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JUNIOR LEAGUE OF
McALLEN COOKBOOKS
La Piñata was first published in 1976 at the Pan American
University Edinburg print shop and hand assembled. The first
printing consisted of 2000 books which were originally sold at
$6.50. The cookbook was sold by Junior League members and
was also available for purchase at the McAllen International
Museum, First National Bank of McAllen, Valley National Bank and
McAllen State Bank.
The
original concept for the cookbook was intended to be a gift to the
community by four members of what was then, the McAllen Junior
Service League. These remarkable ladies, Mrs. Jerry Fair, Mrs.
Jerry McGilvray, Mrs. Gary Gurwitz, and Mrs. Richard Moore were
all planning to change their membership from Active to Sustainer
and decided to compile a cookbook as a goodbye project. They were
assisted in the project by Mrs. Morgan Talbot and Mrs. Leroy Lewin.
At the Annual April Luncheon, as they moved on to Sustainer
status, they were awarded special “La Piñata Lizzie” Awards.
The
La Piñata cover art and insignia were designed by Pam Corcoran.
The name of the book was an original idea of Rudy Pharis, who was
the Director of the McAllen International Museum, at that time.
League Sustainer Jane McGilvray still has secreted away in her
home the first cook book that came off the press. These original
cookbooks have a white cardstock cover with orange print and are
hard to come by.
This
remarkable project took six months from start to finish and truly
was a community effort. The book consists of over 1,000 recipes
lovingly compiled from Junior League members, sustainers and
members of the community who contributed to it. Mrs. McGilvray
recalls that children and husbands were recruited to sample the
recipes in “test kitchens” throughout McAllen.
Proceeds
from the first printing were used to fund a scholarship for a
McAllen High School graduate, to sponsor the first Christmas Tree
Forrest at the McAllen International Museum, to benefit the
Radiation Treatment Center, and to financially support an Art
Show. The La Piñata’s sales exceeded the wildest dreams of the
community and by December 1977 and additional 2,000 were printed.
Today,
La Piñata remains a significant seller and continues to be an
excellent gift for newlyweds or young people starting off in their
first home, dorm or apartment.
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The
Junior League of McAllen, Inc.
