Cookbook connects Huntley
For generations, cookbooks have been written, offering old recipes and tips on making delicious foods from different cultures for families, friends and gatherings.
In this day and age, finding recipes is easy, with the internet providing exactly what is being sought without a minute of hesitation. But while that may be efficient, there’s something to be said for tradition. The community of Huntley, for instance, has created a cookbook that exceeded expectations from everyone involved, and will be shared for generations to come.
“We had tried to make cookbooks at the Community Covenant Church before and had a hard time finishing them,” said Nina Patten, cookbook coordinator. “We felt strongly about trying to find a way to bless our community and reach out with the help of others in the community, and the idea of a community cookbook was one of those ideas.”
Reaching out began at the Huntley Café, where Gloria Salic and Claudine Meckes were asked if they were interested in helping. From there, ideas and passions blossomed as word of the idea spread. With a population of just 75 in Huntley, community residents past and present began submitting recipes.
In order to make the cookbook something other than ordinary, organizers also decided that stories and pictures would be printed in it, exciting community members even more.
“After a press release was made stating we were interested in stories and pictures as well as recipes, we began receiving lots of content,” Patten said. “I spent a few months typing everything up, looking up directions for some of the recipes, and not leaving a single submission out.”
The cookbook in all its glory contains 546 recipes, along with numerous stories and pictures, totaling 225 pages. The design is also unique, as the cover photo is one showcasing Huntley’s business district 100 years ago. The cookbook’s hard cover creates durability, while the inside offers a map of the town. A three-ring binder holds the pages and dividers for different categories.
Just like the structure of the cookbook, the community’s history and memories hold firm. Even those who no longer live in Huntley recall their time there, and remain excited for the cookbook and the town.
“I think the thing that has been the best part of this cookbook is the connections that have been made,” Patten said. “Whether that be from people that used to be from here and moved, or those that have memories and heard stories from past generations.”
Now, a year after the first copies of the cookbook were sold, the progress and new connections made are nothing short of impressive.
“We put our first order in early fall of 2015 and our second order in January of 2016,” said Patten. “We sold 971 cookbooks in those two orders before we knew it, and people were still wanting more.”
A third order was put in at the end of summer this year, and the cookbooks continue to be sold at the Huntley Café and the Community Covenant Church. There are about 100 left.
“Our church used to do Wednesday night meals, and hadn’t in years so I decided after the cookbook came out that I would use recipes from the cookbook to host meals at the church for six weeks, and it has continued,” Patten said.
Now with a meal every Wednesday night at the church, where on average 62 people get together, the community of Huntley is as close as ever while enjoying the ministry of food.
“The team of people that work on Wednesday nights have grown a sort of family relationship with each other, and not only that but people have started coming every week and enjoying a meal or helping and that in itself is a form of ministry,” Patten said. “I was looking at past cookbooks and you can’t find many soup recipes, and I thought, this cookbook holds a lot of really neat recipes in all categories for anyone to enjoy.”
With the cookbook not pertaining to one specific religion or ethnicity, the options are endless.
“For a town that is so small, the people that live in this community connect through this cookbook,” Patten said. “People see familiar names, intriguing stories, and tons of great recipes when they open the pages.”
The cookbook is not a money-maker, and sells for $12 when purchased locally, or $15 when shipped.
“Claudine does a lot of business at the café,” said Patten as she points to the cookbook sitting on the countertop closest to the door. “We would never have guessed we would have sold so many cookbooks, but are thankful for everything that has happened because of it.”
A “stroke of brilliance” became a cookbook that helped re-establish friendships, forge new connections, teach children about food and waste, and uplift a town that is nowhere near off the map.
“It has truly been a positive thing in a small town,” Patten said. “And although people work other places, they choose to live here and we are proud of that fact here in Huntley.”
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