Cookbook commemorates 150 years of faith in Webster County

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
September 22, 2005

The Webster County Catholic Team Parishes recently published a cookbook to commemorate 150 years of faith in Webster County. On the cover, the title of the cookbook reads: 150 Years of Faith and Food in Webster County.

Wynn Touney, a member of both the 150th anniversary celebration committee and the cookbook committee, mentioned that they decided to go with a cookbook because they wanted to help unite the parishes and recognize the history as well as looking forward.

"A cookbook relates to the many wonderful families that we have and the wonderful parishes," she said.

Judy Birzer, a member of the cookbook committee, pointed out that after they opted to do a cookbook as a way to celebrate this milestone they sought recipes from all of the parishioners via bulletin announcements.

The eight Webster County parishes are Christ the King, Dayton; Corpus Christi, Fort Dodge; Holy Rosary, Fort Dodge; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorland; Sacred Heart, Fort Dodge; St. Matthew, Clare; St. Joseph, Barnum and St. Joseph, Duncombe. Recipes were also sought from former members of the county's historic parishes: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Coalville; Immaculate Conception, Lehigh; St. John, Vincent; and St. Patrick on the Lizard.

"And if they had old cookbooks from any of the parishes, we asked people to contribute recipes from them," noted Birzer.

To help tie in the historical piece, Touney mentioned that they asked individuals to make any special notations with the recipes - such as mother's favorite or a favorite family Christmas recipe.

Members of the committee pointed out that at first they were worried about the response. The recipes initially came in at a slow pace. But in the end, the response was huge - as was the cookbook.

The book contains just short of 2,000 recipes - 1,928 recipes.

"We had to go through and cull out some of the recipes that were very similar and then we put both names on a recipe," said Birzer. "We wanted to get it under 2,000 recipes because of the cost."

The cookbook committee consisting of about 21 people helped review the recipes to check for proper spelling and ensure that the ingredients appeared to be accurate.

Touney mentioned the company that put it together for them - Jumbo Jack's - had said this was their biggest cookbook. They had to go with a 2-and-one-half inch three-ring binder, which they had never used before.

Along with some of the traditional family favorites the book contains many unique things such as wild game recipes and even a liver doggy treat as well as bird food.

"There is a lot of variety," noted Birzer. "I can't believe people can do so many things with cranberries."

The book contains 38 recipes for cheesecake alone including Snickers cheesecake, strawberry swirl cheesecake and Father Lynn Bruch's double-chocolate cheesecake.

The book also has the recipes of other priests who serve the team parishes such as Father Brad Pelzel's Lemon Linguine, a dish he perfected while in Rome. Other men of the parishes contributed their special dishes as well.

One of the biggest highlights of the book is a photo and parish history of all 12 Webster County parishes.

Francis Rude, a parishioner at Moorland, purchased a recipe book.

"It's a huge, big book," she described. "I especially like the histories of the parishes in the front of the book."

Rude submitted four recipes for the book.

Ginny Barrett, a parishioner at Moorland and member of the cookbook committee, said she was "totally pleased" with the book.

She pointed out that sales of the book are going well. They have already reached the point where they are now making money. Proceeds of the book will help fund the 150th anniversary celebration. Just like all of the parishes were included in the cookbook, Barrett added that all of the parishes are to be included in the anniversary celebration.

Teresa Harris, a member of the cookbook committee, described the cookbook as a great souvenir keepsake, in part due to the inclusion of the parish histories. She volunteers at the church, helping with genealogy and church records. With that in mind, she has a fondness for history.

She also liked the fact that personal notations could be included with the recipes and that recipes could be submitted in memory of past parishioners.

"I submitted a date-filled cookie that my grandmother made and now my own children make," said Harris. "This not only serves to carry on traditions of parishes, but of families."

Barrett also liked that recipes could be submitted with personal notations. She submitted a recipe from her mother as well as a recipe from her beautician.

"I am so thrilled that everyone cooperated and sent in the recipes," she said. "We had so much fun sorting through the recipes."

Harris has already tried a number of the recipes. Harris also purchased eight of the cookbooks so they could be given out to others.

"This is certainly a book that many people will enjoy," she said.

Books may be purchased for $18 (plus $5 for mail order) from the Webster County Catholic Team Parish Office, 2422 9 1/2 Ave. South, PO Box 9994, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Include name, address and phone number on your order. The books are also being sold after most Masses in the Webster County parishes.