I just signed my first cookbook contract. My publisher is Running Press and the book is due out in June, 2009. The book will consist of 200 of my favorite recipes, about 130 color photographs, of which 70 will be recipe shots.

As a chef, a cookbook has always been a dream of mine. I have been offered book deals in the past, but they just were not the type of books I wanted to do. When I read cookbooks, if there are no color photos I quickly lose interest. So I wanted a publisher willing to invest in a quality book.

Running Press has agreed to put together a fantastic hard cover book loaded with great photos to highlight my recipes. The book will also help people understand what Harvest Eating is, what it means to me, and how they too can take part.

My mission is to make seasonal cooking easy to do and approachable. Too many chefs put up an intimidating wall that alienates many beginning cooks, much like the wine industry does. A chef's ego should not get in the way. Cooking should be fun and something that rewards the cook for taking part.

I teach people how to use classic culinary techniques so they can create their own recipes, not just follow mine. This book will have a section called "Cook-o-nomics" which is the Harvest Eating way of producing many items used in cooking like vinaigrettes, creme fraiche, homemade yogurt, pickles etc.

The book will be available in all major book stores like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon.com and of course..right here on Harvest Eating. I will be offering signed cookbooks for sale on this site.

Also, the book will be made available by my presenting station KCTS 9 in Seattle after each episode of Harvest Eating airs on PBS.