Unlikely treasures from humble cookbooks
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40248)
United States
November 28, 2017 11:59am CST
Unlikely cookbooks.
Ever notice that sometimes the best recipes come out of those spiral bound cookbooks? You know, the ones that are cheaply mass produced usually for a Church or other fundraiser.
Our family friends have a yearly huge reunion. In 1993 they published such a cookbook. A great idea for a family reunion I think because that way everyone could get a copy of "Aunt Nelda's cream Pie" or whatever such fabled family recipe.
Now we are in no way related to anyone in that family, but since , like *every* recipe in there seems to turn out well, both my mom and I have a copy.
My mom and I submitted recipes to a cookbook published as a fundraiser for the town my parent's live in. It's sort of cool to think that any number of people with the cookbook may have made our recipes.
Additionally - when I'm at a yard sale, I keep an eye open for these types of cookbooks. A recent acquisition the "Pine Ridge" cookbook gave me a good salad recipe.
Another one was full of hidden household knowledge, stories and jokes in addition to recipes.
An unlikely treasure.
Photo: Pixabay
19 people like this
18 responses
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
It's true :-) I find they usually have easier to make recipes with less exotic ingredients too
2 people like this
@Ganma7 (3664)
•
29 Nov 17
@FayeHazel Yes which I like because when working time is important
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
1 Dec 17
@Ganma7 So true. I have passed on so many recipes because there's just too many steps
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
28 Nov 17
Its good you have a copy of the ones that come out well!
4 people like this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@FayeHazel thats good ! Will you hand it down to your kids if you have any
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
1 Dec 17
@Courtlynn It would be a great thing to pass along -- though I don't want children of my own. What I wanted was to be an aunt ... but it's a bad goal if you are an only child. -- Still no kids for me. :-)
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
It's sort of funny - esp. with the family reunion one. Everything in there is good and most of them are fairly simple to make too
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
28 Nov 17
Wonderful! One can make a nice meal and then entertain with a good joke.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
Ah yes, and then get advice on how to clean the dishes best
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I especially like the ones that include household tips :-)
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
29 Nov 17
I don't think I've seen them here. Must be fun to discover those treasures inside. 
3 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
29 Nov 17
@FayeHazel I think that's a wonderful community effort. Now we take it for granted because it's very easy to just search for a recipe online or simply buy a cookbook. But contributing their own recipes and compiling them together is great!
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
1 Dec 17
@cahaya1983 It's very true --- it is so easy to search for a recipe even though one might own the cookbook it's in
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
Oh yes - they are common as fundraising items here. Many different groups will put them together. Usually people from 1 area or community.
Cheaply made, thin paper, sprial bound....
Sometimes you start seeing the same recipes in them over and over --- (there's a certain lasagna, chicken dish, and salad that seem to get repeated in almost every one)
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74592)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Nov 17
I have one of those cookbooks, the women from a Mennonite church published it, about 25 years ago. There are many treasured recipes from different families, including my own.
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74592)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Nov 17
@Ganma7 You can have it, for your collection! I don't use it, ever:) 'Merry Christmas!'
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@kobesbuddy Aw that is sweet. I love it. Sharing is caring. :-)
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
That's a good reason for it, I didn't think of that, but you're right. They are people's favorites that turn out well
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I love that you still use Grandma and Great Grandma's recipes
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
Oh that's awesome! Sometimes those old recipes are the best
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
It's a lot of fun , also fun to see the repeats in those books (there's variations on 1 chicken dish that I think is in most of them.)
2 people like this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
29 Nov 17
Those are indeed the best kind of cookbooks. If I ever used a cookbook, it would be one of those. When I was using cookbooks instead of my imagination, my go-to cookbook was "More with Less". I learned a lot from it.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I admire your thinking - using your imagination. After awhile I find if I'm comfortable enough with the dish I can come up with recipes... sometimes doesn't work out
2 people like this
@Ganma7 (3664)
•
29 Nov 17
I agree totally. Church cookbooks, school fundraiser cookbooks are the best. Because all people who submit recipes usually do their favorite ones that are tried & true, I collect cookbooks, although recipes are on the Internet, I can't seem to part with my cookbooks yet,
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
Oh that's a good reason for it, I didn't think of. The people who submit the recipes know that they like them and they turn out well
2 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I've bought a few of those at garage sales. There are some good ones, but oh, the bad ones are really bad.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
It's very true. The bad ones are laughable they are so bad.
1 person likes this
@Dyvette16 (4301)
• United States
28 Nov 17
Those are great cookbooks ! Need to get me a new one soon !
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
Oh cool! I hope you find one you like ...
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Dec 17
I think there was one of these in our house when I was growing up.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
3 Dec 17
The good old spiral bound cookbook :-)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
1 Dec 17
That sounds interesting. Like it adds a history lesson to cooking. I like it.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Nov 17
So true. When you are looking for a specific recipe it is easier than looking through countless books - just to search for it
2 people like this
