The Odessa Record -

Cookbook (noun)…a book containing recipes and other information about the preparation and cooking of food

Beginning with mimeographed pages and hand stapled, the Odessa Memorial Hospital Auxiliary published their first cookbook called “Over the Party Line”. Through the years, the Auxiliary continued to put together a total of nine different cookbooks of recipes contributed by citizens of Odessa. The most coveted (and out of print) one being the “green one.”

The auxiliary disbanded in 2014. Though many changes have taken place at the hospital since the disbanding of the Auxiliary, you don’t have to look far to see the proceeds of auxiliary fund raising. These included the lift accessible soaking tub, the wheelchair accessible scale and several physical therapy equipment pieces, just to name a few.

When the auxiliary disbanded, the Odessa Healthcare Foundation assumed the responsibility of selling the remaining cookbooks, maintaining the gift cases and presenting a scholarship to one or more Odessa High School graduating seniors interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. Money raised through the sale of the cookbooks and items in the gift cases provide money for these scholarships.

Scholarship winners in 2019 were Kassidy Crossley, currently attending Washington State University pursuing a degree in nursing and Tori Weishaar, attending Baylor University pursuing a medical degree.

Would you like to have the recipes used for Deutschesfest? Would you like to own one or both of the last cookbooks published by the Odessa Memorial Hospital Auxiliary? Are you looking for a gift for someone? You are in luck! The Staff of Life IV, the eighth cookbook, is a collection of new recipes and a few old favorites, complied by the cookbook committee of Freda Braun, Laura Estes and Sandi Smith. The ninth cookbook, Unser Tagelich Brot, (Our Daily Bread) The Staff of Life V, is a compilation of all the German recipes that appeared in previous cookbooks, including food served at Deutschesfest, plus a number of newly contributed German recipes, as well as, other family favorites. The cookbook committee for this cookbook was Laura Estes, Carey Mae Jasman, Nettie Miller and Deborah Walter.

Cookbooks are available in the gift cases located at the Odessa Clinic, Odessa Memorial Hospital lobby and Quail Court, or at Odessa Drug. In addition, they may be purchased at Christmas Fest, December 4, or you can contact Jean Starkel at 982.2445 or Nancy Floether at 982.0178.

The cookbooks normally sell for $10. However, from now until December 31, 2019, they are available at a special holiday price. See the ad elsewhere in The Odessa Record.