Main Street Dumas' new cook book “Well Fed” provides more than recipes, it also included history of Main Street's buildings.
The cook book is a collection of community recipes, local chef recipes, and in memory recipes. The Cookbook Committee selected recipes based on recipes that were special to the Dumas Community. The book provides the history of Main Street's lamp posts, Main Street Dumas, and 11 Main Street locations.
Main Street Dumas had been discussing a cook book project and with an already started cook book from the Dumas Areas Arts donated by the Dumas Clarion they began putting together cook book to showcasing Dumas' recipes.
500 copies of the cook book have been printed which were offered for sale beginning in November 2021. Over 300 copies sold in advance. A second reprint arrived in December. To purchase a cook book, contact board members of Main Street Dumas at 870-382-1235. They accept payment through Paypal, checks or cash. The money raised from the sale of the cook books will be used for Merry Main Street, landscaping on Main Street, and future events.
“It helps keep Main Street giving back to the community and providing upkeep for Main Street,” Julieanne Ford, former director of Main Street Dumas, said.
They collected the recipes by adverting, social media, asked friends and family, and old recipes from the old cook book. They had several in memory recipes from late Dumas Community members including Pauline Adams, Dr. J. E. “Sonny” Bilberry, Lorene Clayton, Roe Mae Dante, Amy Frank, Ernestine Frank, Phyllis Freeman, Terry Hawkins, Irene Henry, Hattie Heiman, Susan Holthoff, Rosemary Hopman, Mary Lee Leek, Sue Meador, Dordy McDonald, Mary Nichols, Rosie Nuchols, Betty Jane Oldner, Madelyn Pickens, Carolyn Porter, Debbie Puryear, Rita Puryear, Robbie Robinson, Juanita Rowland, Charlotte Shexnayder, Matsy Shea, Betty Shepherd, Jerry Tanenbaum, Pat Tanenbaum, Jean West and Paula White.
The Cookbook Committee includes Melissa Curtis, Cookbook Chairman, Sammye Owen, Co-Chairman, and Taralou Dunklin, Dodie Griffin, Rachel Freeman, Sue Gill Rachel Holthoff, and Marilyn McDonald. Jann Farmer, Former Director of MSD and Jay Shepherd, Artwork, created the art work for the section covers and research the history of each location. Ford described Curtis and Owen as the backbone of the project and proof readers of the cook book.
