Great "from scratch" recipes from older cookbooks!

In part, due to the economy, people are once again discovering a room in their home----the kitchen. Using the stove and oven and even stocking the fridge with food that is meant to be made into meals rather than let it turn into a science project by letting it go bad. More families are turning cooking into a necessity and realizing that it could also become a fun hobby. Cooking and baking is a skill that you will enjoy for the rest of your life and create memories for your family that could last for generations to come!

With the deluge of "Food Network" cookbooks, that at best have only a handful of recipes that you would make, it's time to think outside the box and find old fashioned recipes -- those classic comfort food recipes that you want to make over and over again that are basic home recipes.

Look no further than your mother's or grandmother's kitchen and their comb bound or wire spiral community or church cookbooks. Most of these cookbooks were created to fund a project or cause. And they have been creating this glimpse into the art of cooking for well over 60 years, but some of the best church and community cookbooks came into their own in the 1950's and 1960's and even a few in the 21st century.

Depending on were you are in the country, your state could be lucky enough to add "ethnic" recipes to their collection--such as Swedish and Norwegian here in Minnesota, Cajun in Louisiana, etc. The church and community cookbooks keep those hard to find heritage recipes alive and remembered (and made) by generation after generation for decades if the recipe books stay with their families.

Why are these cookbooks so good? Well, the cooks that contributed their recipes sent in only the best and their names were attached to each recipe. In fact, in older cookbooks, it was suggested that you contact the cook if you had problems.

The recipe was basic, simple and all "from scratch" cooking so there were no pre-packaged foods. It feed the family week after week and you looked forward to a meal that was made with love. Hot dishes (casseroles everywhere else in the world except Minnesota) usually combined meat, potatoes and vegetables so you had a 'stick to your ribs' meals!

This time of year, people start their quest to find the recipe book that has their Aunt Mary's cake recipe in a church cookbook from the 60's to be given as a gift. Fortunately, eBay will help the seeker find a hard to find cookbook, either by checking the list of (on average) 85,000 cookbooks listed at any given time or better still, posting to "want it now" where 100's of people check out who wants what and can recover that food memory. Even eCrater (where I have my store) has over 11,000 cookbooks. If all else fails, check Google shopping--if you give enough information you could find what you are looking to cherish for years to come.

So if you can find your favorite community cookbook, keep it safe and look for another copy because it could turn into something that you want to pass down to the next generation!