COLUMN: Carillon Flashback January 6, 2011 – Mennonite bloggers publishing cookbook

Betty Reimer’s journey into blogging and on to be part of group publishing a cookbook entitled Mennonite Girls Can Cook started when she decided to search online for a new Easter bread recipe.

Reimer had a recipe she usually used, but was curious as to what else was out there. Her search led her to Louella Schellenberg’s blog, and she wondered why this particular recipe caught her attention.

Reimer quickly became a follower, regularly posting comments. About a year after Reimer discovered the blog, Schellenberg put out the idea of starting a group blog by the group of women who, like Reimer, had all linked through her food-based blogs.

A total of 13 women from British Columbia, Manitoba and Washington, aged 49 to 63, originally signed on (though the group now sits comfortably at 10) and in June, 2008, Mennonite Girls Can Cook was launched.

Most of the women are of Mennonite background, but the recipes are not strictly Mennonite, Reimer explains.

“The women try to balance healthy options, and there is a whole section devoted to gluten-free recipes, along with the feel-good heavier foods normally associated with the Mennonite culture.”

The success of the blog drew the attention of Mennonite Publishing Network as well, and last summer the group was approached about publishing a cookbook based on their blog.

The women quickly agreed, and in August, they all got together in Abbotsford, B.C. to sign a contract. The book is being published by Herald Press, the publishing arm of the Mennonite Church in North America.

Reimer said the book, currently in the editing and design stage, will be more of a “coffee table book”, with tips, meditations and stories, in addition to more than 100 recipes. Ten of Reimer’s recipes will be featured in the book,

All proceeds from the book will go to Mennonite Central Committee to help children at the Good Shepherd Shelter, an orphanage in Ukraine. All proceeds from advertising on their blog also go to MCC.

with files from Jennifer Stahn