Hillesland Publishes Recipe Book

Supper time is a favorite time for many families throughout the world, especially when it is a home cooked meal. In the Hillesland home, that was exactly how it went. Home cooked meals, plenty of company, always ending with dessert.

Harriet and Alton Hillesland, of Sidney, have many memories in the kitchen and at the dining table. So do their children Tom, Jeff, Chris and Sana, who have been begging for their mother’s recipes. As her son Tom stated, “Mom was not afraid to try new recipes or make her own recipes,” which usually made for at least one not so good turnout. As son Chris recalls, dad Alton was the judge of this. You would know if it wasn’t so good when he replied with “it was good, but I don’t think you need to make it again.”

After practically begging for her recipes, Jeff bought Harriet a small tape recorder so she could verbally convey her recipes that weren’t yet on paper. At last her kids were going to get her recipes. As Harriet quickly found out, it was going to be a little more challenging than expected. A lot of her recipes were measured in pinches and scoops, which she had to turn into exact measurements.

One of Harriet’s 12 grandkids heard that she wanted to get them all recorded and, knowing the passion she had for cooking, knew she had to help. During a visit, Harriet and her granddaughter Brianne talked through and photographed each recipe, which was then typed up and compiled.

When Harriet talks about her book, her family, or her passion for cooking and sewing, she just lights up. It is evident how much love is put into all of it, including this book. Harriet has been blessed with a rather large family, including her 4 children, 12 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. Asking Harriet what her favorite recipe is could almost be compared to asking her which family member means the most to her. Needless to say, she couldn’t decide on just one recipe.

There were always two things the kids never had to ask. One was when supper would be served, which they all knew was served at 6 sharp. The other was what was for dinner, as you could smell it before you would get an answer. As Harriet’s daughter Sana recalls, “I really thought it was cool when I would walk home after Brownies or Girls Scouts and be able to smell ‘supper’ even before I got in the house.”

There’s nothing quite like coming home to one of Harriet’s home-cooked meals, which if the directions are followed correctly can happen. Harriet’s recipes are all recorded and have now been published into a book. ‘Clean Your Plate & Kiss The Cook!’ is 144 pages of Harriet’s personal recipes. The book has many categories including: beverages, breads, breakfast, jams, salads, entrees, dressings, soups, cakes, candy, crisps, snacks, cookies, bars, pies, and desserts.

‘Clean Your Plate & Kiss The Cook!’ can be purchased for $10 at The Roundup, 111 W. Main in Sidney or directly from Harriet at Sidney Health Center’s Extended Care, Room 304. Any profits will be donated to help fund a water well project in Africa.