Up a Country Lane Cookbook

by Evelyn Birkby, Jane Stern (Foreword), Michael Stern (Foreword)

For over 50 years Birkby has written a weekly column for her hometown paper containing recipes, stories of friends and family, and her personal philosophy of life. This volume contains the best of these recipes and stories from the 1940s and 1950s.

Genres: Cookbooks

276 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1993

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recipes are classics in this book, from bread to dessert to gravy. The remarkable thing, though, is the narrative in which the recipes appear. Evelyn Birkby's cookbook is much more than that - a cross between an autobiography and a social history of a time & place in the US that's going or gone now. Some of her stories that accompany the recipes brought tears to my eyes.

[Carolyn Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Mid-century, Midwest farming recollections and recipes. Some of my favorites include the watermelon pickles, cottage cheese, tapioca pudding, and all the recipes for pies and simple, filling and cheap dinner dishes. Made the butterscotch bars.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up A Country Lane is part memoir and part cookbook. Through stories and photographs Evelyn shares what life was like living on a farm in rural Iowa during the decade following WWII. Neither Evelyn or her husband Robert were farmers but like many young couples from the era they were eager to rent a farm, put down roots and build a meaningful life on the farm. Evelyn shares everything from the sense of community, gardening,the ritual of grocery shopping and the use of meat lockers to raising chickens, milking, haying, harvesting, schools, social clubs and so much more.
Evelyn does not shy away from the reality of life on a farm and shares stories of drought, ruined crops, sickness and accidents. "A family on a small farm could have more than its share of isolation, loneliness, and constant need for hard, physical labor. So the memories of simple, happy events and celebrations must realistically be tempered by the struggles endured."
Many of Evelyn's stories made me smile but some were also heartbreaking.
If there was one thing that could bring a farming community together it was food. Potlucks, club luncheons, harvest feasts and holiday gatherings were all occasions to pull out platters, bowls and pie plates. At the end of each chapter Evelyn shares many simple recipes that were favorites in her family and many neighboring families as well. These are recipes that people really made and ate, recipes that the people were connected with.
One of the recipes I've tried was Curried Beef and Rice and let me tell you that was one hearty, filling meal. Beef, potatoes lots of vegetables and seasonings all served over rice. It was delicious but like I said very hearty and filling and I can see why a hard working farm family would enjoy that meal.
I love that every time I make a recipe from this book I can flip through the pages and read some of Evelyn's stories again. A treasure of a book. I'm glad I stumbled upon it.

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only a cookbook but also a look back at the hard work and camaraderie of farming, farm families, and small farm communities during the 1940s and 1950s. Chapters are by topics, so you learn what it was like to milk several cows by hand, getting the wash dried in the winter, "party line" telephones, Saturday nights in town, and how those old iron kitchen stoves worked. A delightful book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful cookbook memoir captures perfectly the moment in time when I too lived on a farm for seven years. It brought back many happy memories of hard work and good food and good people. I loved it.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories of farm life in the past was enjoyable to read and the recipes are good old farm country basics. Nothing fancy but good midwestern food that a family would enjoy.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much a window into my own family history. Super low key and a good read. Made me want to bake cookies.