STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

As the summer of our discontent continues, give yourself a treat and entertain yourself with the new Sun Valley Commemorative Quarantine Cookbook.

The 197-page cookbook features dozens of recipes that Sun Valley-area residents cooked up while in quarantine during March and April. And it boasts a few pictures depicting how it was during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the Wood River Valley.

The proceeds are going to Blaine County’s first responders--Ketchum and Sun Valley Fire and Rescue and Wood River Fire and Rescue.

Leslie Doheny-Hanks and Robyn Watson sold out the first printing before the ink had barely dried and promptly reordered more.

 “The fundraiser for our first responders is turning out to be a huge success!” said Doheny-Hanks.

Doheny-Hanks and her sister Robyn Watson found themselves doing a lot of cooking during quarantine, making old family favorites like Gigi’s Popovers, and testing new recipes.

Reflecting on the power of food to bring their own family together even while apart, they opined they might be able to use food for good during the pandemic that took an early toll on the Sun Valley community.

“It started as a way for our friends to share what they have been cooking during the quarantine and quickly evolved into this fundraiser,” said Doheny-Hanks.

The two received a wide range of recipes, ranging from healthy to comforting and easy to challenging, from more than 65 contributors. With baking having become the new national pastime during shelter-in-place orders, they collected all kinds of bread recipes ranging from Banana Sour Cream Bread to Kanelbullar, a Swedish cinnamon bun recipe.

Other recipes include Wasabi Guacamole, White Bean Lemon Soup, West African Spicy Peanut Chicken Soup, Vietnamese Chicken Salad, Orecchiette with Arugula, Fennel and Sausage, Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Balsamic Plum Sauce, Cookie Dough Hiking Energy Bites and Chia Seed Pudding.

“There seemed to be a pattern of childhood favorites and comfort food,” said Robyn Watson, who serves as executive director of Sun Valley Opera when she’s not busy publishing cookbooks.

Some have bought the books as gifts for book club members and those on their Christmas lists.

Melinda Springs noted that it was no small effort putting the cookbook together.

“A huge round of applause to Robyn and Leslie for organizing an opportunity for us to give back to our community and our first responders,” added Mardi Shepard.

“What a wonderful gift to the community,” echoed Laura Midgley.

The book can be purchased at Atkinsons’ Market in Ketchum, Bellissimo, Brass Ranch, Chapter One Bookstore, Good Riddance, The Haven, Ketchum Kitchens, Silver Creek Outfitters, Sun Valley Signature and Lodge gift shops, Sun Valley Culinary Institute, Under Cover, Village Market and Willow Papery.

Cookbooks can also be ordered at https://createmycookbook.com/reorder by entering the book code Q8D2X3NK