Cook of the Week

Oleta Mayfield Dodson has lived in Murchison for practically her entire life.

"Murchison is a very nice place," Oleta noted. "It has very fine people in it."

Oleta married Roy Dodson, now deceased, around 1932. Roy passed away in 2000; they had been married 67 years.

Roy and Oleta had two daughters. One, Marita Morse, went on to work for the Athens Review, the other, Nelda Tillison, works for the Rainbow Room, an organization for abused children. Both daughters are from Murchison.

Dodson also has three grandchildren and four great grandchildren, and she is very proud of all of them. Her grandchildren are Jeanie (and Bill) Fisher of Burleson, Mark (and Becky) Tillison or Murchisonand Stacie Tillison of Bryan. Her great grandchildren are Lauren Fisher, Kristen Fisher and Ty and Taylor Tillison.

Dodson currently lives in her ranch home on CR 3800 about three miles off of Highway 31. She enjoys reading works by Billy Graham and attending First Baptist of Murchison, where she is a member and has been since 1954.

Oleta Mayfield Dodson

Oleta said she used to sew and garden, though she isn't able to do much of either these days. She still enjoys the flowers, and she is able to iron, quilt and cook. In fact, her cooking skills are still the stuff of legend around Murchison.

"A lot of people like my squash casserole," Oleta said.

She usually ends up fixing up meals for groups. Though she said she enjoys working with vegetables most of all, no dish is beyond her skills.
Squash Casserole
1 package Stove Top dressing

3 cups cooked squash,
mashed
1 stick margarine w 1 large
onion sautØed in it
2 beaten eggs
1 can creamy chicken mushroom
soup
1 cup sour cream
Cheddar cheese

Mix the squash, onion and dressing, then add the eggs, soup and sour cream. Mix and bake for 30 minutes at 350 Degrees. Remove and add the cheese. Cover and bake until the cheese melts.
Meatloaf
1 ‰ pound ground meat

1 small can mild Rotel tomatoes

1 package dry onion soup
mix
3 slices toasted bread,
crumbled
2 eggs
‰ cup ketchup
Brown sugar

Mix everything well and make into a loaf, then put into a pan and bake at 350 Degrees for one hour. About 15 minutes before taking it out of the oven, put ketchup and brown sugar on top. Feeds five or six.
Crunchy Toss Salad
One cup chopped walnuts
One package uncooked
Ramen noodles
4 tbsp butter
1 bunch broccoli, coarsely
chopped
1 head romaine lettuce,
washed and broken into
pieces
3 green onions, chopped
Sweet and Sour Dressing
Brown the walnuts and noodles in the butter (sautØ) and place on paper to cool. Prepare the broccoli, lettuce and onions. Add the walnuts and noodles before serving.
Sweet and Sour Dressing
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
‰ cup wine vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
Salt/pepper to taste
Combine and blend.

Cheesecake
1 9-inch graham cracker
crust
8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces cool whip
‰ cup sugar
1 small can crushed pineapple,
well drained (or preferred
fruit)

Mix the non-fruit ingredients well and add the fruit. Mix all non-crust ingredients and put into the crust. Put recipe in the refrigerator for about an hour and a half. Recipe may be prepared without the fruit if desired.