Wimmer Cookbooks
Simply Simpático: A Taste of New Mexico – Junior League of Albuquerque | McIlhenny Hall of Fame
Simply Simpático: A Taste of New Mexico – Junior League of Albuquerque | McIlhenny Hall of Fame
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AT A GLANCE
- Title:
- Simply Simpático, A Taste of New Mexico
- Author:
- Junior League of Albuquerque
- Date:
- 1981 (7th printing)
- Origin:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Dimensions:
- 6 ¾" × 9 ½"
- Condition:
- Very good-excellent (VG-EX)
- Cover:
- Softcover comb-bound
- Pages:
- 351
- ISBN:
- 9780960927807
- Book genre:
- Junior League Cookbook
- Notes:
- McIlhenny Hall of Fame Award Winner
Low stock: 1 left
Award winning Junior League cookbook featuring America's Southwest cuisine and hundreds of authentic recipes.
Simply Simpático: A Taste of New Mexico, published by the Junior League of Albuquerque, is a beloved regional classic celebrating the rich heritage, cultural warmth, and congenial way of life that define New Mexico. This 1981, 7th printing softcover, comb‑bound edition features 351 pages of authentic recipes rooted in the state’s diverse culinary traditions.
This cookbook was honored with the McIlhenny Community Cookbook Hall of Fame Award, recognizing its exceptional popularity and enduring cultural significance.
The Walter S. McIlhenny Hall of Fame honors exceptional community cookbooks that have achieved enduring popularity and long-term success. Reserved for select titles within the Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards program, this distinction is typically awarded to books with proven sales record of 100,000 copies or more.
For collectors, this designation represents a proven classic—elevating the cookbook beyond initial recognition to one of sustained relevance and broad appeal. Examples retaining original award seals or stickers are especially desirable.
The turquoise blue cover features a striking Southwestern design, framed by a Native American–inspired geometric border in red, black, and white. A stylized bird motif anchors the lower corner, and the title appears diagonally in bold black script — a vibrant, unmistakably New Mexican presentation.
Inside, the Junior League describes the book as a tribute to “New Mexico’s heritage and the congenial style of living that has emerged from its unique cultural matrix.” The recipes reflect both the deep roots of traditional New Mexican cooking and the contemporary, gracious, simpático lifestyle of modern-day New Mexicans.
The collection includes regional favorites such as Huevos Rancheros, Tortilla Soup, Indian Fry Bread, Enchiladas Verdes, and Homemade Tamales, alongside inventive dishes like Jezebel (a spicy fruit‑jelly topping), Indian Blue Cornbread, Italian Zucchini Pie, Barbeque Brisket, and Celebration Crepes.
An instructive introductory chapter, Comida Simpática, explores the history, essential ingredients, and culinary influences of New Mexico’s cuisine, complete with menus for hosting authentic New Mexican gatherings.
This copy is in very good to excellent condition, clean and bright with only minimal signs of handling.
Collectors prize community cookbooks as both practical kitchen companions and historical artifacts. Often tied to a church, women’s club, or local organization, they preserve recipes, traditions, and personal connections to the past. Their vintage design and illustrations also make them appealing to display as well as use.
Historians value these books for the intimate insight they offer into American life—particularly women’s roles, as well as the social and cultural effects of immigration, expansion, urbanization, and industrialization.
Browse our complete Community & Junior League Cookbooks collection for more fundraising cookbooks and recipes.
Community cookbooks are locally compiled recipe collections—most often as fundraisers organized by women. The tradition dates to the Civil War era, beginning with Maria J. Moss’s 1864 A Poetical Cookbook.
Reading community cookbooks across time offers unexpected insight into American culture and history—especially changing social norms and the limited ways women’s voices appeared in print. Contributor naming conventions, such as “Mrs. John A. Smith,” reflected hierarchy, marital status, and identity while participation in clubs and organizations provided purpose and influence within their communities.
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We ask that when making your purchasing decision that you consider the photos as part of the item's description.
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