Published: September 19, 2009 07:44 pm         

National Road Cookbook out soon

Tome contains submissions from towns all along U.S. 40

TERRE HAUTE — Faster than a roast opossum can say tutti-frutti, the Historic National Road Cookbook is coming to market.

“I didn’t realize how many people in Indiana like zucchini,” author and Historic National Road aficionado Patricia McDaniel laughed, noting the volume of zucchini recipes she’s received ranging from bread to fudge.

The Dublin, Ind., antique store owner and founding organizer of the annual Historic National Road Yard Sale jumped into a cookbook project about two-and-a-half months ago, soliciting recipes from towns all along U.S. 40, Maryland through Illinois.

Since her initial call-out for submissions, McDaniel has received more than enough for the first round of publications and said she’s already planning a second.

“Terre Haute really came through,” she said, noting that western Indiana will be well-represented, including a photograph of the old Walker Motel in Cloverdale, submitted by Lee and Susan Stewart, as well as a page submitted by Clabber Girl. “The people have been phenomenal.”

The 175-page, full-color book contains 317 recipes with no duplication, she said, adding that it will be off the press by November in time for Christmas.

Regional editions focusing solely on Indiana will be available, as well as the national book with submissions from Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

In addition to roast opossum, blue cheese cole slaw and Lady Locks, a special tutti-frutti recipe which starts out with two cups of rum and two cups of sugar is included. To make the dessert, one adds two cups of strawberries and two cups of sugar, gradually including two cups of blackberries and two more cups of sugar to the closed container, stirring it over time until it’s ready.

Also in the mix is pumpkin Jell-O, a dessert which sounds questionable but McDaniel said was the first thing whisked off the table at a pitch-in dinner she recently attended. Also, paska, a Russian Orthodox bread made at Easter, is included. “I had an awfully hard time finding that recipe, an authentic one,” she said, explaining that she had to track an Orthodox priest down in Pittsburgh to get it.

The cookbook will be offered in different editions with different cover photography and McDaniel said the regional edition will be limited in the first run to 500 editions. Some stores are already ordering, she noted.

The books will be sold for $16.95 each, but discounts for bulk purchases of five or more are available, she said.

Orders can be made by e-mailing info@oldstorefrontantiques.com or calling (765) 478-4809.



Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.