GREENE COUNTY – What began as a fundraising dream for the Greene County Historical Society has recently turned into a successful endeavor.

The compilation of recipes is titled “Morning Glories,” and the cookbook has blossomed into more than a fundraiser since it has been chosen as a top ten competitor in a national cookbook contest.

“It started as just a dream of one of the members and we thought it would be a good project to help get repairs done on the Historical house,” society member Merle Whitfield said.

According to Whitfield, a committee was formed and the group worked for a bout six months to get the book together.

“We collected a lot of the recipes from our members,” she said. “We even went out of state. We were just collecting from everywhere.”

Whitfield said committee head Deborah Stone was responsible for the artwork on, and inside, the cookbook.

“Deborah has done all the artwork and all the computer stuff. I don’t even own a computer,” Whitfield admitted. “She has pictures of morning glories on the back cover and on the inside, there’s a picture of one of our antebellum homes and some information on it.”

Whitfield said the book is selling so well because of the unique blend of recipes and history.

The group’s first shipment of cookbooks came in February and all 600 were sold by June, Whitfield said.

“This time we are getting 350 and we hope people will buy them as Christmas gifts,” she said. “We have saturated the market in Greene County. They have really gone over well.”

Although “Morning Glories” is a hot item, Whitfield said she doesn’t think she can get a committee together to create another cookbook volume since this one took so much work.

But the committee’s efforts were not in vain.

The cookbook has brought more attention than members ever imagined.

About a week ago, Whitfield said, Stone received a phone call from a representative for a national cookbook contest.

“She just came across it somewhere and entered our book,” Whitfield said. “Then about a week ago, she got a call saying the book was in the top ten.”

As the members await contest results, the nationally recognized cookbooks are on sale for $20 each. Proceeds from the cookbook will benefit renovations of the Historical Society home.

“The real project is to rebuild the flooring on the porch before somebody falls through it,” Whitfield laughed.

To order a copy of “Morning Glories,” call Jane at (205)372-2930, Deborah at (205)372-2326, Merle at (205)372-4065, or write the society at P.O. Box 746, Eutaw.