Since co-authoring the six-volume Comfort Food Cookbook series with Laurana Rayne, Bannerman, who has a degree in home economics, says all her other cook books have begun to gather dust.

But while her reticence to choose a recipe from outside of her own books could be construed as a major ego trip, Bannerman is quick to point out nearly all the recipes in the books come from hundreds of other Calgarians.

"We asked people for recipes that had a heart-warming and satisfying quality. For example, perhaps they remembered one from their childhood. We also asked for an anecdote to print above each recipe," says Bannerman.

She soon found herself swimming in a sea of scrap paper and faced with the massive task of road-testing hundreds of recipes to ensure their quality.

"Each recipe was triple-tested," says Bannerman, who enlisted a group of home economists to help her with the trial runs.

"As well, every recipe that called for ground beef we also tested with ground chicken, every recipe requiring mayonnaise was tested with light mayonnaise and yogurt was substituted for sour cream. This is because of people's interest in eating lighter meats and healthier in general."

All the recipes in the Comfort Food Cookbook series were selected based on their ability to soothe and in anticipation of people returning to traditional values.

The feel of the six slim volumes is deliberately nostalgic, many of the recipes have been passed down from mother-to-child over the years.

The recipe for Ranch-Style Meatloaf, from page 20 of Comfort Food for Families is prefaced by the quote, "This meatloaf warms the heart on a cold winter night and leaves memories of hearth and home. My grown sons make it for their wives and I hope their children will do the same."

Aside from Comfort Food for Families, also available are: Comfort Food for Cold Days which includes stews, chilies and breads; Comfort Food for Company which targets entertaining friends; the ethnic-slanted Comfort Food with a Heritage; Comfort Food for Sharing, Caring and Giving; and Comfort Food for Congenial Times, for relaxed visiting.

They each retail for $5.95 or as a set of six for $35.70 and are available at Chapters, Coles and other bookstores around the city.

Proceeds from the books will be donated to organizations dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of children and their families.