What happens when an illustrator gets fed up and makes her own cookbook

Hey hungry humans,

Remember when I said I was going to take matters into my own hands instead of waiting for someone to give me permission to make the things I want to make? Well... I did that.

Introducing my first hand-illustrated mini-cookbook, and honestly, I'm equal parts proud and terrified to put it out into the world.

This little A5 treasure is packed with 38 pages of recipes I've been obsessing over—each one lovingly illustrated by hand because apparently I enjoy making life complicated. I actually created these throughout 2024, illustrating one recipe each month with the support of my amazing Patreon community (before I made the jump to Substack).

We're talking eggplant curry that'll make you feel fancy, a pumpkin galette for when you want rustic elegance, pasta al ragu (the real deal, not the jar stuff), DIY baguettes (yes, you can absolutely do this), pizza with actually cool toppings, and carrot cake because vegetables totally count as healthy. And… that’s just the start of these!

Check it out!

I spent way too many attempts getting the perfect shade of golden brown on those baguettes and making sure the pizza looked like it was actually steaming hot on the page. Each illustration is a mix of collage, paint, and digital magic, the same style that makes me v. happy to create.

Why a mini-cookbook? Because sometimes you don't need 300 recipes you'll never make. Sometimes you just need six really good ones that make you excited to cook, beautifully illustrated so you can actually see what you're aiming for.

Also, it’s perfect to fit your probably all too crowded bookcases, or to give as a little something to a friend!

It's printed in a small batch (because the planet doesn't need more stuff sitting in warehouses), and it's the perfect size for propping up on your kitchen counter or gifting to that friend who always asks "but what's the dish supposed to look like?"

You can find it in my Etsy shop!

Thanks for being here! If you’re new to my substack, I have a bunch of illustrated recipes already up for free. This mini-cookbook is just for those who’d like to own some of my art in physical form!

You’ll get a monthly, free, illustrated recipe and fresh collage art inspiration in your inbox.

Now excuse me while I go hype-bake something and probably illustrate it.

Love you, mean it,

Anna Lena