Cooking Up Scholarships for McEachern High School

Some of  graduates can thank the cooking efforts of their neighbors for their continued education. 

The Powder Springs Woman’s Club has showcased the culinary abilities of its members in a cookbook that doubles as a fundraiser.

“We raise money for scholarships and other projects with the ‘Cookin’ and Cruisin’ cookbook,” says Cindy Lomex of the club. 

Member Jan Collier says the cookbook has been a project of the Powder Srpings Woman’s Club since 1965.

“I put some recipes from my own family cookbook in this edition,” she adds.  “Some of them are a 100 years old. My great grandmother had a recipe for grape pie, using Concord grapes that she used to grow.”

More than 500 recipes are in “Cookin’ and Cruisin’,” which is available now at the Book Worm bookstore on Marietta Street in Powder Springs. 

Britaini Blackmon of the Book Worm says the book has received a great reaction from her customers. 

“I love the Southern food recipes that have been passed down,” she confides with a smile. “Southern food has such history. But these recipes give it a modern flair, and they’re easier to make than they were back in the day. You can pick out a dish and just go with it.”

Blackmon and Collier agree that there’s a lot of variety among the hundreds of recipes, reflecting the variety of cultures among the families.  “I mean,
they even have borscht in this book!” Blackmon said.

Collier got a kick out of the ancient recipe she dug up for Hunter’s Pudding. 

“You run the ingredients through a cheesecloth, and then hang it to set in a tree.  I thought it was funny, though I don’t expect many people to try it.”

The scholarships raised with the proceeds from the book garner appreciation from the McEachern students and staff.  Assistant principal Paul Gillihan
says the scholarships are handed out in the spring and handled through the
guidance department.  “Anything that will further our students’ education, we’re all about,” he states.

Collier says they give out two scholarships each year, and have done so since 1975. The Powder Springs Woman’s Club would like to see some of the recipients eventually turn into members. “We have women of all ages in the club, and we’re always trying to recruit young members, to continue the legacy.” 

Powder Springs Woman’s Club has a fashion show around Easter each year, to drum up more funds for additional club projects. 

“We’ve funded defibrillators for all the local schools and AV equipment; we helped support the Ford Center. We assist MUST Ministries; we helped with the development of Town Square, and we initiated Story Hour at the library and the health center,” Collier said.  “Our latest project was with the Kiwanis Club, collecting 2,000 books to give to elementary schools.”

Collier anticipates that some of the kids receiving those books will become members of the Powder Springs Woman’s Club some day.