By Linda Chuss

You don’t have to be America’s top chef or have a famous restaurant chain named after you to make a splash with your food creations in Milford. All you need is to share a favorite recipe with the Senior Center for the community cookbook to be published this year.

Deirdre Riley Thomson, a Program Coordinator at the Milford Senior Center, conceived of the idea for the cookbook during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The center was closed to the public, but our staff was still working. We were looking for ways to keep in touch with our seniors since we couldn't see them and be with them…We were all cooking, A LOT, and we thought it would be fun to hear what people were making.”

A community cookbook can also serve as a record to ensure some of the old family recipes aren’t lost over time. It also collects dishes originating from places around the world.

Think about a snack or dessert you make repeatedly because everyone loves it, or a main meal you never get tired of because it’s tasty and easy to make. What special treat are you known for bringing to family gatherings or serving up for holidays and special occasions? Many people have at least one creation they are proud of, whether for breads, appetizers, soups, main dishes, cocktails, or desserts. Instead of just sharing the food with your relatives and friends, share the recipe with the Senior Center so others in town can make it for their loved ones.

While producing a book of recipes is something new for the Senior Center, cooking is certainly not. Chef Brenda Needleman cooks meals like the favorite macaroni and meatballs, which seniors no doubt hope will be included in the book. Instructions for preparing fresh vegetables, like those grown by gardener Nicky Trotta for lunches at the center, would also be a welcome addition.

Thomson will continue to accept entries through May, and then will compile them for publication in the summer. The Senior Center will sell the cookbook for a minimal price, with proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Milford Senior Center, which they will use to help plan and produce the fun events and informational programs at the Center. 

Before it’s too late, send your recipe to [email protected], or mail it to Milford Senior Center, Attention Deirdre Riley Thomson, 60 North Bow St., Milford, MA 01757.