Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO
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Dear Reader,
Browsing through the 1949 cookbook that had been sitting on my shelf for the past 20 years, felt like an Antique Road Show experience. Have you seen the show? Folks bring in items, "things" from their homes they think might be valuable and an expert takes a look and gives them an appraisal. Sometimes the expert confirms the garage sale "thing" was worth the $5.00 they paid for it, but other times the "thing" ends up being "cha-ching!"--a valuable collector's item that would sell for $15,000 at auction.
The first question the Road Show expert always asks:
"Suzanne, tell me what you know about this cookbook."
"This cookbook, Our Favorite Recipes belonged to my Grandma Hale. (I know, because Grandma put her mark on everything she owned. 'Lillian Hale' was printed with permanent marker on the bottom of Tupperware, dishes, underwear, books, vases, even the living room sofa read 'Lillian Hale' underneath, just in case the neighbor's forgot...'Hmm, let's see, we borrowed this sofa from someone, but we can't remember who it belongs to.') This cookbook has been sitting on my shelf for years, but I'd never even looked at it until two weeks ago."
(The Road Show appraiser replies:) "Well, I did some checking into this cookbook Suzanne and there's an interesting story behind it. As you can see, the copyright is 1949 and it was compiled and published by The Ladies of St. John's Guild in West Bend, Wisconsin. After World War II, the congregation decided to build a new church. The church ladies wanted to install a 'real' kitchen (hot water, counters, cabinets, appliances) but knew they'd have to find a way to raise the money to pay for it. They were excellent cooks and had established a reputation in the community, so they decided to put together a cookbook as a fundraiser. June Spielman, the only remaining member of the original group of six, says she was asked to be on the committee because she knew how to type, but in the end that wasn't important. Because each of the 353 recipes was handwritten by volunteers, using an ink dipped pen. Pages were proofread (including looking for ink smudges), and if any mistakes were found, the entire page had to be redone.
The original plan was to publish 300 cookbooks, but the husband of a committee member persuaded the ladies to order 3,000 copies, and he offered to put up the money, interest free. The cookbook received so much publicity, the 3,000 cookbooks sold in only three months. Revisions have been made, but most of the recipes in today's book are the originals. Now in its 53rd year, 149,500 copies have been sold.
Suzanne, the cookbook your grandmother left you is from the 2nd printing and she got a real deal. Grandma paid $2.00 for her book; today's revised hardcover sells for $16.95. If you sold your spiral bound, second-printing copy at auction today, it would probably bring $25.00. Cha-ching!"
But of course I'd never sell my copy. I've seen a lot of cookbooks over the years, and this one has become my favorite. What a labor of love and talent. Pencil shaded drawings of scenes from West Bend on each title page, and a cute hand drawn cartoon accompanies almost every recipe. The gingerbread men smiling on the page with Mrs. C.H. Zimbrick's gingerbread recipe, inspired my grandson and I to bake. Hmm, were those cookies good. Just like the ones Grandma Hale used to make, and so was the Peanut Cake recipe. I think this cookbook must have been one of my grandmother's favorites, too.
Enter-to-win a new edition of the cookbook, goto: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/contest-021411.html And you'll also find a link to see samples from the cookbook, drawings and more of the story behind it.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/
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