Since 2011 we have been publishing recipes in About Towne and here from our 1992 cookbook Best Cooks in Towne. Since we have now published most of the recipes, we will no longer publish them quarterly but you may access them here in our recipe archive.

Best Cooks in Towne was compiled by the members of Towne Family Association; descendants of William and Joanna (Blessing) Towne who came to America from Great Yarmouth, England in about 1640.

The book was first suggested by the members who planned the 1991 Towne Meeting in Kennebunk, Maine. Following the meeting Natalie Johnson agreed to complete the project, and Jean Warner volunteered to assist.

Every effort was made to copy all recipes exactly as submitted, but none have been kitchen-tested by the editors.

Many thanks to all who contributed. The calligraphy was done by Ella Mae Towne Pero. Cover design, The Rebecca Nurse Homestead by William C. Strickland. Title suggested by Maxine Canny

July, 1992

Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, MA: TFA Reunion 2007
Photography courtesy of Stablegirl Cindy

New!!! Member Recipe Archive

It has been over 30 years since our cookbook was published. We are sure many of our members since then have family recipes they would like to share. Sending them to cooks@townefolk.com will let them be added to a new archive and preserved for the future. Here is one which we received from Cecilia Maskell.

Tartar Sauce
Cecilia Maskell

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon chopped pickles (I use sweet Gherkins but some people prefer dill pickles. You can use sweet pickle relish instead if you wish.)
• 1 Tablespoon chopped capers
• 1 Tablespoon chopped onion or chopped shallots
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice (plus more to taste)
• 2 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh chives or 1 teaspoon dried chives

Mix well. Keep chilled. Serve with fish.

Some of my cousins asked me to write down my recipe for Tartar Sauce so I did. I thought you would enjoy it for the website too!

Member Recipe Archive

Do you have a special family recipe that you would like to share? Send it to us and we will feature it here.

cooks@townefolk.com