Features Editor

"Be our guest" is a familiar invitation from members of First Baptist Church of Troy, but now it’s being used in a different context.

Be Our Guest is the title of the cookbook complied by church members and offers 678 of their favorite recipes, plus a history for the church, tips for healthy eating and other interesting tidbits of information.

The cover of the book is worth the the price of $20. It was designed by Ruth Walker using the original stained glass windows as the motif. The inside art, used as dividers, is also the work of the Troy artist.

"This book is affectionately dedicated to Jack and Mara Sears, former staff members of First Baptist Church, who have faithfully served our Lord for many years," Connie Webb, project coordination said. "All proceeds from this cookbook will be used for our mission projects."

No specific mission project has been earmarked.

"There are always more needs than there is money," said Francis Davis, cookbook committee member.

"Our church cookbook is filled with recipes that are everybody’s favorites from our church suppers," Webb said. "They are the recipes everyone wants."

Included in the cookbook is Gussie Joiner’s famous campstew; Louise Boykin’s tea cakes and chicken pie, Vicki Jones’ New York style cheese cake, Martha Sellers’ red velvet cake, Francis Davis’ party tomato sandwiches and several of Nita Crawford’s original recipes.

The cookbook also includes recipes from the church youth and from a significant number of male cooks.

"The young people included recipes they had mastered in 4-H and in the home kitchen and some of the college students, who don’t cook often, submitted their favorite recipes of their grandmothers."

The men shared their culinary skills

and secrets for cooking quail, doves and venison and other manly menus, making the cookbook the perfect guide for all ages.

"One criteria of

our cookbook was that the recipes were simple to follow so that even the novice cook would feel comfortable trying each and every one of them" Davis said. "Each recipe has clear, concise and easy to follow directions. And, another feature is that we have large-volume recipes. If you want to make tea for 300 or baked beans for 100, you’ll know exactly how much of each ingredient to use."

The cookbook includes recipes for appetizers and beverages, soups and salads, vegetables and side dishes, breads and rolls, desserts and cookies and candy. There is also a unique section of "this & that" that’s will be of special interest.

Webb said she the would like to thank all of those who provided recipes for the cookbook.

"Without the huge amount of participation from our members, the cookbook would have not been such a successful collection of recipes," she said. "I would like to especially thank the member of the cookbook committee who spent endless hours reading, and proofing all of the entries.

The cookbook committee members include: Mary Lou Anderson, Day Barnes, Mildred Carroll, Virginia Clower, Frances Davis, Peggy Faulk, Mary Gibson, Rachel Hawkins, Karen Herring, Sue Hudson, Taylor Jinright, Virginia Maddox, Eloise Murphree, Martha Sellers, Allison Smith, Bonita Smith, Karen Smith, Ruth Walker, Sarah Walter, Connie Webb, Janice Whitman and Janelle Williams.

The Be Our Guest

cookbooks are available at the office of First Baptist Church or from any member of the cookbook committee. The cost is $20.