Cookbook Helps Raise Funds for Centralia Rotary's Riverside Park Project

Many families have that one person who can cook so well that they are often told at family dinners that their recipes should be made into a cookbook for others to enjoy. 

For Debbie Schinnell, that vision is now a reality. 

Her cookbook, titled “Come Hungry!”, was released this year and is being sold at Gifted in downtown Chehalis for $45. Sweetening the deal, $10 of each book purchased goes to the Centralia Rotary Club to help pay for planned upgrades at Riverside Park. 

The Centralia City Council approved the Rotary Club’s initial park design at the Nov. 28 meeting. The Rotary Club has a two-year project to update the park, including the construction of basketball courts, a picnic shelter, bocce ball courts and a soccer field, among other improvements. The project had an estimated cost of between $1 million and $1.5 million in July. 

“It’s great, and it helps. Everything helps, but the project is $1.5 million,” Schinnell said. “I cook for a lot of Rotarians. It’s just one of those things. It’s nice that Judy (DeVaul) wanted to give back to the community. That’s been kind of fun.”

Schinnell came up with the idea for a cookbook earlier this year because of her son, Kolin. When Kolin left for college five years ago, he asked for her recipes, and so Schinnell decided to write down her recipes. Last April, Kolin got engaged and Debbie decided to make the cookbook for when Kolin got married. 

“I always thought I would do it, but I wanted to have it done by the time he gets married,” Schinnell said. “He decided to get married Sept. 23, a very narrow window to do it. Three solid months, all my spare time was spent doing that.”

The book wasn’t just for Kolin, although he received the first copy. 

“I thought I’ll print off a few for my friends and family. I am surprised that so many other people like them. It’s been really fun,” Schinnell said. 

Schinnell said she hopes this cookbook will encourage others to practice hospitality. 

“That’s where my passion for cooking came from, When I would have people over for Bible studies or something and I would want to cook for them. I found the more I did it, the more joy and passion I had for it,” Schinnell said. “I felt like when I read the Bible, it says practice hospitality. I think most people are afraid to do that.”

Among Schinnell’s favorite recipes in the book are the beef tenderloin with gorgonzola cream sauce, chicken tortilla soup and luscious lemon cookies. 

Schinnell said she’s appreciative of Lydia James for her help with the book and Kenneth Kaurasi for taking photos, as well as the support from her husband, Kevin. 

She said she would come up with some of her recipes by laying out a variety of cookbook recipes of the same dish and comparing and contrasting each recipe before choosing flavor profiles that she knew her family would enjoy. 

Schinnell has received a great reception of the book from friends and family, and has a lot more recipes. Lane, another son, could be a reason to make another cookbook down the road.

“I thought maybe when he gets married I’ll have another cookbook. I do have several other recipes,” Schinnell said. “... Just a few ideas rolling around in my head. I have a few recipes that I keep refining and other ones where I think I wish I would have put this one in.”

The book is available at Gifted in Chehalis, which is located at 425 N. Market Blvd.

Schinnell helps operate the family business, Schinnell Surveying & Mapping. She’s also a board member for the Centralia Community Foundation. According to her biography on the website of the foundation, “Schinnell is a past president and active member of Centralia Rotary. During her presidential year, she chose the restoration of the Historic Fox Theatre as her president’s project. As a result of a collaborative effort between Centralia Rotary and the Tri-Club Rotary Auction, the theatre was able to restore and create the Rotary Mezzanine Lounge.”