Recently, Missouri Southern faculty, staff and students have cooked up a cookbook to help raise money for new renovations for the Mission Hills Mansion

“Southern Cookbook is a book of 380 recipes ranging from appetizers, dishes to desserts,” said Deborah Cash, payroll specialist.

“The idea of a cook book came up after a faulty fall potluck,” Cash said. “Everyone was commenting on how great the food was and a group of faculty members decided that Southern should make a cookbook. Later, after consulting with others they had decided to sale the cook book.”

Money the Southern Cookbook raises will go to the Mansion renovations. “There were many suggestions that were made about what to do with the proceeds from the cookbook,” Cash said. “There was a cookbook committee made up of faculty. We voted on donating the funds to the Mansion to help renovate the dining room area. So far we have sold more than 500 copies. We need to sell 800 to break even and then the rest of the money would go towards the Mansion renovations.”

There is also a television show based out of the KGCS-TV studio that goes along with the cookbook called Southern Cooks.

“This show will also help raise money,” said Judy Stiles, general manger of KGCS-TV. “Throughout and at the end of the show, our host Debbie advertises the cook book.”

The show goes along with the international mission of the University.

“With the show we were able to make food that has to do with our Mexican semester and also different holidays,” Stiles said. “The show is a lot of fun and also shows the hidden talent that Southern has; this project will allow our practicum students to help also.”

“To go along with the cookbook and the show, the Alumni Association is also selling Southern Cooks aprons,” said Lee Pound, alumni director. “There are aprons for kids and adults.”

The Southern Cooks cookbook can be purchased at the bookstore, Alumni Office and from the committee members Debbie Cash, Gayle Castor, Earlene Fort, Anita Frieze, Keri Patton, Penny Richesan, Janet Scholl, Paula Shirley and Rae Surber for $10.

Southern Cooks can be seen on Sundays at 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on KGCS-TV CableOne channel 7, Media Comm. on channel 77 and broadcast channel 57.

The Southern Cooks apron can be ordered online at www.mssu.edu/alumni/saleitems.htm. For more information, call 625-9355.