• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Good Grief Cook
  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy 2025
  • Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Grief Lessons
  • ABOUT
  • Subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Grief Lessons
  • ABOUT
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Grief Lessons

Gold Star Mom Cookbook Community Favorites

Published: Sep 6, 2020 · Modified: Jul 18, 2023 by Lisa Keys · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

Last Updated on July 18, 2023 by Lisa Keys

Gold Star community Cookbook cover.
honoring those we have loved and lost

Let's talk about the real Gold Star Mom community and not the current political nonsense. Just for the record when my son died in 2011 I wrote to the then President and the first lady. In my naivete, I thought the President might have some answers and the first lady, a mom like me, would offer some comforting words, but I got nothing. No personal response from those in the White House made me feel like my son's life didn't matter. So my advice, don't listen to what either side is saying right now about Gold Star families. It's all painful media hype.

Who are Navy Coordinators

Then there is Heather Kuhn. Heather was the Navy Gold Star Program Coordinator assigned to my area of the country. Coordinators assist families with benefit questions connecting them to valuable resources concerning bereavement and financial planning support. They also provide opportunities to celebrate our fallen service member through events connecting the Gold Star community. When Heather reached out about creating this Gold Star Mom cookbook I was all in.

My son's page in the cookbook.

It really wasn't a tough choice picking a recipe that William liked best. I did think about his favorite Boston cream pie and even a couple of recipes that he created himself..."waffles supreme" and a sandwich he called "the American Hero", but clearly this chicken dish was the one he asked for more than any other. He loved a little bit of chicken fried.

Recipe page in the cookbook for crispy coconut chicken dippers.
One of Will's favorites

Heather writes

I believe we all can relate that when faced with loss and grief and mourning - which is not a phase or a stage, but rather a journey - many fond memories are often brought back with familiar sounds and comforting smells, and the tastes of the meals shared with those we have loved and lost, but cherish still.

I am grateful she was inspired to reach out to Gold Star families and compile a book filled with recipe favorites and memories of our fallen service members. This book is not for sale, but available for free electronically for those wishing to read and honor our fallen heroes.

gold-star-community-recipe-book-pdf-for-viewing-electronicallyDownload
Blue forget me not flowers.
never forget <3

More Grief Lessons

  • Levain oatmeal raisin cookies.
    Levain Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with Miso Glazed Walnuts
  • Lattice lemon meringue pie.
    Easy Lemon Meringue Pie and Dreams
  • Spinning out of control spiral graphic.
    Spinning Out of Control
  • Lemon ginger cookies.
    When Lemon Ginger Cookies Spiral

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





  1. Kim

    September 06, 2020 at 9:15 am

    I love this idea, Lisa!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      September 06, 2020 at 9:17 am

      it was a great effort and healing project and I feel so happy to have been a part of it

      Reply
  2. Louis Matino

    September 06, 2020 at 9:25 am

    What a great idea for a cookbook. Congratulations on your participation.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      September 06, 2020 at 9:30 am

      so timely that it just arrived this week with all the political mayhem

      Reply
  3. Carol Walsh

    September 06, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    Love this, such a wonderful way to honor our fallen service members! (great pic's of your boy) <3

    Reply
    • Lisa

      September 07, 2020 at 10:57 am

      It’s a great way to remember! I just thought the woman who was my coordinator amazing!

      Reply
  4. thegsandwich

    September 08, 2020 at 8:32 am

    5 stars
    The chicken recipe looks yummy. No wonder it was William's favorite. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa

      September 08, 2020 at 9:00 am

      crispy crunchy salty sweet and savory...it's a good one plus I got a hug from Tyler Florence at the Southern Living cookoff oh so many years ago. William was a great recipe tester for me

      Reply
      • thegsandwich

        September 09, 2020 at 6:50 am

        🙂

Primary Sidebar

Me and my son.

Hi, I'm Lisa! Welcome to Good Grief Cook.

I am serving up award winning recipes and lessons in grief.

More about me here.

Popular

  • Sliced sous vide roast beef.
    Sous Vide Roast Beef

  • Waffles.
    Ricotta Waffles

  • Sous vide asparagus recipe.
    Sous Vide Asparagus Recipe with Parmesan Lemon Butter

  • Chicken cheese steak cut in half.
    Chicken Cheese Steak Philly Style

Footer

back to top

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright 2025 Good Grief Cook