Cook of the Week
by Cathy Krafve

Terry Downey

Ask Terry Downey what her husband's favorite food is and she will tell you "Blue Bell!"

Terry's first memories of being in the charge of the kitchen date back to the days when she prepared meals to help her mother who was a single mom. Even as a tenyear old, Terry was already at home in the kitchen, making simple meals for herself, her sister and her hard-working mom.

By high school, she was creating her own recipes, including the delicious chocolate cake she now calls Children's Chocolate Delight Cake in honor of her kids and grandkids.

These days a family gathering often includes twenty or more people. No matter what the occasion, she knows her husband of 35 years, Rusty Downey, will be there to test his other favorite item, the potato salad.

Terry's dad is living with them now and she says "both (men) are spoiled rotten." Rusty likes to say that it is Terry's own fault because she is such a good cook.

Terry and Rusty share many common interests, besides potato salad, including their store, Triple D Candles and Crafts. The store, next to the Statesman office on Hwy 31, is starting to bring in repeat customers, even out-oftowners who stop by each time they pass through Brownsboro. A family enterprise, the store features handmade furniture, pictures, and decorated towels, in many themes, most made by members of their family.

Terry's kitchen is where she makes the candles with the help of three of her granddaughters, Madelyn Ellis, 10, Meadow Ellis, 3, and Chritsen Downey, 5, who love putting labels on the candles which come in 69 varieties of floral, fresh, and floral scents.

The Downey's three children and 6 grandchildren all live in East Texas, including the ones that live right across the pasture from Terry, "Memaw, " and Rusty, "Pa-paw." They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their seventh grandchild who is due in November.

"All my grandchildren are talented," Terry likes to say with a twinkle in her eye. Cooking talent must run in the family because grandson, Colton Meyer, now 16 years old, of Bullard, won a 4H cooking contest when he was in the seventh grade.

Here's the secret to Terry's potato salad and her cake recipe. If you have any questions, she can be reached at 903/714-2307. Just remember to pick up a gallon of Blue Bell to go with that delicious chocolate cake.

Terry's Family Favorite Potato Salad

7-8 potatoes, peeled and diced

4 hard-boiled eggs, diced

1/2 -1 medium onion, chopped

6 whole sweet pickles, finely diced

1-2 tsp. sweet pickle juice ¾ - 1 cup mayonnaise … cup prepared mustard

salt to taste

… tsp.paprika

Boil the potatoes until they are tender. Drain the water and mash them slightly, leaving some chunks of potato. Add the eggs, onions, and pickles. Pour the pickle juice over the mix, then stir it all together with mayonnaise, mustard and salt to taste. Sprinkle the top with paprika.

Children's Chocolate Delight Cake

2 tsp. baking soda 2 cups sugar 2 ‰ cups flour ‰ cup cocoa 1 tsp salt 1 cup oil 2 eggs 1 cup boiling water

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sour milk (milk with 2 drops vinegar added)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together all the dry ingredients first. Add oil, eggs, water, and vanilla. Make 1 cup of sour milk and add to the rest. Mix well. Put in greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 24.