A recently released cookbook that features cherished family dishes from residents of Atria Senior Living communities across the U.S. includes recipes from three Tucsonans.
The cookbook, "A Dash & a Dollop," includes recipes and stories from staff and residents. Each recipe holds a special memory and meaning.
There are three Atria locations in Tucson, and recipes from two are included in the cookbook.
Jason Ridley, regional director of culinary services for the Southwest Atria Senior Living locations, said he loves that each recipe is tied to a story.
"We really try to honor and capture what many call 'The Greatest Generation,' " Ridley said.
Ninety-year-old Jean Watson, who lives at Atria Valley Manor at 5549 E. Lee St., was surprised when she found out that her recipe for steamed chocolate pudding made it into the book.
People are also reading…
"I never thought it would win, because it's not that common of a thing," she said.
Watson said everyone in her family loves the recipe.
"It's the pudding sauce that makes it. You have to be a chocoholic."
She added, "It's important to pass recipes through the generations."
Juanita Edmondson, who's 93 and also lives at Atria Valley Manor, contributed a recipe that she came across while living in France with her family. The recipe is coquilles St. Jacques, a scallop dish.
Living in France was a good time in Edmondson's life, when she learned to make several local specialty dishes. Edmondson described her time in France as a four-year vacation across Europe.
Inez Savage lives at Atria Bell Court Gardens at 6653 E. Carondelet Drive, and thought of the Kansas family farm she grew up on when she contributed her pon haus, or scrapple, recipe.
The main ingredient in the recipe featured in the book is bone-in pork butt, but the recipe she loved and grew up with was much less specific.
"In my family, whatever was left of the pig was what you used," said Savage, 91. "You used all parts of the pig except the squeal."
Cooking and baking are hobbies for Watson, who is known around Atria Valley Manor as "The Cookie Lady." Each week she makes sugar cookies with icing for her neighbors and friends. On a recent day her dining room table was covered with cookie sheets loaded with the baked treats.
"If you're frustrated, you can beat the heck out of the batter," Watson said.
For Edmondson and Savage, cooking is an important part of their lives as well. All three of the residents featured enjoy living in Arizona and are proud to be a part of the Atria Senior Living cookbook.
Ridley said the cookbook took about a year to put together.
"We ended up with lots of recipes," he said. "A group tested the recipes to make sure they worked and tasted good, then we combined that with which stories were most interesting and fun."
The cookbook was released in November. Ridley said each resident of Atria Senior Living received a copy of the book, and most Atria communities across the country are celebrating it by serving one recipe a week.
When a resident's recipe is on the menu, the resident gets to wear a chef hat and hold an autograph signing of their page in the cookbook.
"They get excited," Ridley said.
To buy the book
"A Dash & a Dollop" is available at barnesandnoble.com for $15.43.
Ashley Grove is a University of Arizona student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at 573-4117 or at starapprentice@azstarnet.com
