Cookin' in a Coal Camp

In Cookin’ in a Coal Camp, author Glenna Pack brings us a charming, old-fashioned cookbook that has been a favorite for years. Mrs. Pack tested these recipes on her family as they were moved from coal town to coal town throughout West Virginia. The book is divided into eleven categories of recipes, some of which are accompanied by old-fashioned sayings: “The peace of the world will, in the end, depend upon our capacity for friendship and our willingness to use it.”

Mrs. Pack’s recipes range from the familiar: Pork Barbeque, Clam Chowder and Pecan Pie; to some Pack family specialties: Daddy’s Idaho Buckeroo Beans and Mama Pack’s Harvard Beets. Lastly, there are those recipes whose names alone will pique your interest: Texas Lizzies, Foothill House Sweet Dreams, Hot Brown and Queen Elizabeth Cake.

She resurrects the lost art of candy making, with recipes for homemade mints and fudge. For those with hunters at home, she has included Roast Pheasant and Smothered Venison Steak. Plan a holiday brunch including Sour Cream Coffee Cake and Egg Sausage Souffle.

A vintage black and white photograph of West Virginia in its heyday accompanies each chapter.
For over thirty years Mrs. Pack has been living in Charleston, where she still enjoys cooking.

Treat yourself (or the cook in your life) to Cookin’ in a Coal Camp. Happy eating!