Looking for just the right Christmas present for the person who has everything? Need to buy a birthday gift that's special, practical and not too expensive? Searching for the perfect wedding present, or just want to treat yourself while helping a good cause?

Everyone knows you can never have too many cookbooks, and one as diverse as the "Friends of the Hospice Cookbook" is sure to be appreciated.

Last fall, Hospice of the Regional Medical Center volunteers decided to write and sell cookbooks as a fund-raiser for the non-profit hospice. Under the direction of longtime volunteer Betty Wilson, hospice volunteers dedicated many hours to compiling the cookbooks. Their effort is reflected in the finished product.

With a bea.jpgul cover featuring a watercolor of the Edisto Gardens by local artist Elsie Fogle, "Friends of Hospice Cookbook" is packed with more than 660 mouth-watering recipes. Some are quite old, such as Orange Posset, a drink dating from the 1400s, and lots of traditional Southern favorites are featured, such as the "famous" fried chicken that was served at the old Southland Restaurant. There are recipes for timeless classics, like Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Potato Casserole and Pecan Pie, and recipes for those who are weight conscious, such as Stir-Fried Asparagus, Coconut-Crusted Red Snapper and Chicken Fajitas. There are even a few recipes for lower-calorie desserts.

Speaking of desserts, there are enough sweet recipes alone to fill a cookbook -- 60 cake recipes, dozens for cookies and candy and almost 50 pie recipes. There are recipes for frozen desserts, such as ice cream and sherbet, and recipes for candy using only a microwave oven. There are enough chocolate recipes to satiate even the most devout chocoholic.

The Hospice of RMC volunteers contributed favorite recipes and accepted submissions from the community-at-large. Family members of both former and current hospice patients submitted recipes as well.

Even the most experienced cooks will find something new, such as Snow Eggs, Shipwreck Casserole or Shrimp Etouffee. With recipes for beef, pork, fish and lamb, and nearly 50 recipes for poultry, there is sure to be something new for every culinary artist. For non-meat eaters, there are vegetarian, cheese and rice dishes. You can even learn how to make Curried Tofu.

With two dozen soup recipes, both hot and cold, as many recipes for all kinds of sauces, over 40 salad recipes and lots of recipes for appetizers and dips, this is the only cookbook you'll need to host dinner parties -- from the most elegant black-tie affair to the most informal picnic or tail-gate party.

The "Friends of Hospice Cookbook" features unusual side dishes, such as Braised Endive with Lemon, Fennel and Pears and Shoepeg Corn Salad, and new twists on old favorites, including Extra Creamy Corn Bread, Shrimp and Corn Soup, Oven-Baked Carrot Fries and Brownie Ice Cream Pie. There are recipes for all kinds of vegetables and vegetable pies and those with unique names, such as Peach Foam, Pig Cake, Hobo Dinner and a potent fruit salad called Tutti-Frutti.

Different nationalities are also represented. There are dishes from Mexico, such as Salsa, Guacamole and Taco Soup; a popular beef dish called Bulgoli from Korea, and recipes that may or may not be from the countries they are named for, such as Japanese Fruit Cake, Jamaican Gingerbread, Central American Black Beans, Armenian Salad and Czechoslovakian Bars.

There are recipes for hot and cold punches and drinks and more than a dozen just for preserves and pickles. You can learn how to make artichoke relish or pickle whole crab apples.

Breakfast has not been forgotten. Cottage Cheese Pancakes, Crock Pot Grits and Breakfast Casserole, among others, are featured in the cookbook, as are countless casseroles, soufflés, stews and nearly 60 recipes for breads, rolls and pastries. There's even a recipe for happiness and one for elephant stew you have to read to believe.

So whether you want to make fried green tomatoes or spinach quiche, peppermint divinity or stuffed Cornish hens, you'll find it here. From dips to appetizers, through main courses and side dishes, the Hospice of RMC volunteers have created a cookbook with recipes sure to appeal to the pickiest palate. There are simple dishes and those that take a little more time, but if it's variety you want, this cookbook has it. It also comes with helpful hints, such as cooking times, descriptions of spices, food and nutrition guides, a calorie counter, explanation of labels and safer ways to clean your entire house. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbooks will go to help hospice patients and their families.

The Friends of Hospice cookbooks are $12 and available at several local retail outlets, including Ann's House of Treasures, At Stephanie's, Bedding and More, Branchville Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy on Chestnut Street, Deborah's Beauty Shop and Tanning in Branchville, Devin's Flowers and Gifts, Empire Gas in Holly Hill, Farmer's and Merchant's Bank in Branchville, First Citizens Bank in Orangeburg, Friedman's Jewelers, Garden Gate Florist in Cope, Gayle Peagler's Beauty Shop in St. George, Grove Park Pharmacy, Hap's of Elloree, Judy's Beauty Shop in Branchville, Orangeburg Nursing Home, Prescription Shoppe, Stroman's Appliance Center and Tagadu's Gift Shop in Bamberg. They are also available at the Hospice of the RMC office, located in The Village Shopping Center, 1895 St. Matthew Road in Orangeburg, and at the gift shop at the Regional Medical Center.

For more information, call 803-395-2606.

T&D Correspondent John Ott can be reached by telephone at 803-829-3638. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.