From time to time, St. Matthew's members review books of interest to church members in our monthly newsletter, Tidings.  Here is a recent review:

Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader.  Jan Karon is the author of the Mitford series of  books that tell the fictitious story of a mountain community in North Carolina and the life of Father Tim and the Episcopal Church of which he is vicar.  Very closely connected are his side kick foster child Dooley and his next door neighbor Cynthia, soon to be wife as the story-line develops.  Intertwined are many other relationships with towns people as life gets complex and celebratory.  Gleaned from this series are recopies and stories around the recopies.  Jan has put together a wonderful cookbook which for me, growing up in a rectory as a child and later as a priest, reminded me of the wonderful parishioners whose signature recopies were dropped off at our doorstep.  I took my mother's recipe box and developed a recipe book for the family, because she was a collector of parishioner recopies.  One was "Bishop's Pudding" which a arrived once a year when  the bishop came for dinner following confirmation Sunday.  It was created by Lady Spear our next door neighbor, whose cuisine was scrumptious.  Try Jan Karon's Marmalade Cake - it's out of sight!  Light, fluffy and lots of butter! For me,  it brings great delight to author desserts that bring "oooh's and ahhh's" to the parish potlucks or family dinner table.  Bon Appetit!