Well-used cookbooks can be found in the kitchens of most farm women. Communities, churches and schools often use cookbooks as a fundraiser. These cookbooks are home to appealing appetizers, delectable desserts and everything in between. And you can tell the difference between a good and bad cookbook. The really good ones have been put through the wringer – they have dog-eared pages and are spotted with spilled ingredients. These cookbooks are filled with tried and true recipes that help feed hungry farm families.
I grew up a few miles from the hamlet of Purves, Manitoba, which began in 1899 and is now a ghost town. The buildings may be gone or dilapidated, but the community lives on through a small group of dedicated women called the Purves Ladies Aid. In the year 2000, the Purves Ladies Aid decided to make a cookbook featuring recipes from current and former Purves ladies. As the daughter of a current Purves lady, I submitted a recipe to the cookbook called Farmer’s Brownies. It’s a tasty brownie fit for a farmer! Enjoy.
Farmer’s Brownies
3 tbsp cocoa
1 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
App. 1 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp each baking soda and salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
Heat cocoa and margarine. Mix as for cake with the rest of the ingredients. Pour into 9 by 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 F for app. 20 minutes or until done. While brownies are baking, melt one 12 ounce package of chocolate chips and 3/4 cup peanut butter. Spread one package of miniature marshmallows over hot brownies. Put back in oven for five minutes after oven is switched off to melt marshmallows.
Mix three cups Rice Krispies with chocolate chip mixture and spread on top of marshmallows.
Put, uncovered, into freezer till topping has hardened. This is a great dessert/treat for the field. It can easily be cut into squares and frozen for future use.
In the coming weeks and months I’ll share more recipes from the Purves Country Kitchen cookbook. There are some goodies! Do you have a favorite community cookbook?
Rural Route Ramblings 
I have that recipe book and I love it! I think I may have received it from your mom for a wedding shower gift! Great brownie recipe–I’m inspired to bake today!
Great to hear, Ang! It’s a yummy recipe. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I love these brownies! I remember your mom always making them and your brothers had a very unflattering name for them…which I got in trouble for from my mom when I referred to it by it’s nickname.
Oh, the good old days! Thanks for finally commenting!
Ohhhhh those look deadly:)
omg that looks fantastic!
i’m baking my way through a cook book! it’s a lot of fun!
Every recipe in the cookbook? Wow, that’s great. Which cookbook? How’s it going?