Mennonite Girls Really Can Cook

Herald Press To Publish Recipes And Reflections From Popular Blog

Three years ago, Lovella Schellenberg started a blog to record her thoughts, memories and recipes from her Mennonite heritage. The response was positive—particularly to the recipes.

"I discovered that people really liked sharing recipes," says Schellenberg, a member of the Northview Community Church (Mennonite Brethren) in Abbotsford, B.C. "So I decided to start a blog dedicated to just that, and invited others to join me."

Nine women in B.C., Manitoba and Washington State signed up, and Mennonite Girls Can Cook was born.

Their goal was simple: To share good, healthy recipes based on their Mennonite heritage with each other, and with anyone else who thought it was worthwhile. "We had no idea what the response would be," Schellenberg says.

As it turns out, the response was very positive. Mennonite Girls Can Cook gets over 3,600 visits each day, and has over 1,600 followers. Altogether, it has received more than 1.4 million—yes, million—visits since 2008.

"We never thought it would grow so big," says Schellenberg of the blog's success. "It has exceeded all of our expectations."

The way it works is that the ten "girls"—the women are between 49 and 63 years of age—take turns posting recipes every day, except Sunday. On that day they post a devotional called Bread for the Journey.

The recipes on the blog range widely, from appetizers to casseroles, desserts, dips and sauces, gluten free, meat and poultry and traditional Mennonite fare, all artistically photographed and pleasantly presented.

"Our goal was to make something simple, but that displayed the food beautifully, with photos and good instructions," Schellenberg says. In addition to sharing good food and recipes, the women use it to raise money for Mennonite Central Committee.

"Right from the start, we agreed that we would never take any money for ourselves from the blog," she says. "The only goal was to share recipes, have fun, and use any money we made to help hungry people."

As the blog grew in popularity, they started getting requests for a published cookbook. That wasn't in the plans, but the group was open to it—with one stipulation. "We decided that if we were supposed to publish a book, God would send us a publisher," Schellenberg shares.

In spring, this year, that happened when Mennonite Publishing Network came calling.

"It quickly seemed like a good fit," says Schellenberg. "We especially liked MPN's connection with MCC through books like the More-with-Less Cookbook."

In August the women got together in B.C. to sign the contract for the book with MPN. Mennonite Girls Can Cook is due out in spring, 2011; all royalties from sales will go to a food-related charity.

"Giving away any money we make was such an easy decision," says Schellenberg of the decision to donate the royalties. "We all have enough. We've all been so blessed by God. The idea of taking any money from the book didn't make sense. Being able to give something back is such a privilege."

Looking back, "this has been such a wonderful experience, such a God thing," says Schellenberg of the blog, the friendships that have been formed by the women, and now the book.

"Whatever happens down the road, we've had such fun, and we will be lifetime friends."