I mentioned the Park Rapids hockey players' cookbook in my previous post. It was printed sometime in the early 1980s, thinks my mom ("I'm pretty sure Nate was still a Mighty Mite.") The recipes are all submitted under the hockey players' names, and are presumably their favorites, or at least what their mothers figured would be the most appreciated by the other hockey moms.

From this paean to ketchup, hamburger, cream-of-something soups, and Cool Whip, I pulled out some choice recipes. Most look pretty revolting or perplexing to me, but I'll admit I'm tempted to go for the French Fry Bake.

All right, let's start with some of the main dishes--namely, hotdishes.

FRENCH-FRY BAKE

CHEESEBURGER PIE

CHEESEBURGER

MEAT ON A BUN

MISTER HOTDISH
I'm having a hard time believing this can be cut into squares.

And two of the many macaroni-based recipes, starting of course with...
MACCRONIE AND CHEESE
(Whoever typed the cookbook spells it this way in every recipe.)

WESTERN MAC HOTDISH
"What makes it Western?" my mom and I wondered. Then she figured it out: green peppers.
(Also note the second ingredient.)
On to SALADS,
a term that in Minnesota applies to any dish that is served below room temperature.

ORANGE SALAD
I ate variations on this at every church potluck. I preferred the kind that had cottage cheese in it too.

"MANACOTTI SALAD"
Try to envision this.

PISTACHIO SALAD
Finally, DESSERT.
(That's right, Cool-Whip-based dishes belong in the Salad section.)
For the most part, this is the part of the cookbook that actually sounds delicious. Cupcakes, bars, brownies, cookies, many involving melted bags of chocolate chips...and finally, my classmate Courtney Rutherford's recipe for
POPCORN CAKE.

If anyone will venture to actually make one of these dishes and send me a photo of it, I will personally mail you a photocopy of the whole book.