new appreciation for every cookbook author out there. The sheer scale of the undertaking is monumental, and honestly, I still marvel that I accomplished it! If I ever meet a fellow cookbook author, or indeed any author, my immediate instinct would be to offer a heartfelt hug and sincere congratulations for such a massive achievement.

Today, I’m thrilled to offer you an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into the creation of Beautiful Boards. From the initial exciting discussions with my publisher to those demanding 21-hour days filled with recipe development, meticulous food photography, and dedicated writing, it was undeniably the most challenging project I’ve ever undertaken. Yet, without a shadow of a doubt, I would do it all over again. Witnessing the culmination of every dream and effort, seeing the book perfectly coalesce just as I envisioned, was the most profoundly rewarding experience. That moment, holding my book in my hands, flipping through its pages with my family by my side, is etched forever in my memory.

My deepest hope is for all my fellow food board enthusiasts to cherish this book. It has been an immense honor and a privilege to channel my passion for constructing visually stunning and utterly delicious boards into a comprehensive cookbook. I envision it becoming a go-to reference, a wellspring of inspiration, and a treasured gift for years to come.

The Village Behind the Boards: A Heartfelt Thank You

I must begin by expressing my profound gratitude. You often hear the phrase, “It takes a village to raise children,” and I can now attest that it absolutely takes a village to create a cookbook. Words cannot fully convey my appreciation for the incredible network of friends and family who rallied around me throughout this entire experience. A special thank you goes to Brandon, my amazing mom and dad, our dear friends Paulette and Brittani, and my phenomenal photographers, Jerrelle and Eric. They were there for me every step of the way, offering unwavering support even when I thought I didn’t need it. This cookbook simply would not exist without their tireless dedication. They saw the dream flickering in my heart and selflessly helped me transform it into a tangible reality. Their constant encouragement, boundless love, and invaluable hands-on support in every aspect of bringing this book together mean more to me than they will ever truly know. But I sincerely hope they understand how incredibly thankful I am.

I frequently receive questions about how the cookbook came into existence, the timeline involved, and the overall process. So, I’m excited to offer you an honest and in-depth look into the raw, beautiful craziness of crafting a cookbook. During the intense creation period, I purposely refrained from sharing behind-the-scenes photos or videos. I was in a complete zone, pouring every ounce of my energy into the book while striving to be the best mom, wife, and friend I possibly could be. It was an intense ten-month period, but also unbelievably fun, and of course, filled with countless delicious moments!

The Genesis of Beautiful Boards: From Idea to Publication

How did the cookbook concept originate?

For quite some time, I harbored a deep-seated dream of publishing a cookbook. I knew with absolute certainty that if I ever did, it would have to be brimming with my imaginative and delectable food boards. Over several years, I diligently jotted down every board idea that sparked my imagination – we’re talking hundreds of concepts, over 200 to be precise! Then, in early November 2018, a wonderful opportunity arose when my publisher at Quarto Publishing Group reached out to me. They inquired about my interest in creating a cookbook centered around my boards, and well, the rest, as they say, is history! My publisher had been following my work for a while, she recognized my passion, and she truly trusted my ability to create the unique and amazing content that makes this book stand out. A huge thank you, Rage, for believing in my vision!

Tell us about the making of the cookbook.

Phew! To be entirely frank, it was the most challenging endeavor of my life. However, every single hour and ounce of effort I poured into it was unequivocally worth it, because the finished book is nothing short of beautiful. I am overwhelmingly proud of how every element seamlessly came together. The boards themselves turned out flawlessly, the photography is absolutely stunning, the step-by-step instructions are remarkably thorough, the ingredient lists are meticulously detailed, and the simple recipes are, without exception, delicious. I could continue singing its praises, but I truly believe you’ll appreciate its splendor even more once you hold it in your hands.

My first significant challenge was to prune my extensive list of over 200 board ideas down to a manageable 50 for the cookbook. Yikes, that was tough! The 50 boards ultimately selected are designed to be your go-to creations for any imaginable occasion. Picture the breakfast board you’ll crave every Saturday morning, the festive holiday boards destined to become cherished traditions for Thanksgiving, Christmas, the 4th of July, and other celebrations, or the effortless snack board that effortlessly resolves your simple lunch and weekday dinner dilemmas.

What went into building each board?

Each board was conceived with immense thought and meticulous tasting, ensuring that every single one achieved its absolute best: beautiful, delicious, approachable, and entirely doable. I would spend hours walking through grocery store aisles, carefully selecting the freshest and finest ingredients for each unique board. Subsequently, for months on end, I dedicated full days, every day, to creating each board. This process often involved making a board once, twice, and sometimes several more times, until I achieved absolute perfection. There were numerous versions of certain boards that simply didn’t make the final cut, and that was perfectly fine, because my unwavering determination was to ensure that every board included in the book was one that readers would be genuinely excited to recreate and enjoy.

I dedicated countless days and sleepless nights to building, shopping for, writing about, and, of course, savoring these boards. Even during the few hours of sleep I managed to snatch, my dreams were filled with boards! I was propelled by an electrifying mix of excitement and eagerness, driven to bring all my beautiful board ideas vividly to life within this cookbook.

Life in the Kitchen: During the Board Creation Process

For months, our kitchen and dining room became a vibrant, delicious chaos, constantly adorned with food and boards. We literally ate a board for every meal and snack. I distinctly remember one unforgettable Saturday: we started the day with the Build-Your-Own Parfait Board for breakfast, followed by the Mediterranean Mezze Board for lunch, a delightful Pizza Lovers Board for dinner, and capped it all off with the Build-Your-Own Sundae Board for dessert. Best. Day. Ever. It was absolutely awesome!

And whenever I knew I was working on a board designed to feed a crowd, I’d give our friends a heads-up. As soon as a board was finalized and ready, they’d gather at our home to enjoy it with us. The Build-Your-Own Taco Board night was legendary, and the Bagel Board paired with the Bloody Mary Board created such a fantastic brunch, filling our house with laughter, friends, and family!

Our dining room, for a time, housed fifty individual tubs – one for each board – meticulously organized with all the non-perishable ingredients. Fresh ingredients, meanwhile, were carefully stored in our refrigerators (we have an extra one in the garage, which proved invaluable!). I strategically grouped boards with similar ingredients to optimize efficiency. This meant I could work on one board, carefully deconstruct it, and then repurpose any crossover foods for another. Once a board received its final approval, I’d capture its image, meticulously record every ingredient, and then we’d celebrate by enjoying it as a family or with our friends!

Our friends, aware of my cookbook project, knew they were always welcome to drop by and partake in the deliciousness. Almost every week, I would host a “girls’ night” during the week, and on weekends, we’d gather friends, building various boards down our kitchen island or dining room table for everyone to graze upon. Despite my exhaustion, opening our home and sharing my culinary creations with our nearest and dearest consistently refueled my spirit and kept me going.

Capturing Culinary Art: The Photography Process

Who handled the photography, and how did that process unfold?

I consider myself incredibly fortunate that Jerrelle and Eric, the talented duo from EJC Studio, were the photographers for Beautiful Boards. They were an absolute dream team to collaborate with! Their dedication to the success of my cookbook mirrored my own. Their meticulous attention to detail and their passionate ability to capture the beauty of each board were truly amazing. And their patience? Unmeasurable. I essentially took over their photography studio and apartment for two full weeks, inundating it with my fifty tubs, countless food items, all the boards, and an eager team of helpers. For this, I will be forever grateful.

A Day in the Life: Two Weeks of Cookbook Photography

In the weeks leading up to the photography sessions, I had already meticulously created and finalized every single board. My goal was to be as organized as humanly possible to ensure the photography process unfolded with utmost smoothness. Each board had its own designated tub, containing all the non-perishable ingredients. Additionally, each helper was provided with a binder, complete with a photograph of the board and its corresponding ingredient list. Two massive racks were brimming with all my boards, serving bowls, utensils, and props. Our ambitious schedule aimed to photograph at least five boards each day, with dedicated days set aside for crafting the stunning chapter openers and capturing essential lifestyle shots.

We established a remarkably efficient assembly line for each board. One person would be diligently gathering ingredients for the next board in line. Another would begin prepping ingredients, slicing or cooking anything required. A third team member would start arranging elements on the board, and then I would step in to add the critical finishing touches before it was carefully carried over to the photography area. For boards that required step-by-step imagery, I would squat beside the board, directly beneath the camera, meticulously building it as Jerrelle and Eric captured each sequential shot. By the end of those step-by-step sessions, my thighs were definitely feeling the workout, haha!

Once a board had been perfectly photographed, a team member would meticulously count, measure, and record every single item on it. This crucial step ensured that I could be absolutely exact when listing the ingredients in the cookbook. Following this, we would all gather to enjoy the delicious creation. Any non-perishable items were carefully packaged, and anything that could be repurposed for another board was reserved. We even maintained a special reserve container for fresh fruits and vegetables that wouldn’t be used on other boards; Jerrelle and Eric would then transform these into invigorating juices or smoothies for all of us the following morning, providing a vital energy boost for the busy day ahead.

The days were long, but surprisingly, the process flew by, filled with immense fun. My mornings would begin around 6 AM, prepping anything I could at home before the kids woke up. Then, it was a flurry of getting the kids ready and fed for school, loading the car with everyone and everything I needed for the studio, dropping the kids off, making quick stops at grocery stores for any last-minute items, and finally arriving at the studio between 9 and 10 AM. We would shoot until the sun dipped below the horizon, then meticulously clean up and strategize which boards we’d tackle the next day. My evenings were a race against time, heading straight to Trader Joe’s, Central Market, Kroger, Tom Thumb, Target, or often all of them, to procure the fresh ingredients for the next day’s shoots. I’d return home, prep whatever I could to ease the following day, organize tirelessly, and finally collapse into bed for a few precious hours of sleep before repeating the entire cycle. Despite the severe lack of sleep, my energy and enthusiasm were boundless, fueled by the sheer beauty of how the boards were being photographed and the incredible team of helpers I had the privilege of working with each day.

Many nights, as I departed the studio, the Dallas sky would be painted in breathtaking hues, and the parking lot would be enveloped in peaceful darkness. The word “beautiful” resonated deeply with me throughout this entire process, a constant reminder of the magic we were creating.

Fortunately, our wonderful sitter (who is now my amazing assistant at The BakerMama – woohoo!), Monica, was able to assist with the kids most afternoons. She even brought them to visit us at the studio when they didn’t have after-school activities. The kids absolutely adored seeing mama in action and, of course, playing with Christopher the cat!

When Brandon wasn’t traveling for work, he heroically handled “kid-duty,” and on weekends, he would join me at the studio, offering invaluable assistance. My mom, a professor at a university in Oklahoma, literally dedicated her entire spring break to helping me during one of the intense photography weeks – a gesture for which I will be eternally grateful. And our dear friends, Paulette and Brittani, dropped everything to help all day, almost every day. They would arrive with coffee in hand and bright smiles, ready to assist in any way imaginable. Gosh, I am so incredibly grateful. I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it a thousand times more: I absolutely could not have created this cookbook without the incredible village of family and friends that surrounds me!

I will never forget the night we completed photographing the very last board for the book. It was the New Year’s Eve board, the natural light was rapidly fading, and we were all beyond ready to pop a bottle of champagne in celebration. As Jerrelle and Eric captured that final shot, we played “We Are The Champions,” soaking in every moment and feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment as a team. We returned home, ordered takeout, and even indulged in freshly baked cookies and cobbler that Jerrelle whipped up on a whim. Interestingly, Jerrelle herself has a cookbook, Black Girl Baking, which was nominated for a 2019 James Beard Award on the very same day we finished shooting my cookbook. There was so much joy and so many milestones to celebrate that night!

Just one glance at the cover of Beautiful Boards immediately reveals the spectacular quality of the photography. Thank you, thank you, Jerrelle and Eric! You truly are the dream team!

Crafting the Narrative: The Writing Process

What about the writing for the book?

Whew! After five intense months of being constantly on my feet, running around like a whirlwind creating and photographing the boards, I was genuinely looking forward to the idea of simply sitting down and writing. Little did I know the immense effort, laser-like focus, and meticulous attention to detail this phase would demand. My manuscript deadline was fast approaching, and I even had to request a small extension (a huge thanks to Quarto for their understanding!) because I was absolutely determined to include every single detail, ensuring that all of you could recreate these beautiful boards with complete confidence and ease.

At one particularly intense point in the writing process, I managed to get only about six hours of sleep over four entire days. It sounds crazy, I know, but I was committed to being fully present for my children during the day, which meant my nights were dedicated to writing. Despite the exhaustion, it was truly a sweet time for our family, as everyone was genuinely excited about the book. The kids would eagerly offer to help and certainly encouraged me every single step of the way.

The Philosophy Behind the Boards: Inspiration and Approachability

How did you get into making these beautiful boards? Where does your inspiration come from?

I’ve been creating and assembling food boards for years, initially for our family to enjoy, for intimate date nights at home, and for entertaining our cherished friends and family. My upbringing played a significant role; I grew up with a large wooden lazy Susan at the center of our dining room table, where my mom would artfully arrange all our food for each meal. So, serving food on boards simply comes naturally to me, it’s ingrained. My boards are designed to be both easy to make and effortless to serve. I wholeheartedly believe in the mantra: “If I board it, they will come!” And there’s truly nothing more fulfilling than bringing people together over beautiful, delicious food.

Over the years, my boards have certainly evolved, both in size and visual appeal (we are a family of six now, after all!). However, one core principle has always remained steadfast: everything on my boards is edible and absolutely delicious. I want people to approach my boards with a sense of excitement and eagerness, feeling compelled to reach right in and enjoy themselves thoroughly. Equally important, I want those who are inspired to recreate my boards to understand that they are inherently approachable and remarkably easy to replicate.

Building our snacks and meals on boards is more than just a technique for me; it’s a fundamental mindset. It’s how we derive the most pleasure from eating and entertaining. Consequently, whenever I conjure up an idea for a snack, a meal, or a dessert, my mind instinctively envisions it beautifully presented on a board. The truth is, almost anything can be served on a board, transforming an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

What are you most excited about with the cookbook?

I am absolutely thrilled for my incredible followers, who allow me to inspire them daily with my board creations, to finally hold this book in their hands. I envision it as an indispensable reference, empowering them to build a stunning board for any conceivable occasion. I’m so excited to witness my fellow board-building enthusiasts make these beautiful boards their own, and for their loved ones to share in the fun and deliciousness. I am confident that once you open this cookbook, you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve explored and been inspired by each and every board within its pages. I eagerly await stories of how much people enjoyed building and serving these boards, and I can’t wait to see countless pictures of all the magnificent boards that will be created for family meals, dinner parties, birthday celebrations, playdates, holidays, and so much more.

Which board is your favorite?

That’s a tough question! Of course, the easy answer would be that I don’t have a favorite, and truly, I don’t have just one. Instead, I appreciate each board differently based on the specific occasion and the number of people who will be enjoying it. I absolutely adore the meal boards, especially the Build-Your-Own Cobb Salad Board, primarily because my kids now enthusiastically eat salad, all thanks to this board and their love for serving it this way. The S’mores Board is undeniably fun to create and brings a smile to everyone’s face. The Everyday Snack Board is wonderfully simple and can be assembled at any time using ingredients readily available. And the Mimosa Board and Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Board are, quite simply, parties in themselves! I genuinely love them all for their unique charm and deliciousness.

Memorable Bites: Stories Behind the Boards

To conclude, here are some fun anecdotes and cherished memories related to a few of the boards featured in the cookbook:

• Brandon and I spent blissful hours at our kitchen counter one evening, meticulously tasting various charcuterie meats, cheeses, and spreads. Our mission for the Date Night Board was to find the perfect combinations. We sampled every possible pairing, took detailed notes, secretly voted on favorites, discussed the nuanced flavors of each combination, and even strategized the ideal eating order. All of this, while sipping wine and thoroughly enjoying each other’s company and our shared appreciation for exceptional food experiences. It was truly a night to remember!
• Our son, Baker, routinely claims he dislikes yogurt or fruit. Yet, when we sat down as a family to enjoy the Build-Your-Own Parfait Board, we couldn’t stop him from eagerly filling his bowl with all the colorful fruits, creamy yogurt, and crunchy granola. He devoured it and immediately begged for more! Moments like these consistently confirm that our children are often willing to try and even love foods they initially think they don’t like, especially when given the autonomy to see it, serve it themselves, and simply give it a chance.
• The Engagement Board underwent numerous transformations and food combinations during its development. It started as a wedding ring shape, then morphed into a heart, before I ultimately fell in love with the elegant idea of a mini tiered cheese wheel cake, artfully surrounded by an array of beautiful accompaniments. It truly is the most romantic and beautiful board!
• Similarly, the Princess Board also took on several different shapes, including a castle and then a crown. Ultimately, I decided those were perhaps too intricate and opted instead for an adorable assortment of pink and purple snacks. My little princess, Brookie, gave it her enthusiastic royal approval!
• The Valentine’s Board underwent a literal last-minute transformation right as it was being photographed! It was “all hands on deck” as everyone scrambled to gather the newly desired ingredients and arrange them perfectly on the board. We needed to ensure we captured the shots and stayed on schedule for that day’s photoshoot. It turned out to be absolutely adorable for a Valentine’s celebration!
• The New Year’s Board also evolved through several shapes and styles. I am so delighted I worked through all those initial ideas to arrive at the final design, featuring the clever countdown cheese wheel clock at its center. It’s absolutely perfect for a New Year’s Eve celebration!
• The Unicorn Board was created entirely on a whim! It replaced another board I had originally planned for the book simply because it was just so darn cute and incredibly fun!

And there you have it! I sincerely hope I’ve addressed most of your questions and provided you with a comprehensive, illuminating look into the immense effort and passion that went into creating Beautiful Boards. My deepest wish is that you enjoy it immensely and allow it to inspire your culinary creations for many years to come! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your unwavering support and enthusiasm for this book and for everything I do. It truly means the world to me!

To order your very own copy of Beautiful Boards, CLICK HERE!

xoxo,