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Community Cookbooks

November 7th, 2024 at 09:37 pm

I am going to make a confession here...I love looking through community/church cookbooks. I don't even have to know the folks involved in them. But I find them entertaining and informative. 

I have some of my own and some I've contributed to. It's nice to see recipes that people I know shared.

I've run across two that don't have covers on them, but I can tell they have some age to them. One has lots of recipes using oleo. Oleo was a term my mom and grandma used because it was cheaper than butter and butter was rationed during World War II here in the United States. They talked about how it was white and they would have a little color tube they would put in and then sit and mix it all together to get a more yellowish color. We don't think about that as we use the term "margarine" now. 

Also in one of these is canning and preserving recipes. I know for a number of years, people got away from canning and preserving as a whole -- there were still people who did it, but most would say it wasn't worth the work when you can buy a can of green beans from the store. I think these cookbooks are just time capsule treasures. 

One whole section is on rabbit, venison, and other game animals. Plus there are some recipe names that I think are local that I'm not familiar with. It's all a fun learning experience. I noticed that this one older one started with breads and rolls whereas some of the more current recipe book starts with appetizers. 

Do you ever use one of these cookbooks? Or do you have some recipes that you deem special?

I grew up in Central Illinois and we have our own little special terms for things such as cheese toastie for a grilled cheese. I ran across this recipe and I'm thinking it must be a Wisconsin term, but I think it is fun so here is the recipe:

 

Kamitch-Kamotch

1 lb hamburger

4 to 6 slices of bacon, cut up

1/2 small onion

1 cup peas and carrots

3/4 cup elbow macaroni

1 can tomato soup

1/2 can water

salt and pepper to taste

Boil macaroni and drain. Brown hamburger, bacon, and onion. Drain grease and add soup, water, veggies, and macaroni and ,amitch kamotch it together. Simmer 20 to 30 minutes. 

One thing I've inferred is that most of the folks who share these recipes must make them a lot and don't give specific details, such as the vegetables -- canned or fresh. I'd figure canned so they would be cooked. 

I saw this phrase on one of the pages and thought it was clever so I'm going to share it:

“A truer friend there cannot be, than one who shares her recipes.”

5 Responses to “Community Cookbooks”

  1. Carol B Says:
    1731026693

    I own several old church cookbooks, not sure where I got them, and a few I've contributed to.
    For my own favorite recipes, I have the recipe boxes I started out with (4), but now for my very best recipes, I have a big 3 ring binder.
    Last year I pulled out an old recipe for a sauce for green beans and it was a big hit!

  2. LivingAlmostLarge Says:
    1731051297

    Thanks for the recipe it's so cute. Sounds like something DH and I ate all the time when we first met and didn't have much money.

  3. Lots of ideas Says:
    1731093585

    I don’t know if you ever watch YouTube, but I love a program from Glen and Friends called ‘Old Cookbook Show.’
    Glen posts a new video every Sunday morning using a recipe from his very extensive old cookbook collection.
    Some are community cookbooks,
    In addition to what he purchases on his own, viewers send him cookbooks.
    The shows are a lesson in culinary history, and he focuses on ‘the method’, not precise weighing of every perfect ingredient.
    He posts other cooking videos on Saturday, has a cocktail channel, and is an amateur pilot!

    I think you might like him.

  4. rob62521 Says:
    1731093655

    That sounds great, Lots of Ideas. Thanks, I'll look for that program.

    Carol B, good show on the green beans!

  5. Tabs Says:
    1731197512

    Haha, you certainly live up to your reputation as a foodie. Food is unfortunately my one biggest vice. Food is yummy lol.

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