If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, that just might also be the route to finding a cure for cancer.

At least that's what "Sisters" Pat Rogers and Geraldine Umbehagen are thinking.

So, on Thursday night, they will turn their culinary talents toward finding a cure for cancer by dishing out barrels of downhome, country cooking and inviting the community to "Come and get it!"

What the Sisters will spread on the table for this Relay of Life event will be a feast of country, gourmet cooking and every penny of the profit will benefit the 2003 Pike County Relay for Life fundraising campaign.

Pat said she and Geraldine have always supported Relay for Life on an individual basis, but this year, they wanted to go all out in doing their part to find a cure for this devastating disease.

"This is the first time that Sisters has had a team and we are doing it because we want to give something back to the community that has been such a blessing to us," Pat said. "The support we have received has been tremendous and most of those who come to our restaurant are locals. We have some people who stop in off the highway, but, for the most part, those who put their feet under out tables are homefolks."

Homefolks should care about homefolks and Pat says, at Sisters, they do.

"We were trying to come up with an idea of something that we could do to be more of a part of Relay for Life," Pat said. "Geraldine thought about doing a supper one night and donating all the money to Relay."

For Pat and Geraldine, the decision was easy. But there were others who would be involved.

For the supper to be a real success, it would be necessary for the cooks to stand over hot stoves for no pay and for the waitresses to donate their tips to the cause.

"We thought everyone would be willing but weren't sure until we asked," Pat said.

With no hesitation at all, the cooks and waitresses said, "Count us in."

And, several of the vendors who serve Sisters agreed to supply "groceries" because the country cooking was for such a worthy cause.

Kelly's Foods of Elba has donated hamburger meat. Gerald Hubbard of Stills Crossroads has chipped in two boxes of chicken nuggets. Jack Byers with Sisco has rolled out the dough - "those good ol' big rolls" and Donnie Register with US Food Service has donated

lima beans.

"Because of their donations, we'll have more to donate to Relay," Pat said.

The Sisters team is a big team with a big heart and they'll put out a "big" buffet.

"We're going to have a pile of food and we hope to have huge crowd," Pat said. "We are going to have a lot of fun to go along with the food and we might even have a few surprises.

Knowing Pat and Geraldine and the Sisters gang, there is no telling just what they might have —

"or do."

The Sisters are known for their shenanigans at Halloween and other festive times of the year. So, dining there is always an "adventure."

Pat did say that there will be door prizes and one of them will be Pat's pretty cake.

"We might give a prize to the 100th

person who comes through the door - if we can count that high," Pat said, laughing. "Maybe will give it to the 10th or 25th. Who knows?"

A twist of the napkin will bring some lucky diners back to Sisters on Mother's Day, Pat said. "We're going to wrap some coupons for Mother's Day dinners in the napkins. That's one thing I know we'll do."

The all-you-can-eat "Country Cookin' for a Cure" fundraiser will be from 5 until 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Sisters Restaurant on Highway 231 south of Troy.

The buffet, including dessert, drink and tax (Uncle's not donating) will be $7.50 for adults and $4.25 for children.

However, some diners might eat $10 worth and, if they want to pay that much, Pat said Geraldine won't turn it down when she rings the register.

The waitresses will donate all their tips to Relay, so what diners leave on the table will benefit the cause. "So be generous with the green."

Everyone is invited to "Come and get it!" and enjoy the food, fun and frolic Thursday night when Sisters and crew cook for a cure.

"And there just ain't no telling what all we might do," Pat said, laughing. "Just come see!"

FAVORITE RECIPES FROM THE SISTERS STAFF

Squash Casserole

2 cups cooked squash

1/2 cup onions, chopped

1/4 cup shredded carrots

2 heaping tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 cup grated cheese

1/2 cup chopped pimento

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 cup chopped nuts

2 eggs

1/2 stick butter

Cook squash until tender; drain. Add butter. Mix eggs, sugar, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add other ingredients. Pour into casserole dish. Top with grated cheese and bread crumbs. Dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees. For 35 to 40 minutes.

Pat Rogers

"Sister"

Coconut Custard

4 eggs

1/2 cup self-rising flour

2 cups milk

1/4 cup melted butter

1 1/2 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients. Pour into greased glass pie plate. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour at 300 degrees or until golden brown.

Geraldine Umbehager

"Sister"

Pecan Pie

1 stick butter, melted

1 cup karo syrup

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons plain flour

Pinch salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 1/2 cups pecans

Pie Crust

Mix flour, sugar and salt. Add all ingredients except pecans. Mix well. Add pecans. Bake 10 minutes on 375 degrees. Bake 50 minutes on 350 degrees.

Jackie Berry

Cook

Apple Cheese Casserole

2 cans (20 ounces) apples, packed in water, drained

16 ounces Velveta cheese, room temperature, cubed

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup plain flour

Drain apples well. Mix together sugar and flour. Add melted butter and cubed Velveta to sugar mixture. Mix with hand mixer until smooth. Place apples in greased glass baking dish (8×8). Spread batter mixture on apples. Bake 35 to 40 minutes at 325 degrees.

Diane Canty

Cook

Chicken Casserole

1 chicken, boiled and diced

1 1/2 cup celery, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 small jar pimento

1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 cup Chow-mien noodles

Mix all ingredients except the noodles. Cook in 350-degree oven for 40 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle noodles over top and cook for about 5 minutes. Good, good, good!

Judy Bryan

Waitress

Caramel Icing

2 cups sugar

2 cups pet milk

1 stick butter

1 teaspoons vanilla flavoring

Mix sugar, milk together in skillet. Cook on medium to low heat for 10 minutes. Add butter and vanilla flavoring. Continue cooking for 30 minutes or until desired consistency. Let cool before icing cake. For chocolate icing, add 2 tablespoons of cocoa with the sugar.

Janet Davis

Waitress