Telling our Story through Family Recipes

Our family recipes tell a powerful story about who we are and the history of our families and communities.

Author Susan Apps-Bodilly, daughter of storyteller Jerry Apps, will highlight the food made by his mother, Eleanor, and feature recipes found in her well-worn recipe box. The recipes take us on a culinary tour of life on the farm during the Depression and World War II. Seasoned with personal stories, menus, and family photos, Old Farm Country Cookbook recalls when electricity had not yet reached the farm.

Join us for a community potluck before the event beginning at 5:30! Bring your family recipes and stories to share.

About Susan

Susan is a retired educator and writer. She taught elementary and middle school students for 34 years. She holds a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction.

When she is not reading or writing, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, hiking at the family cabin, kayaking, and trying new recipes with produce from her garden.

Susan’s Books:

One Room Schools, Stories from the Days of 1 Room, 1 Teacher, 8 Grades is enjoyed by children and adults who attended a one-room school or know someone who did. The book was a finalist for the 2013 Midwest Independent Publishers Association in the Children’s Non-Fiction category.

Susan and her father, Jerry Apps, collaborated on Old Farm Country Cookbook, Recipes, Menus, and Memories. This book was the topic of a PBS Wisconsin show titled “Jerry Apps, Food and Memories.”

Her third book is Seeds in Soil, Planting a Garden, and Finding Your Roots. This unique gardening book is a “Gold” level winner from the 2023 Midwest Independent Publishers Association in the Children’s Non-Fiction category.

Coming soon: Fall of 2024 – Timber! A Northwoods Story of Lumberjacks, Logging, and the Land – co-written with Jerry Apps. This book for young readers describes the history of logging in the Midwest through the days of reforestation. The book also includes ways to appreciate and care for our forest lands today.