Betty Groff facts for kids

Betty Groff was a famous American chef and author. She was known for her amazing knowledge of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. This is a special type of cooking from a region in Pennsylvania. She wrote many cookbooks that taught people how to make delicious traditional foods. Many people considered her a top expert in this cooking style.

Who Was Betty Groff?

Betty Groff's full name was Elizabeth R. Groff. She was born on September 14, 1935, in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Clarence N. and Bertha K. Root Herr.

Betty came from a long line of Mennonites, a religious group. She was the tenth generation in her family to be a Mennonite in Pennsylvania. She was also a direct descendant of a historical figure named Hans Herr. On November 12, 1955, she married her husband, Abram B. Groff.

Her Amazing Cookbooks

Betty Groff wrote six cookbooks. These books focused on traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods. One of her most famous books was "Good Earth and Country Cooking."

In 1981, Time Magazine called this book "one of the top five regional cookbooks" of that year. This shows how important her work was. In 2015, a newspaper called The Patriot-News praised her even more. They said Betty Groff was as important to Pennsylvania Dutch food as chef Paul Prudhomme was to Cajun cooking.

A Special Thanksgiving Dish

Betty Groff's recipes were so good that they even got national attention. In November 2014, The New York Times newspaper chose one of her recipes. They picked her special recipe for glazed bacon.

This recipe was chosen to represent Pennsylvania in a survey. The survey looked at Thanksgiving foods from all 50 U.S. states. It was a big honor for her cooking.

Betty Groff passed away on November 8, 2015. She was 80 years old. Her work helped keep Pennsylvania Dutch cooking traditions alive for many people.