Potluck Favorites: Country Comfort: Over 100 Popular Recipes from Church Suppers, Firehouse Dinners, and Community Fundraisers

In this, my seventh book in the Country Comfort Cookbook series, I have included recipes from my own kitchen and those of my favorite restaurants, accomplished chefs, Internet bloggers, family, friends, and neighbors. This collection is meant not only to be shared at your dining room table, but at the tables and venues of groups of people who gather together to share in communal joy or hardship.The large-scale catastrophes, tornados, earthquakes, and hurricanes that seem to have become ongoing occurrences, and which many of us have now experienced personally, have brought together groups of people like never before, to lend a helping hand to their neighbors. And the same people who help during these tragedies are often the same people who are running your Little Leagues, bake sales, and your community’s holiday celebrations on a normal day.Here in my home state of New York, I’ve had many friends lose their homes completely to Hurricane Sandy. Many of them are still homeless, with none of their treasured possessions left, nothing but the clothes and what little possessions they could carry when they evacuated due to the massive surge of water that washed away their lives. They continue to battle to rebuild.Teams of community members set up shelters overnight. Food, clothing for adults who needed something to wear to work, for their kids who had to have school clothes, sneakers, jackets, blankets, cleaning supplies, and dry bins were given out to salvage what little was left. Money was disbursed from collections at churches, schools, and organizations like Chambers of Commerce  and civic associations to keep affected families going. The spirit of goodness and giving rose to the surface, above all other issues. Ongoing fundraising efforts took on a new dimension, as people would need help longer than anyone had anticipated. And through it all, people came to a greater appreciation of the need for fundraising, and the incredible strength and compassion of the community.The awareness of the need for sustainability continues to echo in the thoughts and actions of many, and is always uppermost in my thoughts. When compiling recipes, I couldn’t help expanding my thinking from growing in your own garden, to shopping local, buying local produce, honey, and cheeses, and also preserving what is in your garden. The meats and fish you’ve dried as a hobby have now become valuable, almost necessary knowledge. In a pinch, you will want to have at-the-ready food stored, healthy enough to maintain your family’s nutrition, as well as being able to share with others.The “we can do it” spirit that is so prevalent in our country allows us to survive any adversity, and we can do it while helping others and having fun, too. The pride of knowing that you have created something delicious, just from a handful of herbs or fruit from your garden, and the joy of sharing it with others at your town’s country fair, at dinner with your friends, or at the firehouse or school are what make it all worthwhile.—Excerpt from the Author's Note by Monica Musetti-Carlin