Georgia Magazine - May 2017 - 34

More than a cookbook
'Place and Plate' combines regional history
with delicious local recipes
BY VICTORIA SCHARF DECASTRO

LEE CATHEY / MULTI-IMAGE

34

More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

SHERRI KING

A

fit for an EMC book, since the electric cooperatives were instrumental in
teaching farm families how to cook
with electric appliances after bringing electricity to the rural areas," Kennedy says. "Also, Diverse Power has
a history of promoting tourism in the
West Georgia region and considered
this project an extension of that devotion to tourism as it relates to community economic development."
"The recipes included in the
book are truly from the heart," says
Lisa Booth, executive assistant at Diverse Power. "They are tried-and-true
recipes shared by friends, family, coop members and even from the annual Taste of Diverse cooking contest
held in December for employees."
In addition to all the sumptuous images of classic Southern foods,
"Place and Plate" contains numerous
photographs of the people and places that bring to life the 14 counties
featured in the book.
"I like to tell people that it's really
a day-trip book," says Diverse Power
Director Larry Williamson
of LaGrange. "There are a
lot of human interest stories that people can relate
to. It gives a lot of people
a point of discussion-
a way to consider what's
gone on in the community over the years, some
historical facts and that
kind of thing. It brings the
community together. People who have copies look
at them and talk to their
Diverse Power members and employees who tested more
than 350 recipes for "Place and Plate" are, front row, from friends and neighbors
about what's there and
left, Lisa Booth, Kim Shepard, Sherri King, Wes Leonard,
what they like about it."
Paula May, TeResa Torbert, Leslie Leonard and Jackie
And there's plenty
Kennedy; back row, from left, Tina Yearta, Teresa Callaway,
Kaye Pruitt White and Heather Thompson.
to like-especially how

t first glance, it's easy to see why
"Diverse Power Place and Plate:
Culture and Cooking in West
Georgia" by freelance writer and author Jackie Kennedy is a hardcover
cookbook worthy of display in anyone's kitchen.
Published by Diverse Power
Inc., diversepower.com, a LaGrangebased electric membership corporation (EMC), the book was produced
to commemorate the cooperative's
80th anniversary and was distributed
to the co-op's members at its May
2016 annual meeting. Diverse Power
serves 13 counties in Central West
and Southwest Georgia and Chambers County in Alabama.
There is a lot more to the book
than its attractive cover design. Part
tourism guide and part cookbook,
"Place and Plate" seamlessly unites
the culture and history of West Georgia with 307 recipes created by residents served by Diverse Power.
"The idea to blend recipes with
history and culture seemed a natural

Greg McEachern, Diverse Power member
and Troup County Farm Bureau agent,
dropped by Jackie Kennedy's table to have
his copy of "Diverse Power Place and Plate:
Culture and Cooking in West Georgia"
signed at Diverse Power's May 2016 annual
meeting in LaGrange.

the book is organized into chapters
that combine specific food categories with the people, attractions, annual events and restaurants located in
each county. For instance, the Muscogee County chapter explores the
county's history and highlights places of interest in Columbus, such as
the Springer Opera House, Uptown
Market, WhiteWater Express and the
childhood home of author Carson
McCullers.
The Muscogee County chapter
also includes a biography of 1920s
blues singer and Columbus resident
Ma Rainey, a listing of local restaurants and a large "Vegetables and
Sides" section containing 37 recipes,
including Baked Rice, Carrot Soufflé, Green Bean-Corn Casserole, Red
Beans and Rice, Squash Bacon Casserole and Vidalia Onion Pie.
"We wanted a mix of 'place' and
'plate' throughout the book, rather
than the history and culture of our
counties in the front chapters and
food in the back chapters," Kennedy
explains. "Mixing the two throughout the book seemed to be a way to
hopefully introduce readers to both
the places and the plates."
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
http://www.diversepower.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2017
