Throughout the years, I’ve seen the Cabbage Patch cookbook in eBay suggestions. If you’ve seen it you’ll recognize the white cover with the farming images within a green cabbage. Very iconic.
It’s from the Cabbage Patch Circle in Louisville, Kentucky and it’s actually called “Famous Kentucky Recipes.” I would consider this group a Junior League on steroids. Their organization is the faith-based Cabbage Patch Settlement and they formed in late 1910. A small group within became known as The Cabbage Patch Circle who seemed to be the core in making sure the Settlement’s mission of helping to meet the needs of their neighbors stayed on track.
The building they used, Cabbage Patch Settlement House, became a destination for those who needed help. And by the time they first published their cookbook, their organization had a well-earned reputation for helping the community.
Their work is very impressive. In their first 50 years, here’s what they’ve been able to do:
- During the Depression, they remodeled a building into apartments and housed families in need
- Organized a commissary with wholesale prices to be paid by work
- Clothing League Project
- Large Garden Project: Enough crops for summer and canning for winter
- WWII: Overnight accommodations for soldiers
- Nursery School
- Cooking School
- Sewing School
Impressive, right?
Well, anyways, I spotted a version with a green cover and it got me curious about their cookbook. The green cover was the reverse of the familiar white one. But, as it turns out, wasn’t the first edition, first printing.
I did a search on eBay and found most are from a 1956 printing and after. Then, in the related searches, I found it. A first edition from 1952.
It looks absolutely nothing like the white cover with farm and giant green cabbage! And the price wasn’t too bad, either.
Who knows when another one will show up, so I decided to snag it.
And here’s what it looks like:
I love the dark green and the simple circle patch up in the upper left corner. And you’ll notice that the “Famous Kentucky Recipes” pops more.
Super excited to have found this one! The mark on the cover is actually the remnants of a price tag, but I’m sure I’d cause more damage if I tried to remove it.
Welcome to the collection!