MJS: 100th anniversary of Milwaukee's St Sebastian inspires cookbook

The book - "100 Years of Sharing a Table" - features 160 recipes. Amazingly, there was next to no duplication, so every recipe that was submitted was used, said Kennedy, who is listed as the book's senior editor.

You don't have to flip far into the 225-page book (available in hardcover or with spiral binding) to see that it's much more than a cookbook. In addition to the smartly designed recipes, the book contains hundreds of photographs: current and past snapshots of parishioners and their families, as well as pictures of the church and church events.

"I wanted it to feel like a scrapbook and be more beautiful than your typical parish cookbook," said Kennedy. "I wanted it to be special."

Kennedy chose art nouveau, a style of design that was popular at the time the church was founded. "It's taken from nature but also very graphic," Kennedy explained, noting that the parish's logo is also used throughout the book.

"I was very passionate about it. It was really a fun project," she said.

While Kennedy did much of the hands-on work, other committee members contributed to the effort. One took additional recipe photographs and tested some of the recipes. Another interviewed the priest. A brief history of the parish is included.

The recipes are organized by beverages and appetizers, soups, salads, breakfast dishes, main dishes (meat and vegetarian), side dishes, breads and desserts. True to church cookbook tradition, desserts and main dishes are the two largest categories.

"100 Years of Sharing a Table" is available for order at the church's website, www.saintsebastianonline.net, which also contains information about other anniversary events. Hardcover copies also will be sold at the church's May 6 fish fry. Hardcover books sell for $25; spiral-bound, $20, plus shipping (shipping is free for orders placed in April).

Whole article at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel(and some sample recipes)