Texas Hometown Cookbook

Enjoy a Great Big Texas-Sized Taste of the Lone Star State's Favorite Recipes

by Kent Whitaker & Sheila Simmons

$18.95 • 256 pages • 8 x 9
ISBN 978-1-934817-04-9 (1-934817-04-X)

• About the Authors • Recipes (coming soon) • Festivals •

Texas Hometown Cookbook dishes up a double-helping of local, tried and true recipes and fun-filled facts about hometowns all-over the Lone Star state. From frontier campfire cooking, to spicy Tex-Mex fare, from old-fashioned cowboy cooking, to the German influence of Central Texas, to southeast Texas' own style of Cajun and Creole cooking, Texas cooking is diverse... and delicious. You'll find a taste of it all in Texas Hometown Cookbook.

You’ll find easy-to-follow recipes for the Texas “Big Three”—barbecue, chili, and Tex-Mex— including Chili Cheese Empanadas, Chunky Texas Red Chili, Trail Riders Barbecue Coffee Pork Butt , and many more. Central Texas brings you the down-home flavor of Chicken Fried Steak with White Gravy and Cast-Iron Skillet Okra. From Blacked-Eye Pea Jambalaya to Fried Bananas with Cream Sauce, Texas Shrimp Boil to Mexican Wedding Cookies, you’ll find delicious, hometown recipes to please everyone.... especially the cook because every recipe is easy-to-follow and uses ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

For those that confess to reading their cookbooks like novels (you know who you are) you’ll enjoy interesting food facts and stories about fun food festivals around the state... from Seymour's Fish Day to Texas Rio Grande Valley Onion Festival in Weslaco, from Hot Diggity Hog Fest in Odessa to the Black-Eyed Pea Fest/October Fest in Athens.

When it comes to Texas hometown cooking, Texas is like a whole other country because there is so much great food to enjoy. Texas Hometown Cookbook brings you the BEST that the Lone Star State has to offer!

The following list is alphabetical by city. Click each link to take you to information about that festival and/or scroll down for the full list by date.
Aransas Pass • Shrimporee Athens • Black-Eyed Pea Fest/ October Fest Athens • Uncle Fletch's Hamburger Cookoff & American Music Austin • Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Bryan • Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival Cameron • Cameron Dewberry Festival Center • East Texas Poultry Festival Crockett • World Championship Fiddlers' Festival & Steak Cook-Off Dallas • Beaujolais Wine Festival Dallas • Savor Dallas East Bernard • Czech Kolache Klobase Festival Electra • Pump Jack Chili Cook-Off Fulton • Fulton Oysterfest Gilmer • East Texas Yamboree Grand Praire • Prairie Dog Chili Cook-Off and World Championship of Pickled Quail Egg Eating Grand Prairie • International Bar-B-Que Cookers Association Cook-Off Grapevine • Grapefest Groves • Grillin in Groves State Championship BBQ Cook-Off Hico • Texas Steak Cookoff, Beef Symposium & Tourist Trap Holland • Holland Corn Festival Jacksonville • Tomato Festival Lexington • Chocolate Lovers Festival Lockhart • Chisholm Trail Roundup BBQ & Music Festival Lufkin • Southern Hushpuppy Championships Nacogdoches • Texas Blueberry Festival New Braunfels • Wurstfest Odessa • Hot Diggity Hog Fest Old Town Spring • Texas Crawfish & Music Festival Parker County • Peach Festival Pasadena • Pasadena Strawberry Festival Poteet • Poteet Strawberry Festival Rockport • Festival of Wine & Food San Antonio • Cajun French Music & Food Fest Seymour • Fish Day Tahoka • NAS BBQ, Chili Cook-off, & Music Festival Taylor • Taylor International Barbeque Cook-off Three Rivers • Three Rivers Salsa Festival Vidor • Texas Bar-B-Q Festival Weslaco • Texas Rio Grande Valley Onion Festival Winnie • Texas Rice Festival

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Fish Day May 1st • Seymour Across the country, numerous fishing events happen throughout the year but none are like Seymour’s unique Fish Day which began in 1926. In those days, the first day of fishing season was May 1st. After Lake Kemp was built, everyone went fishing on that day leading Seymour’s forefathers to make it a holiday since everyone skipped school, left the farm, and closed the shops to go fishing. The Seymour Chamber of Commerce added a little fun to the day by adding additional events like a chili cook-off, three-legged race, horseshoe tournament and more. 940.889.2921 • seymourtxchamber.org	Tomato Festival June • Jacksonville Enjoy many tomato activities, including Hot Sauce Contest, gospel concert, karaoke contest, talent contest, lots of kid's activities and much more! Arts/crafts, street dance, and live entertainment add to this family event. 800.376.2217 • www.jacksonvilletexas.com	Chisholm Trail Roundup BBQ & Music Festival Lockhart • 2nd week in June This annual 3-day arts and crafts and music festival is hosted by the Lockhart Chamber of Commerce. You'll enjoy a parade, Chuckwagon Cook-offs, live music, dancing, food and fun. There will also be a carnival and Coronation of the Queens Court. 512.398.2818 • www.chilsholmtrailroundup.com
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Holland Corn Festival Holland • June For more than 34 years, Holland has celebrated their "local cash crop" with the Holland Corn Festival. Events include a parade, 5K run, contests, street dance, barbecue cook-off, arts, crafts, carnival and much more. 254.760.3204 • www.hollandcornfest.org	The Uncle Fletch Hamburger Cook-Off Athens • September The Uncle Fletch Hamburger Cook-Off is celebrated with the Heritage Festival on the Athens Town Square. The festival features live music, food, arts and crafts, historical displays, historical enactments, games, contests, prizes, classic automobiles and tractors, animals, and more. The Cook-off will be in Ginger's Park and will be attended by the Uncle Fletch family. 888.294.2847 • www.athenstx.org	Festival of Wine & Food May - Rockport The Texas Maritime Museum hosts wine tasting, wine seminars, fine foods, and entertainment on the Museum grounds during the popular Festival of Wine & Food. Texas Maritime Museum also created and developed an award winning cookbook entitled Marithyme Treasures in 2001 with Jo Beth Hill, patron and founder of the project. The cookbook won a regional prize from the Tabasco Community Cookbooks Awards and has been showcased by both the NBC TODAY show/Willard Scott and Coastal Living Magazine. 866.729.2469 • www.texasfestivalofwines.com.
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Beaujolais Wine Festival Third Friday in November • Dallas France Meets Texas at the annual Beaujolais Wine Festival hosted by The French-American Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth . Held at the World Trade Center in Dallas, this unforgettable evening includes a commemorative wine glass, food and wine tasting, fashion show, blind wine tasting, silent auction and more. You won't want to miss the "Battle of the Bottle" wine tasting featuring French and Texas wines, sampling some of Dallas' best restaurants' specialties, and many more surprises. 972.241.0111 • www.faccdallas.com	Cameron Dewberry Festival Last weekend in April • Cameron With activities for all ages, the festival brings Wilson-Ledbetter Park to life. Activities include a barbeque cook-off; arts & crafts booths, food booths, live entertainment, horseshoe tournament, youth fishing tournament for children ages 17 and under, rides and attractions, and free dewberry cobbler and ice cream. There is also a Dewberry Cobbler and Cake Auction following the cobbler and cake contest, with monies from the auction to benefit a local charitable organization. www.cameron-tx.com • 254.697.4979	East Texas Poultry Festival October • Center There will be food booths, arts & crafts booths, live entertainment, 3-day carnival, cheer competition, poultry judging & auction, art, photography and quilt show and more. www.shelbycountychamber.com 800-854-5328
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Chocolate Lovers Festival October • Lexington Spend the day surrounded by chocolate starting with a Gourmet Chocolate Pancake Breakfast and 5K Chocolate Dash. Chocolate Alley features samplings and treats for sale or view and bid on the best chocolate cakes and best chocolate desserts. A slip-n-slide, games and pony rides, rock-climbing wall, and contests will keep youngsters entertained. The Historical Log Cabin Society opens their museum and log cabins with displays of antique machines. The day ends with a very exciting chocolate-themed Fear Factor Contest. (Yes, live bugs are consumed – chocolate-covered, of course.) www.chocolateloversfestival.com 979-773-4337	Pasadena Strawberry Festival Third weekend in May • Pasadena The Pasadena Strawberry Festival is a three-day event and one of the largest and most popular annual events in the Pasadena area. This award-winning event offers a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor activities, attractions and entertainment ranging from the “World’s Largest Strawberry Shortcake”, barbecue cookoffs and helicopter rides to continuous musical entertainment, children’s activities and the State Mud Volleyball Championship Tournament—a fun-filled weekend of activities for the whole family to enjoy. www.strawberryfest.org • (281) 991-9500	Poteet Strawberry Festival April • Poteet One of the oldest, most popular events in the state, the Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival is recognized as one of the most exciting, dynamic festivals in the Greater Southwest. The 95 acre site, located on Hwy 16 just 25 miles south of San Antonio, offers free parking, clean restrooms, handicapped accessibility and complete RV facilities. Great food, arts and crafts, family entertainment, concerts featuring Country/Western and Tejano stars, a Rodeo and a world class carnival round out the weekend. www.strawberryfestival.com 888-742-8144
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East Texas Yamboree October • Gilmer When Gilmer started hosting The East Texas Yamboree in 1935, yams (actually sweet potatoes) were a major crop in Upshur County. The Yam Pie Contest is the oldest ongoing sanctioned event sponsored by the Texas Extension Education Agency of Upshur County which also sponsors the home-canning contest. Creations of the Decorated Yam Contest are a must see exhibit. Events include two parades, barn-dance, fiddler’s contest, livestock show, and more. www.yamboree.com • 903.843.4019	Texas Bar-B-Q Festival Last weekend in April • Vidor The Vidor Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the festival for almost 30 years. It features good country family fun like a treasure hunt, live entertainment, barbecue cook-off, food and craft vendors, classic car show, carnival rides and games. There are games like Washer Boards and Horse Shoes and a Car Bash, we also have a Doggie “Pageant” and “Parade”, all fun and all to support local charities. Join us; you’ll be glad you did. www.vidorchamber.com • 409-769-6339	Black-Eyed Pea Fest/ October Fest Second Saturday in October • Athens The East Texas Arboretum is a treasure of rolling hills, hiking trails, beautiful gardens, an 1800’s historic home, and home of the Black-Eyed Pea Fest. Athens was the largest producer of black-eyed peas in the world and is known as the Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World. Local farmers still grow the famous “cow pea” and recipes from unique to dessert are enjoyed at the annual Black-Eyed Pea Fest. Scarecrow trails, entertainment, children’s cook-off, art show, arts and craft booths are enjoyed by all! www.eastexasarboretum.org 903-675-5630
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Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival June • Bryan Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival is a celebration of the beef and wine industries and their impact on our community. We\'re talking about a Steak Cook-off, Texas Wine tasting, grilling exhibitions, live entertainment, children\'s activities and much more- all smack dab in Historic Downtown Bryan, where the slogan “The Good Life Texas Style” was born. 979-209-5528 • www.texasredsfestival.com	NAS BBQ, Chili Cook-off, & Music Festival Last weekend of July • Tahoka Come eat BBQ and enjoy talented local West Texas musicians & artists. The festival features a Lone Star Barbecue Society sanctioned BBQ cook-off (brisket, pork spare ribs, ½ chicken and pinto beans) as well as a CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) chili cook-off. Also to be enjoyed is a music festival featuring local and upcoming bands of all genres. Join us; there is something for everyone! www.noadultsupervision.com	Grillin in Groves State Championship BBQ Cook-Off Weekend after Labor Day • Groves The Grillin in Groves State Championship BBQ Cook-Off includes cook teams from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. There are prizes for the best BBQ and proceeds benefit the Groves Senior Citizens Center. 409-962-6060 • www.grilliningroves.com
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Texas Crawfish & Music Festival April • Old Town Spring The Texas Crawfish & Music Festival, presented by Houston Press, is held each April in Historic Old Town Spring, Texas. The event, one of the largest and most established crawfish festivals in the South, features live entertainment from some of the top country, blues, zydeco and rock acts on three stages, carnival rides, midway games and activities for kids of all ages along with the best food, crawfish and fixings in the land! 1-800-653-8696 www.texascrawfishfestival.com	Texas Rice Festival First Weekend of October • Winnie The first Texas Rice Festival was held in downtown Winnie in 1969. It is now a week-long event featuring a carnival, parades, livestock show, open horse show, BBQ cook off, nightly street dances, antique car show, cooking contest, pageants, karaoke, and features food made with rice and featuring the flavors of the Cajun culture which is strong in the area. Typical fare includes rice balls, gumbo, ettouffe, pistolettes, blooming onions, crab balls, boudain balls, funnell cakes and many other delicacies. The event is renowned for its outstanding cuisine. 409-296-4404 • www.texasricefestival.org	Taylor International Barbeque Cook-off August • Taylor In addition to the Barbecue Cook-off, this fun event features an arts and crafts show. The Taylor International Barbeque Cook-off always proves to be an enjoyable home-town type festival where people watch the antics of the teams just being themselves. All proceeds go to local charities so come out, bring your appetite for some of the best barbeque, relax, and enjoy yourself. 512-352-6364 • www.taylorjaycees.org
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World Championship Fiddlers’ Festival & Steak Cook-Off June • Crockett Crockett, Texas is home to the World Champion Fiddlers’ Festival. Starting in 1936, we boast 72 years of World Class Fiddlin’ for all ages. The day ends with the Regional Steak Cook-Off, where the winners are offered a chance to compete in the World Championship Cook-Off. Join in a wonderful weekend of old-time music and fiddlin' fun. www.crockettareachamber.org 888.269.2359	Grapefest September • Grapevine Uncork the fun for the largest wine festival in the Southwest — GrapeFest: Lone Star Grown, Internationally Known. Join wine novices and connoisseurs to sample award-winning Texas wines and enjoy great food, beverages and live music at this annual event offering four full days of fun. 817-410-3195 www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com	Three Rivers Salsa Festival April • Three Rivers The Three Rivers Salsa Festival celebrates everything salsa including music, food and dancing. The ten-year-old festival features two stages of continuous music, a salsa making competition, salsa eating contest, a bicycle race and about 60 food and arts and crafts booths. This free event, with children’s area, attracts about 6,000 people. 1.888.600.3115 www.threeriverssalsa.com
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Peach Festival Second Saturday in July • Parker County Parker County is known as the Peach Capital of Texas. The Peach Festival began 24 years ago as a small festival and has grown to an average attendance of 30,000. You can find handmade arts & crafts and any type of food or beverage that can include peaches. Peach Pedal is for the bike-riding enthusiast. 1.888.594.3801 www.weatherford-chamber.com	Czech Kolache Klobase Festival Second Saturday in June • East Bernard This festival began in 1990 and brings people together to enjoy good music, good food and to celebrate ethnic heritage and culture. Plenty of music, dancing, lively polka entertainment with bands, entertainers, dancers. Arts, crafts, home cooked bbq chicken/sausage plate lunch for sale, cake walk, children's entertainment and plenty of kolaches for sale. Located at air conditioned Riverside Hall with large wooden dance floor with an adjacent outdoor water-fan cooled pavilion. 979-335-7907 • www.kkfest.com	Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival April • Austin For 23 years, the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival has been the state’s premier wine and food event. The annual 4-day Festival, held in April, attracts thousands who come to celebrate Texas’ multi-cultural culinary and viticultural achievements in its vibrant capital, Austin. The Festival features winemakers and chefs from Texas, America and beyond, and remains true to its mission to celebrate the rich traditions that influence Texas wine and food. 512-249-6300 www.texaswineandfood.org
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Pump Jack Chili Cook-Off First Saturday in April • Electra The Pump Jack Chili Cook Off is held the first Saturday in April to celebrate the discovery of oil in Electra Texas.The Clayco gusher blew in on April 1,1911, thrusting Electra into the history books as having one of the richest oil fields in the state. Electra was named the Pump Jack Capital of Texas in 2001. The event features a CASI sanctioned Chili Cook Off, a Dutch Oven desert contest, a remote controlled car race and top notch entertainment by local artists. 940-495-2407	Fulton Oysterfest First Weekend in March • Fulton Sponsored by the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department & the Town of Fulton, Oysterfest is a salute to the tasty bi-valve found in our local waters. Oysterfest features carnival rides, games, food, an oyster eating contest, live music, unique vendor booths and most of all - FUN! The celebration is a labor of love for the Fulton Volunteer Fire Dept. Over the past years, they have used proceeds from the festival to purchase life saving and fire fighting equipment and fire trucks. Oysterfest proceeds are the major source of funding for fire protection equipment in the community. 2009 will celebrate 30 years of Oysterfest. www.fultontexas.org • 361.729.2388	Cajun French Music & Food Fest May • San Antonio Cajun French Music Association De Fa Tras Chapter presents the Cajun French Music & Food Fest. Join us at Anhalt Hall and enjoy three Cajun bands, dance lessons on the big wooden floor at Anhalt Hall plus great Cajun food. www.defatrascajun.com
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Texas Blueberry Festival Second weekend in June • Nacogdoches The most delicious festival in Texas celebrates its 20th anniversary in the beautiful historic downtown of Nacogdoches. The free festival features live music on three stages and more than 100 arts, crafts and food vendors. Special events include a costumed pet parade, blueberry pie eating contest, pie-making contests and bounce park. Fresh Nacogdoches County blueberries are also on sale at the festival. In 2008, 12,000 pounds of the delightful, healthy berries were sold by noon! 936.560.5533 www.texasblueberryfestival.com	Shrimporee June • Aransas Pass Enjoy a variety of fun, family entertainment including live music, demonstrations by famous chefs from across the state, more than 110 Arts and Crafts vendors, and so much more. Shrimporee appeals to young and old alike with the Annual Kick-Off Parade, Outhouse Race, Coolmelt Down, Mens Sexy Legs, Shrimp Peel & Eat or Ice Sculpting Contest and many other activities. Shrimporee has been known to host over 60,000 visitors in a single weekend. Join us. (800) 633-3028 • www.aransaspass.org	Prairie Dog Chili Cook-Off & World Championship of Pickled Quail Egg Eating April • Grand Prairie Dozens of chili cooks compete in several divisions during this Texas-size salute to the official state dish. Held at Traders Village, other contests include Head to Head Banana Racing, the always popular Lemon Roll and Team Tortilla Toss Contest. The World Championship of Pickled Quail Egg Eating Contest is always a crowd pleaser. Contestants compete to see who can consume more of these hard-boiled gourmet delights within the 60-second time limit. This event brings together families, friends, and fun. 972-647-2331 • www.tradersvillage.com
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International Bar-B-Que Cookers Association Cook-Off October • Grand Prairie One of the largest BBQ events in Texas, more than 100 cookers prepare as many as 600 judging samples in a number of competitions including the Obie-Cue Backyard BBQ Championship, International Bar-B-Que Cookers Association Invitational, Jackpot Beans and a kid's cook-off. Barbeque cooks and cooking devices are a show in themselves when serious beef barons showcase custom-made, unique traveling pits with individual touches of creativity. While the competition can become serious, the atmosphere and camaraderie is strictly fun-filled recreation. 972-647-2331 • www.tradersvillage.com	Savor Dallas March • Dallas Savor Dallas is Texas' international experience of wine, food, spirits and the arts. Attend events scheduled in several beautiful and engaging Downtown Dallas locations showcasing cuisine from more than 50 of the area's top restaurants and nearly 500 premium wines, spirits and imported beers are available to taste. This extraordinary weekend celebration is the place to learn about Chefs' best ideas on fine food and the best wine and spirits to complement fine flavors—perfectly accompanied with the beauty of the arts. 866-277-7920 • www.SavorDallas.com	Hot Diggity Hog Fest Odessa • October The Hot Diggity Hog Fest is held annually on the grounds of the White-Pool House Museum o an 1887 farmhouse and the oldest standing structure in Odessa. Activities are held county-fair-style and vary from year to year. Delicious pulled, roasted, and barbecued pork is for sale along with cold drinks. Activities include crafts by area artisans, live musical entertainment, historical reenactments, raffles and prizes plus displays of motorcycles and antique cars. 432-333-4072
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Texas Rio Grande Valley Onion Festival First Saturday in April • Weslaco Texas Rio Grande Valley Onion Festival Onion Fest celebrates the development of the world famous Texas 1015 Onion developed in Weslaco by Dr. Leonard Pike. Sweet onion blossoms, dancing horse shows, onion eating contests, recipe contests, and a wide mix of musical entertainment come together for this sweet celebration held the first Saturday in April in Weslaco, Texas. (956) 968-2102 • www.weslaco.com	Southern Hushpuppy Championships Fourth week of September • Lufkin If you've got the secret ingredient to the most delicious hushpuppy recipe, then join us by celebrating and competing in the "deep fried and delicious" fall culinary event — the Southern Hushpuppy Championships. Hushpuppies come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors and will be judged on taste, originality, and appearance. The competition features all types of teams including family teams, business teams, non-profit organization teams, and teams comprised of children and teenagers. Join us for this fun Southern tradition. (936) 634-6305 • www.visitlufkin.com	Texas Steak Cookoff, Beef Symposium & Tourist Trap Hico • May Average attendance over the past four years has increased from approximately 4,000 to more than 6,000 people spending a spectacular day feasting on steaks, listening to live country music, visiting with local artists, "Very interesting chefs" competing for the title of the Best Rib-eye steak cooked in Texas, enjoying Texas Wines, and taking in the sights of historic Hico, Texas. 254-485-2020 www.texassteakcookoff.com
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	Wurstfest Friday before first Monday in November • New Braunfels WurstFest is a unique celebration rich in German culture and full of Texas fun. This fun 10-day festival features a variety of entertainment, food and fun on the Wurstfest Grounds in Landa Park and many special events throughout New Braunfels and Comal County. Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, New Braunfels is conveniently located on IH 35 between San Antonio & Austin. The Wurstfest grounds lie just inside Landa Park along the banks of the Comal River. www.wurstfest.com • 1.800.221.4369


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About the Authors:

Kent Whitaker has taken his down-home, Southern-style cooking to an art-form. “I like to do a bit more than burgers and dogs on the grill.” He is the author of three cookbooks, Tennessee Hometown Cookbook (Great American Publishers, 2007), Smoke in the Mountains (Quail Ridge Press, 2004) and Checkered Flag Cooking (Quail Ridge Press, 2005), and has written and illustrated two children’s books, Why are the Mountains Smoky? (Overmountain Press, 2004) and Big Mo’s Tennis Ball Hunt (Great American Publishers, 2006).

Kent has appeared on the Food Network and other network television stations. He frequently hosts cooking classes at the Chattanooga Market and throughout the South. He writes a cooking column for the Catoosa County News and the Chattanoogan, and writes monthly articles for both The National Barbecue News and Racing Milestones Magazine. A dog-lover and advocate for local animal shelters and rescue organizations, Kent and his grilling buddy, Moses, are spokesperson and spokesdog for ALPO. Kent and Moses travel the country presenting grilling and cooking demos promoting the idea of including your canine family members in on the backyard grilling fun. Kent gives human grilling and cooking tips while Moses enjoys APLO Chophouse Ribeye-Flavored dog food.

Kent and his wife Ally live in East Tennessee with one son, Macee, a Golden Retriever named Moses and a Shitzu named Barney.

Sheila Simmons is passionate about cooking and cookbooks. In her travels, when people come to stay at her “rambling house in the country,” when entertaining, or even when watching one of her two boys play ball, the subject will always, eventually, turn to recipes.

Sheila’s interest in regional recipes was originally born during her 18 years with Quail Ridge Press in Brandon, Mississippi. In 2006, she left QRP to focus her love of publishing on Great American Publishers and Great American Cookbooks where she is Publisher and co-owner along with husband Roger Simmons.

Sheila has also found an outlet for her regional recipe passion in the State Hometown Cookbook Series. She and co-author Kent Whitaker collect favorite recipes from every state in the country for the series. A “job” that is perfect for someone who loves to talk about and share great recipes and equally enjoys trying new recipes in her kitchen.

Sheila is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She lives in Lena, Mississippi with her husband Roger and two sons, Ryan and Nicholas. In addition to publishing, cooking, and collecting recipes Sheila enjoys family, reading, antique cars and collecting books.

Great American Publishers • 1.888.854.5954 • Cookbooks for the Every Day Cook

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -- Romans 8:28