JeffersonCityMag.com | Posted 11/21/11
It's no secret that some of the best, most beloved recipes are those steeped in the past. Whether it's a family recipe passed down from a loved one or a long-time favorite from a well-known chef, food can remind us of the people we loved, the work we did and the events we lived through. In many ways, cooking and history are nearly inextricable, with flavors and ingredients wrapped tightly alongside people, faces and facts. Taste and cooking not only give us the chance to enjoy the present and plan for the future, but they also give us the power to revisit the past and relearn our history.
The Friends of the National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., recently released the second edition of The Cookery Book, a collection of recipes from prominent cooks around Missouri, the nation and across the pond. Divided into 12 categories, including hor d'oeuvres and appetizers, salads, desserts and more, The Cookery Book features Churchill family favorites as well as contributions from former first ladies of Missouri and the United States and offers novice to advanced cooks a chance to delve into the recipes that pleased the people's palates during important times in Missouri and the U.S. Whether it's a jellied consume from the Baroness Spencer Churchill or a baked turkey casserole from former First Lady Betty Ford, every bite, from the simplest to most complex, is accompanied by a sense of shared history.
The St. Louis Friends of the Churchill Memorial and Library and committee members around the state released the first edition of The Cookery Book in 1977. The original 1,500 recipes, all tested and approved for inclusion in the book, were donated by individuals across Great Britain and the U.S. The second edition contains new recipes from the Mid-Missouri Friends of the National Churchill Museum and Westminster alumnus Brock Ayers and his family. This edition also includes contributions from numerous Jefferson City and Columbia residents, including Mrs. Sam B. Cook, Mrs. John M. Dalton, Mrs. Michael C. Milonski, Mrs. William A. Sims, Mrs. Earl Ward, Patricia Epple, Mrs. Robert C. Simonds and Mrs. Thomas A. Vetter.
The Cookery Book is available for $25 at the National Churchill Museum, by mail or by calling the museum at (573) 592-5263. Proceeds benefit the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury's restoration and $50,000 tuck-point repair project.
Discover more culinary adventures with Jefferson City Magazine's Katrina Tauchen at her blog, splashofsomething.com.
Winston Churchill Memorial
Located on the campus of Westminster College, the National Churchill Museum is home to visual art, historical features and interactive technology celebrating the work of Sir Winston Churchill, who visited the Westminster campus in 1946 and delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" speech. The museum itself is located within the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, a 17th-century church designed by acclaimed English architect Christopher Wren.
Hours: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for youth and college students, $3 for children ages 6 to 11 and free for children 5 and under.
Upcoming event: Screening of the documentary Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 at B&B Theatre in Fulton, presented by the National Churchill Museum. Tickets are $6 each or $20 for a group of four. Proceeds benefit the museum.
“Leave the past to history especially as I propose to write that history myself.”
