Cook of the Week
by Nathan Straus

Debby Pugh

Along FM 2339 lies a convenience store and bait shop known as the Callender Lake Store. There's no sign out front, though there used to be a portable one with movable letters. It was discarded because vandals would alter the letters at night as a prank to form dirty words.

Inside the store Debby Pugh works with her husband of two years, Mike.

"I do a little bit of everything here," Debby said.

The shop's business relies on some of the fishing items sold during the year. Thus, business moves at a fast pace in the summer months, but plods along more slowly during winter.

Debby's home is just a quarter of the mile down FM 2339 from the store, so the journey each day is short. The store itself is a few miles west of Edom.

"I moved here from Martin's Mill which is 10 miles down the road," Debby said. She moved to the area two and a half years ago.

Debby has five children from a previous marriage, Mike has one.

Working in a bait shop, it is only natural to assume Debby enjoys fishing, and she does.

However, she also enjoys cooking. Her husband Mike also enjoys firing up the grill for a few hamburgers. Between the two of them, the Callender Lake Store is famous for the delicious fried pies available there. Unfortunately, the recipe being one of the store's cash crops, Debby was unwilling to share it.

However, she was happy to provide a few of her recipes that, while they don't exist to make money for the store, are tasty nonetheless.

"I like everything about cooking," Debby Pugh said. "I especially like to bake."

Debby said she enjoys simple, easy to make recipes because of how quickly they can be prepared.

The recipes provided are examples of classic works that can be prepared excellently even in a hurry.
Buttermilk Pie
3 eggs, well beaten
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 ‰ sticks melted butter
4 tablespoons flour
‰ cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Mix all the ingredients well and pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake for 55 minutes.

Blueberry Muffins
1 egg
¾ cup milk
1 ‰ cup blueberries
‰ cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Beat the egg and stir in milk, blueberries and oil. Pour in the dry ingredients all at once and stir just until the flour is moistened. Fill greased muffin cups about ¾ full and bake at 400 Degrees until golden brown.