I once attended dinner where the hostess received a compliment on her dessert and was asked to write down the recipe. “Oh, it’s in The Cookbook,” she said. The person was puzzled, but then, she didn’t grow up here. The rest of us know about The Cookbook. Originally published in 1968 by the Dorcas Society of the Methodist Church, it was in most of the households around Deer River. For those of us who grew up in the 60′s and 70′s in this area, it was the food of our grandmothers, our mothers, and our best friends’ mothers. We ate this food at weddings and funerals, picnics and pot luck dinners in the neighborhood. We ate homemade cake or cookies after school served with a glass of cold milk. Our favorite brownies didn’t come from a mix, but were made with butter and a can of chocolate syrup. Our moms made hot dishes that started with a can of tuna or a pound of hamburger and contained at least one can of condensed soup. We ate salads in which the only thing green was the Jello. The recipes weren’t necessarily healthy, but I don’t think we worried about it so much in those days. It seemed like everyone’s mom cooked from scratch, and everyone’s mom had a copy of The Cookbook.
I received my copy as a wedding gift in 1977. I think it was in its second printing by then. Living in the south and surrounded by wonderful cooks, I made many of the recipes to combat my homesickness. I learned that my husband hates Jello and loves wild rice. I learned that my coworkers didn’t know what I meant when I said that I would make some bars, but once they figured it out, they could polish off a pan of them in 15 minutes flat. I learned that in the south, a “hot dish” is called a “casserole.” I learned that my mom’s Never-Fail Chocolate Cake recipe CAN fail if you use expired baking soda. I learned that you really can go home again, even if it is just through your memories and a pot of beef stew simmering on the stove.
Nostalgia! Thank you for this. ~ Lynda
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You’re welcome! :o)
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I also received “Cookbooks” when I got married in 2003 from the local church and curling clubs. The church cookbook is peppered with receipes from my inlaws all made with honey since my father-in-law is a bee keeper. It’s our most nostaglic cookbook. 🙂
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Honey recipes, I love it! People still look for old copies of this one at garage sales, but they’re hard to find. Thanks for readimg!
Chris
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Aw, love this. Thank you for sharing! And as someone who’s moved wayyy too many times to different regions of the US, I know that sometimes making that familiar meal – just having that favorite smell wafting through the house as it cooks – can comfort the homesick. Love how you understand these things, too. Wish we were next-door neighbors!
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Me, too! Do you think you could move just one more time? :o)
Chris
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Yes indeed, I hear you loud and clear! Beautiful and heartwarming… thank you! 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Michele!
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