Synopsis

Hangry [hang - ree] adj. a state of anger by lack of food; hunger causing a change in emotional state. Have you ever experienced the hangry? Have you ever said or done something that you then regretted because you had not eaten yet? Or, have you ever been on the receiving end of a hangry loved one because dinner wasn’t ready or because they didn’t like what was cooked?

A poll conducted in 2014 by The Harris Poll found that more than half of adults felt as if they shared fewer meals with loved ones now than when they were growing up. Even more so, half of those polled said that finding recipes that everyone will enjoy is a struggle. If we are able to get simple, nutrient-dense, and delicious meals to the table quickly, we’d be more inclined to sit down and eat together. Sometimes, we get so caught up in life that we forget to slow down and enjoy meals together. Food is such an important part of who we are. Food prevents hanger, food connects people, food tells stories, food is what allows us to put aside differences and troubles for just one hour and sit down and make memories. 92% of people whose households sit down for one or more family meals per week describe them as something that they look forward to. And, eight in ten people said that they have fond memories of their family meals growing up.

The Hangry Diaries cookbook is the perfect combination of farm-to-table meets comfort food. And what that means is taking fresh, seasonal ingredients and transforming them into a meal that is familiar to everyone sitting around the dinner table. My husband has celiac disease, so by utilizing fresh, whole ingredients in my kitchen, it allows our meals to be naturally gluten free, full of whole nutrients, and therefore healthier than their convenience counterparts. For example, whipping up a garden-style mac and cheese loaded with seasonal veggies versus a boxed mac and cheese with powdered ‘cheese.’ These recipes are soul satisfying while fueling your family for whatever life throws at them. Not to mention, these nutrient-dense meals make you feel good, too!

More importantly, the recipes in this cookbook are simple to create. They are either one of or a combination of the following: 30 minutes or less, 10 ingredients or fewer, one pot meal, and/or utilizing pantry staples. The recipe list includes dishes like, Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, Caprese Macaroni and Cheese, and even Beefy Sheet Pan Totchos.

The Hangry Diaries started by Jessie Woodward to help foodies everywhere get food on the table quickly that was healthier than convenience foods and soul satisfying. Her mission was to conquer hanger one recipe at a time. This community has since grown to over 30,000 between her two recipe columns, blog, and social channels. Jessie has been transforming farm fresh, local ingredients into delicious recipes for over 14 years. While she has moved away from the ocean and moved inland to the Midwest, readers are sure to find something in this cookbook that you and your family will enjoy.

Sales arguments

• More than half of adults felt as if they shared fewer meals with loved ones now than when they were growing up. The Hangry Diaries Cookbook is designed to get easy delicious wholesome meals on the table quickly.
• According to celiac.org 1 in 100 people world wide struggle with Celiac disease. By cooking with whole, unprocessed ingredients, like the recipes in this cookbook, these individuals are able to live a healthy lifestyle and still enjoy food.
• 92% of people describe family meals as something that they look forward to. The Hangry Diaries cookbook will allow individuals to reconnect with food and reconnect with mealtime.

Similar titles

• Half Baked Harvest, Super Simple, Tieghan Gerard , Clarkson Potter, October 2019. It's similar because the recipes have the "simple" mindset.
• Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook, Yotam Ottolenghi, Ten Speed Press, October 2018. This book is similar in two ways. The author highlights to simpleness of meal time, while also using ingredients that are easy to pronounce and find.
• What's Gaby Cooking, Eat What You Want, Abrams, April 2020. It is similar because of the ingredients she cooks with. She uses seasonal, whole ingredients to create meals.

Audience

This cookbook is intended for not only people like me, those foodies at heart, but also for mother's who are looking to get simple and healthy meals on the table quickly. Demographically, it would be women between the ages of 19 and 45.

Advance praise

Jessie Woodward is a tremendously skilled and talented at her craft. Creative and poised with great enthusiasm. Furthermore, she has no issues hitting deadlines and creating compelling content. She has created recipe articles for our radio stations here in Waterloo, Iowa using simple step-by-step instructions. Her writing style is compelling engaging, and she exhibits a clear understanding of the material.
-Johnny Marks, Director of Content
Townsquare Media Waterloo
KOEL-FM/KOEL-AM/KCRR/KKHQ

Jessica Woodward has been writing a weekly food column for the Driftless Journal since early 2020. Called The Driftless Foodie, each column features a cooking tip, a recipe and personal reflections on the week’s dish and on food in general.

Jessica’s recipes always offer experienced cooks something new to think about or try -- but they’re accessible to novice cooks, as well. Her stories are warm, funny and always instructive. Our readers love her, and look forward to her column – the recipes, the cooking tips and the adventures in cooking and eating – every week. And her photographs are gorgeous.
-Julie Berg-Raymond
Arts and Lifestyles editor, Decorah Newspapers