I am working on my family cookbook...

I love cookbooks, but the problem is, if you have a lot of cookbooks and find a good recipe, sometimes it is hard to find it again. And, even if you know where it is, you have to have several cookbooks plus a card file or something to hold your personal or family recipes. It makes a lot to organize recipes and books enough to actually be able to find what you need, when you need it.

Sixteen years ago, when my husband was in seminary he also pastored a couple of little churches about 2 hours from our home. We would drive up there every Friday and return on Sunday afternoon, staying in the parsonage next to one of the churches.

What that means is that I had a fair amount of cooking to do when we were there--seven people, two suppers, two lunches, two breakfasts--every single week. And, horror of horrors, I didn't have my recipes or cookbooks. This was in the olden days--back before recipes could be found on-line and even if it wasn't, we didn't have internet at home or at the parsonage anyway.

So, I compiled a cookbook with all my favorite recipes and all recipes sent to me by my family--including cousins, sisters, aunts and my mom. Since that time I have updated the original 1994 cookbook in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008.

But, my cookbook is always incomplete. I keep adding great recipes to my repertoire and as the pockets in the three ring binder expand to the breaking point with recipes to add, the need to update becomes crucial.

So, this is the week. I have updated Main Dishes, Appetizers, Salads, Side Dishes, Sandwiches, Soups, Breads-yeast, Breakfasts and Quickbreads. That is over 170 pages! Whew!

Onward and upward! On to Pies, Cakes, Desserts, Cookies, Candy, beverages, Frostings, Sauces, Snacks and Non-Foods!

Yesterday I made some Brioche dough and then made an awesome apple-crisp type coffee cake. Bob was thrilled and it was delicious. I am glad I tried it before printing this cookbook again. I typed the recipe in there and will copy it here in the next few days. Amazing! I also added my son Cris' red beans in rice which is legendary in our family and some pumpkin muffins that are amazing.

Heres to good food, good friends and a good recipes.

Take care,
Jill