Cancer Survivor Gives Back With Cookbook
Edie Hand has endured some terrible hardships. She survived separate bouts with cancer in her kidneys, breast and uterus. Earlier this year, she suffered a debilitating kidney and intestinal infection.
"I'm not supposed to be here," Hand said. "I believe my purpose was to share other people's stories."
Hand's near brushes with death have made her even more grateful for friends, family and holiday traditions. Hand, an actress, singer, cook and businesswoman, has teamed with her longtime friend, veteran country music producer Buddy Killen, to create "A Country Music Christmas."
In November, before Hand and Killen were about to embark on a national book tour, Killen died from pancreatic cancer. Hand said she continued to promote their book without her old friend and draws "strength from the pain."
The book is replete with holiday recipes from some of the biggest names in country and gospel music, including Hand, who comes from a family of Southern musicians.
She reflects on Christmas 1969, which she spent with her famous cousin Elvis Presley. She was 16 years old and didn't know Presley very well when she went to Graceland with her aunt and grandmother. Hand said she was so star-struck she nearly fainted when he hugged her. Presley gave her a necklace and earring set made out of purple and blue crystals, which she said she still shows to her family each Christmas.
Hand said she and Killen see the book as more of a storybook than a cookbook. She dedicated the book to her three late brothers and hopes it will foster a greater appreciation of the time families have together.
"As Buddy and I were putting this together, we realized … (we) wanted to share the warmth of the holidays and build those traditions because they don't know when they are not gonna be here," she said.
More than 65 artists contributed not only their recipes, but also family photos and stories. Country superstar Tim McGraw pays homage to his Italian mother with his lasagna recipe. Alan Jackson and his wife share their recipes for cornbread and cornbread dressing. Legendary singer Loretta Lynn shares her recipe for potluck Christmas dressing.
The book also comes with a Christmas CD that contains songs recorded by Hand herself, Pat Boone and Elvis' back up singers, The Jordanaires.
"Buddy and I wrote 'The Last Christmas Ride,' cut number 14, together about my brothers but it was our last ride, too," she said.
Because the book is tied so closely to charity, Hand said it was easy to get famous artists like Dolly Parton involved. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 10 percent will be given to the Country Music Hall of Fame and another 10 percent will support the Edie Hand Foundation which helps charities in her native state, Alabama as well as nationally. Hand said she and Killen will also use part of the book's profits to send Christmas trees to soldiers in Iraq along with the book's CD.
"I'm very passionate about it," said Hand, who made special guest appearances on the soap opera "As The World Turns." "I hope that it represents hope in hopeless situations and brings lots of smiles across the country."
Hand, who ran her own advertising agency for 20 years, includes her recipe for "Living The Legacy Layered Vegetable Salad," one of the lighter alternatives in the book filled with classic Southern dishes.
"It is Southern comfort food," Hand said. "Southerners love breaking bread and telling stories."
Hand hosted her own television show, "Southern Style with Edie and Friends," and currently co-hosts a radio talk show called "Sharing the Art of Living." She has also published several other cookbooks.
She said she loves every recipe included in "A Country Music Christmas," but especially loves comedian Jim Nabors' Maui Banana Bread, which she said is better if you use a lot of bananas.
"You can put it cran-raisin in it and it makes it so festive," Hand said.
She said her grandmother made a version of Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind Biscuits And Chocolate Gravy and Cocoa."
"It can be a breakfast or dessert," she said.
Hand has learned to overcome her illnesses and loss of loved ones by throwing herself into positive ventures like the cookbook. She said she lives by a very simple truth: "None of us have control over life's events," she said, "but we do control how we respond to life's events."
Learn more about "A Country Music Christmas" and Ediehandfoundation.org.
By Cailtin Johnson