This week we make a stop in St. Francis County in Hughes, Arkansas this week.

First off, I love this cookbook even more because it is compiled by the band. Gah! My heart!

Being in close proximity to the Mississippi River, Hughes was a prime location for farming. Primary crops included cotton, corn, strawberries, grapes, raspberries and sweet potatoes. With the arrival of the steamboat on the Mississippi River, agriculture thrived.

Between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, the mighty Mississippi changed its course. Where Hughes was was once in the prime location for trade, they then became further from the river and it made trading much more difficult. Thankfully, the railroad arrived in 1916 and Hughes was once again a bustling town.

Around the same time that the railroad arrived, landowners saw the need for growth in their business districts. Several of the larger farms donated pieces of land and businesses began to grow.

Sadly, between and flood in 1927 and a terrible drought a few years later, many Hughes residents moved out and did not return. These factors coupled with The Great Depression era are the main reasons that Hughes went from being a smaller city to a small community that they are today.

Like most small towns, Hughes’ school is at the heart of their community. I believe I found this week’s cookbook, “The Best Of Hughes” in Hot Springs. How it arrived there, I’ll never know.

While flipping thru pages of recipes, coupled with random facts about their town, a cookie recipe caught my eye. Buffalo Chips 😆. That sounds terrible! We gotta try these!

Whooooop, nothing about this recipe is hard! Just do it! One thing, this recipe makes A LOT OF COOKIES!! I cut the recipe in half and it made 3 dozen. Also, to avoid buying two packages of baking chips that you’ll use half of, I bought a package of chocolate chip/ peanut butter chips and it was the perfect amount. Perfect combo of salty and sweet! Enjoy❤️