By Catherine Bishop
Student Writer

Cooking. It’s a passion, past time and priority of mine -- Catherine Bishop. I’m a 15-year-old, 10th grade student at Morgan County High School. I’m helping start “Chef of the Week,” a column that will showcase someone that has a favorite recipe they cook and would be willing to share the recipe in the Morgan County Citizen. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the Chef of the Week articles, please call the UGA Cooperative Extension office at (706) 342-2214. A 4-H member will contact you for an interview and you may be selected to be Chef of the Week in the Morgan County Citizen.

As a child, I grew up in the kitchen helping my mom cook and working at my grandparents’ bakery. I learned so much about cooking, and running a business, from my experience in the bakery. I’m so thankful that my grandparents gave me that opportunity.

Their guidance helped me find one of my many talents -- the love of cooking. After they retired, I was left looking for a way to keep cooking outside of my home.

My attention was grabbed by 4-H District Project Achievement (DPA). In seventh grade, I chose to compete at DPA in the Muffins Project. I had to prepare cranberry orange muffins by the recipe provided by 4-H. I competed and won first place at Rock Eagle 4-H Center against other seventh grade 4-H’ers in the Muffins Project. I loved the experience and found my niche. This year I had an opportunity to compete on the state level in 4-H with my Festive Foods for Health Project. I learned how to modify a recipe to make it healthier while still keeping the good taste. This year I prepared turkey-stuffed pasta shells for the competition held at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. I won at the district level and continued in the competition at the state level, taking fifth place in the state.

I now share my cooking skills, techniques and knowledge by teaching classes at the Morgan County Elementary School After-School Program. I also recently started two project clubs. The Breakfast Club is a project club I started for high school students. We will meet during Club Day at the high school. Younger students can get involved in my afterschool 4-H project club, the 4-H Fruitcakes. My Fruitcakes project club meets at the 4-H office.

My goal is to one day own a restaurant, or two. For now, I hope that one of my favorite recipes from my days of cooking at my grandparents’ bakery will allow you to have fun in the kitchen.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
2 lbs., 12 ozs. brown sugar
1 lb., 3ozs. shortening
1 cup milk
1 tbsp. salt
1 lb., 4 ozs. peanut butter
4 large eggs
2 lbs., 8 ozs. all-purpose flour or cake flour
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 ½ tsp. baking powder

Mix first five ingredients. Gradually add eggs and continue mixing. Gradually add flour and baking powder and continue mixing, add vanilla.
   

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place dough by spoonful on cookie sheet and bake for eight to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool.

Makes about 100 cookies.