An Alien Robot's Cookbook: Learn to Cook Real Recipes from Planet Earth by Ru Kunkel

Ru Kunkel

      

Imagination, creativity, and happiness are very important to me. My love of cooking stemmed from making food (and eating food) with my mother. I often day-dreamed about having my own restaurant. Twenty or so years later, after graduating from UC Davis with a degree in English Literature, I was lucky enough to open and run my own cafe with my best friend.
After selling the cafe, I got married and had two kids. I learned that parenting wasn't always easy. I started writing regularly to express myself and to alleviate some stress. I scribbled down my favorite recipes from the cafe and made a concerted effort to encourage my sons to broaden their food-related horizons. I wanted them to eat well and to become more self-sufficient. I envisioned them cooking for me someday.

So I decided to create a cookbook, based on their favorite things--outer space and robots. As part of the process, I invited my older son Gabe to contribute some of his far-out drawings to illustrate the book. In the second edition, Joe's original art also appears, as do some of my own sketches.

Today I have a Master's degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and I work mainly with children. Our family lives in the first cohousing community intentionally built in the United States. It feels like camp everyday. Living here has given me many things, including the opportunity to cook for about fifty neighbors each month. These folks generously helped taste-test all of the recipes in "An Alien Robot's Cookbook." Thanks, neighbors!

Peace, love, and waffles!