Book Review: Kitchen Pleasures

by Ann Talbot

There are many ways to look at a brand new cookbook. Do you check out the desserts first? The soups? I immediately go to the vegetable section to see what people are doing with carrots and corn.

Kitchen Pleasures is the idea of Muriel Berman, member of Holliston’s Council on Aging. She was interested in a fund-raising project to support the Senior Center’s programs. But, more than that, the idea of presenting favorite recipes from Holliston’s Seniors excited her. One of the alternate titles for the book was When People Really Cooked, before fast foods and take-out.

But Muriel not only had an idea. She researched cookbook publishers and presented her data to the Council. After gaining support to move forward, Muriel coordinated the gathering of recipes, organizing them, proofreading them and dealing with the company about numbers and finances. This was a full-time job for many months.

The result is a great collection. I found a recipe for corn pudding, one for mashed carrots and sweet potatoes and a bonus, the videlia onion casserole. Hooray for vegetable lovers. And I found my contribution for a Miracle Whip Cake invented during WWII when butter and eggs were in short supply. There are lots I plan to try right away including Jim’s Relish and Carrot Orange Soup.

In the back of Kitchen Pleasures is a table of contributors displaying the page numbers of their recipes – an excellent idea. The publisher inserted several helpful pages in the back and placed hints on the back of section dividers. I like the loose-leaf format so individual pages can be clipped onto the windowsill for easy use. The cover definitely matches the contents and looks easy to keep clean.

But one thing that is missing from the cookbook is a page giving credit to Muriel Berman for her leadership skills making an idea become a fine product. So I am going to print this article, punch three holes in it and insert it in the front of Kitchen Pleasures in her honor!

You can find the cookbook for sale at the Senior Center and at other sites in Holliston for $12. Look for it at community events. I have heard that Muriel may have a few extra copies in her car. Happy cooking!