Colonel Harland Sanders started his food career selling snacks at a service station in Corbin, Kentucky. After demand for his products grew, he opened up a restaurant across the road. Things went swimmingly until an interstate highway stole his business, and the restaurant had to close, leaving Harland at the age of 65 with nothing but a $105 Social Security check and a recipe. With just these two assets and a no-quit attitude, the Colonel managed to build the biggest chicken restaurant chain in the world. KFC now has over 17 000 restaurants around the globe.

The story of the business’s growth and its owner’s eventful life is told in the form of recipes in a new book released by the fast food giant. Written by The Colonel himself in 1966, the book champions ‘old-time American country and farm cooking’, offering dishes such as roast beef, hush puppies, apple-stuffed pork chops and light bread. For dessert, there’s moreish pecan pie, chocolate pie and upside down peach cobbler.

Want to try some of the Colonel’s recipes for yourself? Try these recipes for hush puppies and apple-stuffed pork chops.

To download the full recipe book for yourself, visit KFC's Facebook page.