Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

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October 21, 2009

Let's Cook

Camille's Corner

No one told me that this past Tuesday was going to be a cookbook day at the Daily Sun. But that is indeed what it turned out to be.

It started out with Gordon Griffin, who attends Central Baptist Church in Blooming Grove. He dropped by the office Tuesday morning to show me the cookbooks his church recently published and is now distributing for a reasonable price of $10 each. Gordon is one easy-going salesman because I was only going to buy one cookbook when I suddenly found myself purchasing two of them!

I found several unique recipes, which I plan to make when I have time. At a quick glance, some of the most interesting recipes to me were the Cracker Salad (yes, it really uses crackers), Mexican Cobbler (mainly apple pie filling and flour tortillas — sounds good), and Granny Campbell’s Easy Caramel Pie (I just hope the sweetened condensed milk cans don’t explode on this one!). And I was thrilled to see a Coca-Cola Cake recipe in this book. I know I’ve got this recipe somewhere at the house — it’s just a matter of where. Now, I can easily find the recipe.

If you’re interested in purchasing one or two or a dozen of these cookbooks, I bet Gordon wouldn’t mind if you called him at (903) 695-2622.

Later that afternoon Margaret Thomas stopped by and left me a sweet note and a very special cookbook that had belonged to her aunt Idamay Dukeminier. Margaret also gave me a copy of the recipe that her granddaughter Sarah used at a junior chef’s camp at the Gaylord Texan in August. I’ll share that recipe at the end of today’s column.

Then not too long after Margaret’s surprise, Vicki Gray called about some Ennis connections and we got to talking about recipes. I use Vicki’s dressing recipe every year at Thanksgiving. It hasn’t failed me yet!

And before the afternoon ended, Mary White, one of several Navarro County Habitat for Humanity volunteers, brought by the new cookbook that was recently published. Chockfull of recipes from Habitat friends and volunteers (even some of my contributions are in there), it is well worth the price of $18. It also includes a recipe stand for convenience. You can purchase these cookbooks at Canterbury Court, Life ... Made Beautiful, Pack ‘n Mail, T & Company and Two Doors Down. You may also buy them on Saturdays at the Habitat work site on Gioia Circle (just off North Ninth Street, a short distance from The Salvation Army location) and from Habitat volunteers, who will have a booth at the Nov. 14 annual Days in November event at College Park Mall.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s also the chance for your name and recipes to be included in a community cookbook as Century 21 Marrs & Associates will be putting out one in time for Christmas. The books will sell for $10 each. Fortunately, the company has extended its deadline to Oct. 30 so I can send in a few of my recipes. You can as well! Just drop off your recipes (with your name and phone number) to 715 W. Second Ave. or e-mail them to peggy@marrsrealty.com or rhonda@marrsrealty.com. I’ve heard tell they are in need of some meat and vegetable recipes, so that’s what I hope to send them.

With Christmas just two months away, any and all of these books would make wonderful gifts for those special cooks in your life. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get to sample some of the concoctions!

Now back to Sarah’s recipe. Believe it or not, this mac and cheese recipe includes cauliflower! Hey, if I can give a cracker salad a try, surely I can eat cauliflower in mac and cheese! Enjoy!

Farmers Mac and Cheese

4 cups cooked elbow macaroni

4 cups cooked cauliflower

2 cups heavy cream

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

4 dashes Tabasco sauce

3 cups cheese (cheddar or gruyere)

1 cup parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

2 eggs, lightly beaten

bread crumbs

Heat heavy cream to a simmer and add pasta and cauliflower. Cook until it coats everything. Turn off the burner and add the Dijon, Tabasco, cheeses, and salt and pepper. Stir until everything is well combined. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Heat oven to 350 degrees and place everything in a buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbly. Serves six.

—————

Camille McClanahan may be contacted via e-mail at camille@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Sound Off” on this column? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com

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