Mary Jane's Cookbook: From the Heart of America

by Mary Jane Remole

cookbook

Genres: Cookbooks

160 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Cari Waldick]

I just moved, and when I unpacked this cookbook, I felt like a piece of my home fell into place. This is my go-to cookbook. There are others that do it better, faster, healthier, and with better directions and pictures, but this one was written by a mom who cooks. That means often you open a can instead of chopping fresh veggies. You feed your family, instead of putting on a production. And you get thanked with clean plates and help with the dishes. I gave it four stars instead of five, because some of these recipes leave a bit of guess work. "Top with shredded cheese," leaves me to guess how much to use, and what kind of cheese. I like this, but those who aren't in the trenches preparing meals, might get frustrated with the lack of specifics. These recipes are the kind you find in church cookbooks, and passed from mother to daughter. They're not fancy, and I suspect they've been printed elsewhere before. To me, this is a plus, since I'm a big fan of familiar comfort food. I don't care for surprise ingredients, and I don't tend to shop in gourmet markets.

I also loved the pictures, stories, excerpts, and comments all through the book. This makes those recipes feel like I'm getting them from a friend or neighbor. I like knowing that the recipe has found approval before. Thanks you, Mary Jane!

[Jennifer]

This is a fun little book. Along with regional recipes you will find cute little stories and poems. Has some of the great Midwest dishes that I think are unique to tastes of the area, Hot Chicken Salad Casserole, John Mazetti (a beef, cheese & noodle dish), Hickory Nut Cake & Hello Dolly Bars (the rest of the world calls them Magic Cookie Bars or such.
I still have my recipe for Red Punch & Hickory Nut Cake that my neighbor gave me when I moved to Illinois. I now live on the west coast and they hold a very dear place in my heart.