​Recipes Needed for ‘Belly Full of Love’ Community Cookbook

It is no secret that Plainfield is home to some amazing restaurants and businesses, but thanks to social distancing guidelines and closures, many of those establishments and their employees are struggling to make ends meet.

The Plainfield Public Library has been looking for a way to give back to the Plainfield community during this difficult time and came up with the idea of publishing a digital cookbook called “Belly Full of Love: Supporting Plainfield With Our Favorite Recipes.”

“The library already has the software necessary to electronically publish the cookbook, and our staff is doing the compilation and creation,” said Library Director Lisa Pappas. “The costs to create this cookbook are minimal, and the library is happy to absorb these costs.”

Once published, the digital cookbook will be available for download for a suggested $10 donation. One hundred percent of the money raised from the sale of the cookbook will be given to area charities to help those affected by COVID-19 in Plainfield.

But before the cookbook can be published, recipes are needed.

“Share your favorite family recipes. Share a tried-and-true recipe you saw on TV years ago. Share a new recipe you just tried for the first time last night that your family loved,” said Pappas. “It doesn’t have to be a big elaborate recipe you created yourself. Just something you love and want to share with others.”

The library is also collecting recipes from area restaurants and local leaders to include in the cookbook.

To submit a recipe, please email Tracey Lane, the library’s head of community engagement and marketing, at tlane@plainfieldpubliclibrary.org. All recipe types are welcome, and they do not have to be original, but please cite your source if possible. Feel free to include a short anecdote about the recipe or a photo of the food or your family in the kitchen, as well. Recipe submissions are due May 15.

“Don’t delay! The sooner we can get these recipes, the sooner we can publish them and start helping our community,” said Pappas.