Hospice cookbook still popular after five years

By Betty Geddes, Special to The Sun

Five years ago, the idea was conceived of an Erie Shores Hospice cookbook that would use recipes and cooking experiences to tell the true story of what happens at Leamington’s beautiful Erie Shores Hospice.

This unique challenge was met by four hospice volunteers who, after two years of love and labour, gave birth to the Hospice Cookbook in July 2019. The result was a book of recipes contributed by the many selfless volunteers at hospice, meticulously formatted to be easy to follow and portray the many aspects of the hospice experience.

The eleven sections reflect the fact that the kitchen is such an important part of hospice. Some sections represented are comfort foods, gifts from the heart, international foods and foods that children, can enjoy and are easy to cook. The sections are introduced by photographs of the food in the hospice setting accompanied by photos of the volunteers who make it happen.

A further explanation demonstrates how this is a part of hospice hospitality. The clear easy-to-read printing on high quality paper and coil bound for effortless usage was provided by Speedprint.

The first one thousand copies were almost sold when COVID made a significant change to our lives. It certainly did afford to the owners of the cookbook an opportunity to make many of the recipes. Many rave reviews of the dishes prepared have been shared.

A second printing was made, sold out and now the third printing is available.

The marketing has expanded and the cookbook is now available, still for $20, at several local venues, as well as Erie Shores and Windsor Hospice. The local venues carrying the book are Blimey’s British Store (Essex), The Local Maker (Kingsville), The Flower Shop at Thiessen’s (Leamington), Serenity Lavender at North 42 Winery (Harrow), Oxley Winery (Harrow), Cooper’s Hawk Winery (Harrow) and Pelee Island Winery (Kingsville).

The cookbook will also be sold at Hogs for Hospice the weekend of July 29-31, as well as at other upcoming festivals and events.

While this book is a joy to purchase and use personally, it is also a perfect gift for numerous occasions including Easter and Mother’s Day.