Mom's Comfort Food

By Joyce Klynstra

Skyhorse     2019

212 pages     Cooking

When cooking for a family, most people want recipes that will be appreciated by everyone—picky eaters included. Joyce Klynstra has collected 50-years-worth of her best recipes, compiled from recipe cards, her wedding cake business, and church suppers. The chapters are divided into classifications that you would expect, but also include chapters on classic Christmas recipes as well as advice on canning and freezing. The sub-title of the book says: “Meals, sides and desserts to bring warmth and contentment to your table.”

I instantly connected with Klynstra. She is about my age, lives in Lansing, Michigan—just slightly north of me —and has cooked and collected recipes her whole life. Unlike me, she got her training at a drive-in in Allendale, Michigan. A couple of the recipes come from that drive-in. Most of my training came from Mom, Grandma, and my ever-efficient Mother-in-Law.

The thing I liked the most about all of the recipes is that they can easily be created for a family supper or a holiday brunch. Many of the ingredients might already be on your shelves or in your freezer. She uses a lot of local produce. For example, some lovely dishes are created with asparagus, easily available in the spring in Michigan. (Hey! It’s April! Asparagus season is almost upon us. Hallelujah!) The first recipe that caught my eye was the very first recipe in the book: Asian Meatballs cooked in a very simple and delectable teriyaki sauce. I found several recipes that are similar to ones I make. My chocolate chip cookie recipe—exactly.  More importantly, I found a lot (and I do mean a lot) of recipes that I plan to try in the next few weeks.

What sets Mom’s Comfort Food apart from many other cookbooks are the photographs of the foods as well as photos of Klynstra’s grandchildren holding their favorite foods that Grandma makes. Laura Klynstra, Joyce’s daughter, is a well known book designer. When I looked her up, I saw that she designed several of the books that I read this year, including Lilac Girls, Small Great Things, and White Houses. When you look at her books, you realize how important the design of a book is to its appeal.

Several years ago, my sister and I put together a cookbook of family recipes including family pictures and some family history. It was such a joy to create, and I can only imagine how much fun Joyce and her daughter had creating the book.

Mom’s Comfort Food is a treat to the eye and the palate.