There are some things that are just better shared. A delicious meal is one of them, at least for the eight members of the Dishin’ Divas Cookbook Club. These Columbus women are on a culinary quest to cook their way through some of America’s favorite cookbooks.
The Divas — Toni Caldwell, Linda Kay Downing, Lillajo Ford, Faye Hodges, Kathy Howell, Gay Orr, Lynda Rood and Ann Sparkman — gather monthly to enjoy food, fellowship and fine dining ambiance.
As it launches its third year, the club has selected The Junior League of Memphis’ “Heart & Soul” to cook from every month. They recently wrapped up an exploration of the prolific “Barefoot Contessa” Ina Garten and several of her cookbooks. The first luncheon of 2012 was Jan. 11, at the home of Linda Kay Downing.
“The hostess does the entrée each month,” explained Howell. “Every member is responsible for bringing another part of the meal, prepared exactly according to the recipes in our designated cookbook.”
Each monthly menu includes a special beverage, appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, entrée, dessert, wine and bread. Once the hostess chooses her main dish from the book and notifies everyone (usually by email), members select their recipes.
The January repast consisted of a champagne cocktail called “poinsettia,” smoked catfish paté, Armenian lemon soup, salad with Rinaldo’s Italian dressing, prune and apricot stuffed pork roast, Boursin potato gratin, cheesy French bread and a decadent dessert — “death-to-the-diet” brownies.
Every dish is critiqued during the luncheon. The talented cooks discuss tweaks they would propose and rate expense and effort versus results on an evaluation sheet.
It’s a lively way to discover new ingredients and dishes, all in the company of others who share a love of cooking.
“I’ve tested and tried new foods that I normally would never have tasted,” noted Howell, who moved to Columbus six years ago from Dallas, Texas.
Lynda Rood said, “For people who like to try new things, it’s a wonderful way to try seven or eight things at one time without having to do it all yourself.”
Even for very experienced cooks, working through the various cookbooks can been eye-opening.
“Some of the things I did nearly 40 years ago that took nearly all day to do, Ina Garten has trimmed down so you don’t have to go through all those hoops,” Rood pointed out.
From time to time, a recipe will call for an ingredient that isn’t readily available.
“Kroger has been very cooperative, ordering for us,” said Caldwell. “Or as different ones go out of town, we’ll stop at stores like Whole Foods to pick up what we need.”
Puttin’ on the ritz
Cookbook clubs have become increasingly popular in recent years in the Golden Triangle. But one thing the Dishin’ Divas do that some may not is “put on the whole nine yards.”
Linens, fine china and centerpieces are the order of the day when this group dines. In a world that only seems to get faster-paced, the Divas treat themselves to a special experience, and hostesses enjoy being able to use their fine dinnerware.
“We do it up like a five-star restaurant,” said Howell.
For avid cooks like Ann Sparkman — who is probably not the only member with a “meat and potatoes” type husband — the chance to explore unique recipes broadens culinary horizons and expands the palate. She, for instance, discovered she enjoyed fennel through a club recipe.
Another benefit, Howell said, is self-assurance. “It’s given me the confidence to entertain more,” she said.
Get one together
Organizing a club is simple. All it takes is pulling together a well-matched group and deciding on theme and structure. Members may want to theme a club around specific cookbooks, exotic cuisines or vegetarian recipes.
Some clubs meet monthly, like the Divas. Others meet every other month. Some meet at noon; some prefer evening.
The Divas hold a planning meeting for the next year each November, finalizing hostess schedules and deciding on the next cookbook. Their December gathering is a gala event, with husbands invited.
Potluck? Planned menu? Buffet and plastic plates, or gleaming china? All these questions can be determined with a casual organizational meeting or two.
However a club is structured, the primary ingredient for success will be the members.
“You just have to have a compatible group,” Rood stated. The Dishin’ Divas have that part covered.
“I just love seeing the other women; I enjoy every one of them,” said Caldwell. “It’s just such a pleasure to go.” One indicator of that is member Faye Hodges, who has moved to Corinth but returns for the regular luncheons.
Rood echoed the sentiments, saying, “Yes, it’s so much fun; it really is.”
And that “grand fellowship with the girls,” as Howell described it, is worth celebrating year-round.
PRUNE AND APRICOT STUFFED PORK ROAST
Makes 12 servings
1 1/4 cups dried apricots
5 to 8 pitted prunes, snipped
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1 1/2 cups hot water
3 tablespoons apricot brandy
1 4-to-5-pound boneless pork center cut loin roast
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon coarsely cracked pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
Purple basil sprigs
- In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the apricots, the prunes and orange peel.
- In a 2-cup measure, combine hot water and apricot brandy; pour over fruit mixture. Let stand one to two hours. Drain, reserving liquid.
- To butterfly the roast, make a lengthwise cut down the center of the meat, cutting to within 1/2 inch of the other side. Spread meat open. Spread prune and apricot mixture along cut surfaces. Bring sides of roast back together and secure at intervals with string.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the coarsely cracked pepper, ginger, dry mustard and red pepper; rub mixture on outside of roast.
- Place roast on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer. Roast for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees and roast for one-and-one-half to two hours, or until meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. Cover and let stand while making sauce.
- In a 1-quart saucepan, combine the water, flour and any drippings from roast.
- Stir in sugar and reserved liquid from fruit. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook and stir for one to two minutes or until thickened.
- Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup snipped apricots and remaining 1/2 teaspoon coarsely cracked pepper.
- Slice roast and serve with sauce. Garnish with purple basil sprigs.
(Source: “Heart & Soul,” The Junior League of Memphis Inc.)
ARMENIAN LEMON SOUP
Makes 6-8 side-dish servings
6 cups chicken broth
5 tablespoons long grain rice
Salt to taste
3 eggs
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Snipped parsley
- In a 3-quart saucepan, bring broth to boiling. Add rice and salt. Cook over medium-low heat about 15 minutes or until rice is tender.
- Reduce heat to low. In a medium bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy. Slowly pour lemon juice into eggs, beating constantly until well mixed.
- Ladle about 1 1/2 cups of the hot broth very slowly into egg mixture, stirring constantly (Ladle enough hot broth to make the egg mixture warm.)
- Slowly add the warm egg mixture to the remaining broth in the saucepan. Simmer over low heat for one to two minutes or until heated through. Do not boil. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
(Source: “Heart & Soul,” The Junior League of Memphis Inc.)
DEATH-TO-THE-DIET BROWNIES
Makes 48
4 squares (4 ounces) unsweetened chocolate
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 beaten eggs
2 teaspoons coffee liqueur, brandy or vanilla
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1 cup chopped nuts
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a heavy 1-quart saucepan melt chocolate and butter, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, stir together sugar and flour. Add melted chocolate mixture, eggs and coffee liqueur. Mix well. Stir in chocolate pieces and nuts.
- Spread batter in a greased 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until edges are firm. (Center will be soft.)
- Cool 30-60 minutes on a wire rack before cutting into tiny squares. (These will be gooey and rich.) Chill at least two hours before serving.
(Source: “Heart & Soul,” The Junior League of Memphis Inc.)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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