When you open your copy of the Times News tomorrow, you’ll be getting a little piece of history — our 30th annual “Recipes from our Readers” cookbook.

Over the past three decades, this series of down-home recipes has become something of a collector’s item for some of our readers, with many possessing all 29 editions.

“I have all of them, and I use them all,” says Barbara Dorward of Lehighton. “I get a lot of recipes out of them.”

In fact, Dorward says she recently made the “Funny Cake” that was in the third edition of the cookbook, which came out 27 years ago.

“Every now and then, after a couple months, I’ll look for something different.”

Dorward says she enjoys the casserole recipes, but her husband doesn’t like casseroles. She’ll often try the recipes for pot roasts or stews, as well as the cakes, pies and cookies.

“I just love them,” she says. “They’re so wonderful. When they come out, I usually buy three papers: one for me, one for my daughter and one for my daughter-in-law, since they’re both out of the area.”

Margaret Sterner of Jim Thorpe says that she refers to the Times News cookbooks often.

“It’s just something I do,” she says.

“As I got older, I started collecting them, and I really enjoy trying new recipes. When I was younger, and they didn’t turn out, I’d get discouraged. Lately, I’ve been hitting on some real good ones.”

Sterner says she likes referring to the Times News recipe books.

“There are a lot of local people I knew who had some good recipes in there. Hopefully this year there will be some different ones.”

She especially looking forward to ethnic recipes, like halupki and pierogies.

Sterner said she recently made up a batch of peanut butter bars with a recipe she’d found in one of the cookbooks from the mid-90s, and they were delicious. She also noted a similar recipe, that was more of a cookie, and that’s next on her list to try.

Christine DaPrato of Tamaqua says she pulls out her recipe books several times over the year.

“When I get the new one, I read through the whole thing, mark off the ones I’d like to try, and then I try them,” she says.

Her favorites have been the soups. She also found a meatloaf recipe that was very good.

“This year, I’m looking forward to the crockpot recipes and soup recipes and anything with fresh vegetables, zucchini, that sort of thing. I like to cook.”

Elaine Knappenberger of Franklin Township also goes through the old cookbooks for something new to try.

“If I want to make something different, I’ll get them out and make whatever I find that I want to make,” she says.

“I have quite a few that I go back to over again,” says Pauline Frey of New Mahoning. “I do go through them and use them.”

When she’s looking for an idea for something to make to take with her for an occasion, she’ll often pull out her collection of Times News cookbooks and find something to suit her needs.

Her favorite recipes in the annual cookbooks are the soups, especially potato soup and white clam chowder.

“It’s a nice idea for people to put recipes in,” says Frey. “I really look forward to it.”

Kay McArdle of Nesquehoning says that recipes have always fascinated her.

“I’m always cooking and trying things out,” she says. “I have so many from my mother and aunts, and that have been passed down. I guess you could call it a hobby, both cooking and collecting recipes.”

McArdle says she doesn’t cook as much as she used to, but she’s still looking forward to this year’s cookbook.

“I’m looking forward to the recipes you can use with the crock pot.”

Carol Wester says she has over 1,000 cookbooks, but still enjoys the Times News cookbook each year.

“I more or less save anything recipe-related,” says the Tamaqua woman.

Her favorite Times News go-to recipes? Banana breakfast coffee cake, from about six years ago, and the cinnamon sweet bread from about two years ago.

“I would rather read cookbooks than any other kind of books,” says Wester. “That why I have so many of them.”

Wester enjoys cooking and says she doesn’t eat out very much. Her favorite recipes are the soups and any kind of baking.

“I wait for them to come out every year,” she says. “I even have some of the East Penn (from the Times News weekly newspapers) cookbooks.”

Ironically, none of those who responded to having all past issues of the Times News cookbook have ever submitted a recipe to be included except for one: Shirley Leinthall.

Leinthall, who lives in Summit Hill, is a regular contributor to the cookbook, and has often been the winner during years when prizes were awarded based on preparing the recipes for judging.

Her recipes this year include Unsinkable Blueberry Cake and Lemon Meringue Cake, a stir-fry and a turkey chili made with pumpkin.

One of her favorite things is the variety of ethnic choices, like recipes from those of German, Italian or Slovak descent.

“I think they’re great,” Leinthall says of the cookbooks. “I get a lot of good recipes out of them. It’s a great idea. You get a lot of good variety from different areas.”

Unlike the past 10 years, there was no cook-off contest held this year. One winner was selected at random from all those who submitted recipes.

This year’s winner is Lillian Birkmier of Tamaqua, who is also a frequent contributor to the cookbook. Birkmier will receive a $300 gift card to Giant.