UBC Reports | Vol. 46 | No. 20 | December 14, 2000

Cookbook stands the tests of two

Co-editors' efforts ensure the tomato relish doesn't turn into tomato taffy

Many people may not realize how much work goes into putting together a cookbook. Nancy Brodie now does.

Brodie and Judith Eyrl are coeditors of From the Collections a new cookbook from the Museum of Anthropology (MOA).

The two women, along with other museum volunteers, spent two years collecting, testing and adjusting recipes.

The cookbook features 110 recipes in all including 30 from a museum cookbook that was released 15 years ago.

There are salads, soups, pasta, desserts and a section devoted to the Pacific salmon, which, according to the book's editors, has always been an important year-round staple for coastal cultures. Among the recipes in it are ones for gravlax, oriental salmon and barbecued salmon salad. All the recipes are simple.

The book also contains photographs of artifacts from MOA that have a food theme.

Brodie and Eyrl say they were happy to volunteer their time for the project.

Two years ago at a holiday luncheon they asked other volunteers to bring in a favourite recipe and the dish so everyone could sample them. Other recipes they had to try on their own.

"Between the two of us we tested all the recipes. In a few cases we made changes to the original recipe," says Eyrl.

Brodie says one recipe provided quite the challenge.

"I was making tomato relish and the recipe called for seven pounds of tomatoes and seven pounds of sugar. I hesitated because it didn't sound right, but my job was to test all the recipes so in went the tomatoes and in went the sugar," she says.

"I let it simmer on the stove and suddenly it rose like a pink and red volcano over the pot and onto the stove. I turned the stove off and walked away as it was very hot. When I got back it had all turned into taffy," says Brodie, a museum volunteer for 24 years.

Both women have their favourite recipes. Brodie's is the savoury cheddar loaf and Eryl recommends the oatmeal shortbread cookies.

The book is on sale for $19.95 at the Museum of Anthropology and Legends of the Moon in Vancouver. The money raised through sales goes towards new acquisitions and supporting the care of the collections at the museum.