Two Battle Ground sisters turned their favorite dishes for their families into something to share with all. Marita Levanen and Ellen Halberg are the authors of “Oh My Goodness! Food + Family,” a self-published cookbook that combines all of their favorite things.
They released the book two weeks ago on Amazon, where it cracked the Top 100 Hot New Releases list. They will locally launch “Oh My Goodness!” today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kitchen Market, a themed bazaar, at 10717 N.E. 189th St., Battle Ground.
This month, the cookbook will appear at vintage stores and consignment shops in Battle Ground, and in Alaska, Minnesota, Michigan, Montana and Eastern Washington thanks to a loyal following through Levanen’s illustrated blog, www.thefamilylife.us.
“It’s a really cool way to distribute our books,” Levanen said. “We’re working through a different avenue, targeting moms like us who hand make things, who did our own thing, powering all these stores across the United States.”
The following began when Levanen, 32, created illustrated greeting cards for a white elephant gift exchange for friends one year. They encouraged her to sell her illustrations, so she created a blog for others to find her creations, as well as share what she was making. They turned into weekly illustrations of family life that she would email to newsletter subscribers.
“It was very word of mouth, which is a different way than a lot of other (blogs and websites),” she said.
The cookbook idea began three years as a joke between the two sisters, who exchanged recipes they liked and collected.
“And it evolved into a real project,” Levanen said.
From a family of 11 sisters, the joke cookbook grew as a gift for their sisters and friends. But as the book evolved, so did the scope of the project.
“We may as well print a few more,” said Halberg, 29.
There were plenty of taste-testers in their homes, between Halberg’s four children and Levanen’s five, plus their supportive husbands.
“Ellen chose all the recipes,” said Levanen.
“Those are mostly the recipes that we eat all the time,” said Halberg. “I think my very favorite recipe is Spicy Penne Pasta. It’s quick and easy, a one-pot wonderful.”
Research also included traveling to the cooking section of Portland’s Powell’s Books, point out the different textures, styles and designs they liked and didn’t like.
The book is filled with 70 recipes with color photographs by Halberg, plus illustrations and humorous guides for family life by Levanen.
The cookbook process offered another surprise: Halberg discovered a passion for food photography.
“I needed pictures of the food, so I started with a cheap, little camera, and taught myself. I’d take about 200 pictures just to find one that works.”
And Levanen’s subscribers became another important source of feedback.
“We asked them about design, asked what would real moms want to see in a cookbook,” she said.
They distributed sample page layouts, asked for photos of kitchens and family inspirations, quotes and more.
“About 200 people, a third of all (subscribers), replied to us. It was 200 people who cared about what we were doing, who took the time to reply,” she said.
When she started sharing her illustrations, the pressure and anxiety to get so many likes, so many shares and followers on social media was overwhelming, said Levanen. By having a weekly newsletter, “it creates a different type of atmosphere.”
Like a cozy kitchen, the sisters share behind-the-scenes thoughts on their projects.
“Self-publishing is completely different compared to 10 years ago,” said Levanen. “If me and Ellen can do it, anyone can do it. There’s plenty of software tutorials and community out there to help.”
“You just need something to write about that you enjoy. They might also need a sister,” Levanen added.
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