"The recipes in this cookbook are tried and true from me to you."
Jeanette Stroh, December 2004
Click front cover to enlarge.
|
This quote from my mom, Jeanette Stroh, sums up what you will find in this cookbook. A catering business truly tests a recipe. From parties of 10 to parties of 500, these recipes were tested and refined, under all sorts of conditions, over the 20 years of Jeanette’s Country Cooking. Before she passed away on January 27, 2005, Mom pulled me to her side and asked me to be sure to include her quote somewhere in the cookbook because she wanted everyone to know how passionate she was about her cooking and her recipes. In 1998 I started helping Mom with Jeanette’s Country Cooking. I worked on food preparation and worked many of her evening parties. One day while prepping, I thought it would be handy to have a book of the recipes we used every day. Many of her recipes were tucked in between pages or stuffed into small crocks. I re-typed most of her recipes on the computer and placed them in a binder with plastic covers. A few years later my computer crashed and to my disappointment I found out the backup disk I had made was unreadable. All of that work was gone. |
|
Over the years we stuffed new recipes into the binder and updated the originals. Thank goodness we had that first binder. In 2004, Mom started talking more about retiring from catering. We had already talked about writing a cookbook together and releasing it on the day she retired. In the spring of 2004, we recruited my niece, Shara Madigan, to type the recipes from the binder into the computer. I made a long list of the recipes I needed to have Mom write down, since so many of Mom’s recipes were in her head. We didn’t know that we were going to lose her to kidney cancer eight months later. I knew I was going to write my mom’s cookbook as a legacy to her, I just didn’t know when. Those months after Mom’s passing were difficult for me. She was not only my mom, but also my best friend and my business partner. In August, 2005 it suddenly hit me that it was time to start. Writing the book turned out to be very cathartic. Mom’s recipes made her come alive in me again. I felt the happy times I had growing up. I tasted her amazing cooking. Mom and I always talked about how food can make any event better; it makes us feel good and brings people closer together. It happened to me while writing. I was inspired enough to spend hours in the kitchen testing recipes. My husband John, daughter Amanda, dad Ken Stroh, and our friends Marty and Nancy Smith became my main tasters.
|
|
|
Finding all of these recipes was a challenge. I was frustrated that I had a long list of recipes that we didn’t have written down on paper. I decided to do more sleuthing. I called her friends, went through every nook and cranny in the catering kitchen, and read through old articles that had been written about Mom. Through those efforts I was able to find or re-create 42 of the 54 recipes on my original list. I even found additional old recipes that I had grown up with that weren’t on the list. I was ecstatic every time I found an original recipe. I began feeling more and more confident with this cookbook. I decided that most of the recipes needed to be tested. Many of them were written for serving 50, 100 or 150 people. Mom was great at working a recipe for 10 people into a recipe for 200; it truly takes a special skill. The original recipe was long gone. My challenge was to shrink portions back down to a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or a small bowl for 10 people. Over the 11 months of writing this cookbook, I tested 188 of the 206 recipes; the other 18 were ones I knew well. My confidence level soared after finishing the testing process. I had proven my mom’s quote is definitely true! |
Click back cover to enlarge.
|
|
Throughout the book you will notice a pig theme. Mom collected pigs over her 20 years of catering. The pig in the cookbook has a personality of her own and even has a name. Penny the pig is the hand-drawn creation of Victoria Hand of Victoria Hand Designs. Penny is holding every page number on her platter and is most active on the divider pages. We still have Mom’s extensive pig collection in the houses and in the catering kitchen. From salt and pepper shakers to platters, to the weather vane on top of the kitchen, pigs are everywhere. 
Jeanette loved collecting pig memorabilia. To honor her hobby,
Debbie has Penny the Pig throughout the book. Penny will win your heart with her culinary enthusiasm! I loved writing this book. I can whip together any of the recipes very quickly now, and I’m sure I have the best stocked spice cabinet in all of Mendocino County. I am proud of my mom and the accomplishments she made with her successful catering business. I know these are great recipes from one of the greatest country chefs around. Enjoy! Debbie Reardan |
|
Order your copy of Country Cooking in Mendocino now!!
The recipe for Stroh Ranch Original Marinade has been sold to Carol Hall's Hot Pepper Jelly Company. To order, contact Carol Hall's Hot Pepper Jelly Company directly at 800-892-4823.
Words From Our Happy Readers
 |
"I just finished reading Country Cooking cover to cover and I had to stop and drop you a note to tell you how touched and impressed I was by what you have done. The book is a beautiful tribute to your mom, but also a gift to those of us who enjoyed knowing her and savoring her delicious cooking over the years. The book itself is a pleasure to peruse, polished and professional, but also touchingly personal." Sally - Potter Valley, CA |
|
"Debbie, what a beautiful, loving tribute to your mom. I must admit it brought tears, and I can only imagine how hard but oh so gratifying it was for you to put together a walk down memory lane with your Mom. I love the book and I know my daughters will cherish it." Jayne - Sacramento, CA |
|
"Thank you so much for putting out this wonderful cookbook of recipes in honor of Jeanette Stroh. I just received the Country Cooking in Mendocino from a dear friend. She must have known that I was feeling a bit melancholy to send the book when she did. I have looked through and read it three times! I will be using this cookbook for many a year to come." Ruth - Merlin, OR |
|
"The Mendocino cookbook is outstanding. On my rating I gave it a 5 star + which is tops. And I had nearly tagged every page." Betty - Arlington, TX |
|
"When I opened my gift (the cookbook) this morning I immediately sat down and went through the entire book. I must tell you that I shed a few tears and also had some smiles as I remembered events that we all shared. What a great tribute to Jeanette." Marie and Bob - Greenwood, IN |
|
"Thank you! What a success your book is! Your mom’s love and talent shines through each page." Kay - Ukiah, CA |
|
"Your cookbook is a delight to "read"! Mom and I have both enjoyed it." Beth Ann - Little River, CA |
|
"What a beautiful testament to your mom and your family. I really enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait to make my first recipe. I really enjoyed the story behind each recipe. You are fortunate you had such a bright star to guide you and now you have her beautiful memories to live in your heart." Katrina - Sacramento, CA |
|
"I was able to sit down and read the cookbook tonight. I couldn’t put it down and have now stayed up so late! Congrats on all your passionate work that has turned into something so wonderful to keep your mom close." Lovi - Potter Valley, CA |
|
"Thank you so much for the great cookbook. What an awesome tribute to your Mom - you did a beautiful job putting all of this information together." Sharon and Craig - Fair Oaks, CA |
|
"I was thrilled to receive the wonderful cookbook as a gift and so sad to hear of Mrs. Stroh’s passing. She made absolutely delicious food for our wedding almost 10 years ago. Everyone enjoyed it so much - just wonderful. I ordered the cookbook for my mom who knew Mrs. Stroh." Ayme - Loma Linda, CA |
|
"What a wonderful tribute your cookbook is to your mom. When reading through it I really feel her spirit. I’m sure she is smiling down on you saying good job Debbie." Carole - Twain Harte, CA |
|
"My mom got the cookbook and marinades yesterday and stayed up to 10:30 reading the book, periodically calling out to my dad to read him bits. Then she got up at 4:30 to continue reading it! She loves, loves, loves it - from the recipes themselves to the photos and the little loving tidbits you included. It is a huge hit! I made the amazing Garlic Dip and it was beyond amazing! We had friends hunker down by the table and just pile more and more servings on their plates, eating as fast as they could to get more!" Juliana - Windsor, CA |
|
"I am sure enjoying the recipes from your cookbook! We’ve tried the butternut squash soup, chicken with sauce, pecan cookies, sugared nuts, Christmas ham and egg casserole, chile rellenos, meatballs with apricot glaze ... they are all delicious, and easy to make too! Can’t wait to try some more!" Lyn - Sacramento, CA |
|
"Your cookbook is a loving tribute to your mother ... what a gift to her memory and to you, also. Only love (and delicious recipes!) reside in the pages of this book. I have a copy for myself, and will be reminded of the bond between a mother and daughter each time I use it." Patty - Ukiah, CA |
|
"Thanks so much for the cookbook - it has the potential to change the way we live!" Knox, Potter Valley, CA |
|
"Thank you for making your mother’s wonderful recipes available to all of us. You have no idea how much time I spent trying to figure out some of the recipes. Debbie, I read the book from cover to cover. I laughed, I cried and now I’m going to try all those wonderful recipes." Leslie - Ukiah, CA |
|
"Last night I spent a delightful evening reading your book. What a beautiful tribute to your mother, and yes, also to your father. You tell their story well and makes me wish I could have known Jeanette Stroh. Then I read many of the recipes and am eager to try making some of them." Mel - Sacramento, CA |
|
"The cookbook is fabulous! Congratulations on a superb job - your Mom would be so proud!" Barbara - Potter Valley, CA |
|
"I just want to say that I read the intro to the cookbook and all of the notes included. It is the most heartfelt account of a mother and daughter’s love. What a great tribute to your mom." Tammy - Ukiah, CA |
|
"I think it is wonderful what you have done with your mother’s memory - to share her great ideas and blending them with your own." Pat - Ukiah, CA |
|
"I just wanted to say thank you for my great recipe book!! I sat down and started reading it and couldn’t put it down until the last page. It has such wonderful stories to go with the good recipes. I’ve let my mother and both sisters read it and now I’m getting them one too." Sharon - Ashland, OR |
|
"Thank you for the great cookbook! The Beef Burgundy is really good . . . love the Baked Asparagus . . . and the Apple Pie is the best ever! Can’t wait to try all the other recipes." Susie and John - Los Angeles, CA |
Home || Background || Recipes || Retail Stores || Cookbook || Order Form
Copyright © P.J.'s Gourmet