Man Finds His Mother’s Cookbook from the 1960s and Has It Reprinted
Dusty Hudgins found a recipe book from 1963 in his late mother’s things which was presented to her for for working in the school cafeteria system in Abilene, Texas. The stained cover of this community cookbook, called “Our Favorite Recipes”, features a red schoolhouse. Inside old fashioned recipes like peanut brittle, blondies, and strawberry pie line the pages of this nostalgic volume. When Hudgins shared his find on social media hundreds of people commented on the recipes and he got the idea that perhaps he could re-issue the book. So that’s what he did.
The front of the book reads that it was made by Abilene School Food Service Association. This group is little known today and Hudgins didn’t find much about them in his research.
Hudgins sent it to the printers -the same ones who printed the first original book- to be copied and they even mimicked some of the stains on the cover. However, the original copy is special since it contains notes (presumably in Florice’s handwriting) like “will try” and “good taken to church”. Each recipe shows who submitted it which makes this one a piece of local history in addition to a cookbook.
Hudgins hoped to bring back positive memories for people who read the book, which he has been selling for $20 each with proceeds going to the Love and Care Ministries Carepack for Kids program which works to feed impoverished children in the local area.
Hudgins told CNN that ever since his story has gone viral he’s just been posting orders and sending invoices all day every day.
The reissue of “Our Favorite Recipes” is dedicated to his mother, Florice Hudgins, who he wrote was “a great cook and a better mother”. Hudgins said about the reprint, “I think kids these days will look at some of these recipes and wonder what lard is.” Let’s hope they have more to say than that!