Sound good? The Bellbrook Firefighters’ Association has just put out a cookbook, “Firehouse Cooking in the Brook,” available for $10, as a fundraiser for the association. It contains recipes, photos and stories from past and present members of the Bellbrook Fire Department.
“It made for a fun project,” said fire Lt. Athena Haus, president of the association. She coordinated the project while Dot’s Market provided food for the photos in the book and also will be selling the book, she said.
The book contains recipes for appetizers and beverages, soups and salads, vegetables and side dishes, main dishes, breads and rolls, desserts and a This & That section that includes Tennessee apple fritters, a taco sauce and Firefly sweet tea.
“Never leave food on the stove unattended” is one of 10 home fire safety tips. Each book section also has a list of helpful hints, such as think “outside the bowl”: choose brightly colored bowls to set off dips or get creative with hollowed-out loaves of bread, bell peppers, heads of cabbage or winter squash.
There are cooking time tables, hints for baking breads and desserts and other helpful tips.
Chief Scott Hall contributed the Loblolly recipe, among other main dishes, while Capt. Phil Michael, a member of the fire department since 1978, submitted Captain Phil’s hot crabby punch, a cider-cranberry combo.
“I used to cook quite a bit when I worked in Huber Heights as a fireman,” Hall said. His Loblolly recipe serves 10. Most of the recipes are quick and simple, he said.
The proceeds will benefit the Guardians of the Ribbon-Ohio Chapter and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Haus said.
You will be able to buy the book, sample a variety of the recipes and meet members of the Bellbrook Fire Department at A Taste of Firehouse Cooking in the Brook! from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at the BellHop Cafe, 26 N. West St. The book can be ordered by calling the fire association at (937) 848-3272.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author