Published: March 05, 2007 09:53 am      

Casual Gourmet members are 'Queens for a Day'

From staff reports

Members of the Casual Gourmet Department, McAlester Fortnightly Club, GFWC-OK, each got to be a “Queen for the Day” during their monthly gathering.

Hostesses Kim Thornton, Linda Miller, Sue Miller and Edlyne Boyer presented each member with a twinkling tiara to wear during the meeting. Thornton told the group, “We are princesses of the kitchen” which means they don’t have to cook. She distributed a list of caterers in the area so the members really wouldn’t have to cook.

She also reviewed several “Sweet Potato Queens” books, by Jill Conner Brown, including the cookbook and financial planner. “Sweet Potato Queens love all food,” Thornton said. “All food has to be fried, sweet or salty or au gratin.”

She also presented a recipe for “That Pumpkin Stuff That Dorothy Makes.”

“You mix together one 16-ounce can of pumpkin and a can of Pet evaporated milk, and then you add 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 3 eggs. Then you put that stuff in a greased 9-by-13-inch pan and crumble 1 yellow (butter) cake mix (we use Duncan Hines) and one cup chopped pecans on top of it and then you pour 2 sticks melted butter over it. (It’s hard even to write that with a straight face — two sticks? Yes ma’am — yum, no?) Bake it for 50 to 60 minutes at 350.

“While you let it cool off, make the frosting by mixing together 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, and 2 cups Cool Whip, then smear it on top of the pumpkin stuff and put some more pecans on top. Then force yourself to put it in the refrigerator until it’s time to go to the potluck dinner; otherwise you won’t have any left to take. When you get there, immediately serve yourself a big wad of it and go off somewhere safe to eat it, because once the next person tastes it, it’s over — they’ll be swarming on it like yellow jackets on a KFC bag.”

In keeping with the theme of the day, the hostesses had pizza from Simple Simon’s brought in along with desserts from Heavenly Delight.

Director Kay Grumbine was in charge of the business meeting. Nancy Gates gave the financial report.

Several dates were given including the Women of Action luncheon set March 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the McAlester Country Club. The Fortnightly’s general meeting is set for March 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.

Cecelia McMahan, a member of the Southeast Oklahoma Fine Arts Association, told the group about their upcoming show during the Italian Festival. She noted the festival has been moved to May 19 and 20 from Memorial Day weekend. SOFAA’s patron party will be the evening of May 18. “We hope to have a really good attendance,” she said. “It used to be one of the events of the year and we want to do that again.” The theme is “Romancing the Arts,” she added, noting the group is expecting at least 50 artists to show their work.

Others attending were Joyce Bridges, Teresa Atkerson, Judy Goodyear, Dorothy Rose, Janis Allford, Dolores Miller, Janice Barrier, Vicki Caluette, Jerry Davis, Zoe Duran, Dot Thompson, Jan Grubbs, Susan Kanard, Lisa Grippando and Ada Nell Ward. Guests were McMahan, Debbie Blanchard and Geneva Miller.

The next meeting is March 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the Puterbaugh House, 345 E. Adams Ave.