Taste of Franklin

It’s no secret that I love a good thrift store! When I was in college in 1992 at the University of Montevallo, some of my home economic friends and I would travel to Hoover and hit the thrift stores along the way. We would always look for unique finds, especially great cookbooks! That was back before computers and internet. Everyone used cookbooks and magazines to find new recipes! I guess you would say we were “thrifting when thrifting wasn’t cool.”

In 2026 thrifting is all the rage! People seek out those rare items that reminds them of their childhood. They love things that remind them of grandma’s house and give people that warm cozy feeling.

I love to shop the thrift stores in Franklin County and search for vintage cookbooks from some of our best cooks. I wanted to highlight some of my favorite recipes from a few of those wonderful ladies that have meant so much to me. The recipes in these books have been handed down for many years.

The first recipe I wanted to share is from the Russellville Jayceettes Cookbook. This book does not have a publication date, yet it does have an advertisement from the George Jones Restaurant that opened in 1978.

Cherry Cream Pie by Connie Green

1 stick of margarine

½ c. Pecans

1 envelope of Dream Whip

1 can cherry Pie Filling

1 C. Flour

½ box confectioner’s – powdered sugar

1 Pkg. cream cheese

Cream together margarine, flour and pecans. Bake at 250 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool. Combine sugar and cream cheese. Beat Dream Whip as directed on box. Add sugar to cheese. Put combined mixture on top of crust. Top with pie filling.

I met Connie at her bakery, “Connie’s Creations,” in downtown Russellville in 2001. My children loved to go see her and pick out a special birthday cake each year. Connie’s husband was Mike Green, probate judge in Franklin County from 2000 to 2007. He was a great servant for our community. He passed away at the age of 54. This recipe was given to Connie by her mother in law, Martha, many years ago. Connie lives in Florence now close to her daughter and grandchildren.

The next three recipes are from the 1989 Phil Campbell Study Club Cookbook.

Oatmeal Cookies by Peggy Wells

1 c. brown sugar

1c. white sugar

1c. margarine

2 eggs

1 c. oatmeal

1 c. coconut

1 c. chopped pecans

½ c. Chopped maraschino cherries

2 ½ self- rising flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugars, margarine, vanilla, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, then add oats, coconut, pecans and cherries. Roll into balls and flatten. Bake at 350 degrees.

This is a special recipe from my Grandmother Peggy. She was a second grade teacher at Phil Campbell Elementary School for 25 years and taught the JOY Ladies Bible Class for many years at First Baptist Church in Phil Campbell.

Pecan Pie by Beulah Weatherford Wood

¾ c. sugar

1 c. corn syrup

¼ c. butter

¼ tsp salt

3 eggs beaten

½ tsp. vanilla

1 c. pecans

1 unbaked pie shell

Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt. Bring to boil over low heat. Pour this syrup slowly over beaten eggs, stirring constantly. Cool and add vanilla and chopped pecans. Pour into a pie shell. Bake in a hot oven 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 degrees and bake 35 to 40 minutes longer. Makes 1 pie.

This recipe is from great grandmother. It has been in my family for over 70 years. She lived to be 96 and spent her entire life in Franklin County. She was a wonderful cook.

Chocolate Delight by Emily McKinney

1st Layer: 1 c. plain Flour, 1 stick Butter, 1 c. chopped pecans

Mix together and bake in a 8-inch pie pan at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

2nd Layer: 1 c. sugar, 1- 8 oz. cream cheese, ½ of 8 oz pkg Cool Whip

Mix together and spread on top of the crust.

3rd layer: 1 ½ cup of milk and 1 small instant chocolate pudding

Mix together and spread on top of 2nd layer. Dollop cool whip on top to make a pretty deign or spread smooth. Sprinkle with chopped nuts or chocolate shavings.

Emily has been a family friend my entire life. She was our neighbor for 13 years. My daughters and I loved visiting with her. Emily is now living in New Orleans, Louisiana, near her daughter and we definitely miss her.

This recipe is from the 1980 Russellville Potpourri Club Cookbook.

Souper Rice by Donna King

1 cup long grain rice, uncooked

1 can onion coup

1 can chicken broth

1 can beef broth

¼ stick margarine

Mix ingredients and pour into baking dish. Bake in 325 degree oven for one hour and 15 minutes.

Donna has been a dear friend of our family for over 30 years. She has a home economics degree from Florence State (UNA).

The next two recipes are from the 2013 PC Study Club Cookbook

Sour Cream Coconut Cake by Martha Pace

16 oz. sour cream

12 oz. frozen coconut

2 C. sugar

1 ½ c. Cool Whip

Yellow cake mix

Bake cake layers. Mix 2 cups of sugar, sour cream and coconut together. Reserve 1 cup of mixture. Split cake layers and spread mixture. Fold 1 cup (reserve) with Cool Whip and use for the top of the cake. Leave in refrigerator for 3 days and then serve.

Mrs. Pace was my Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Phil Campbell, where she taught for 40 years. She also taught second grade for 36 years and retired from Russellville City Schools. She died at the age of 64 in the devastating April 27, 2011, tornado in Phil Campbell. She was the kindest, Christian woman and a wonderful cook.

Chicken and Dumplings by Barbara Cain

4 to 6 medium to large chicken breasts

2 qt water

1 tsp salt

3 c. self -rising flour

¾ c. shortening

1 c. milk

Cook chicken breast in water until done. Remove chicken from pot and cool. Cut chicken in bite-size pieces. Cut shortening into flour. Add milk and stir until flour mixture is completely moistened. Roll out on floured surface, sprinkling additional flour as needed, until dough is about ½ inch thick or thinner. Cut dough in strips lengthwise, then across into small pieces. Bring chicken broth to a boil and drop dough (which has plenty of flour on it to thicken the broth) in it. Add cut chicken pieces back to broth and add black pepper and salt to taste. Reduce heat and cook until dumplings are done.

Mrs. Cain and I went to church together for many years. She was my first-grade teacher at Phil Campbell Elementary School. She and I are now in Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) together. DKG is an international professional honor society for women educators that was founded in 1929. This has been a full circle moment.