The first “Real Men Can Cook” fundraising event for Hi-Noon Kiwanis proved so successful Thursday evening that club members likely will need to find a larger venue next year.
Fifty-one men from the community prepared their favorite recipes and brought them to the Flint Hills Technical College to donate for the event, held to raise money to support projects for youths in the Emporia area.
The buffet they created lined the walls of the college’s conference room, and the created aroma floated far into the hallways.
Club members sold tickets in advance and at the door for $6 per person, and offered comb-bound “Real Men Can Cook” cookbooks designed and printed by students in the graphic arts department of the tech college.
“All the recipes the guys are cooking are in the cookbook,” said Alice Elkins as she sold tickets and the books to a steady stream of customers.
The idea of “Real Men Can Cook” came from club member Jim Heasley, who moved to Emporia from Durango, Colo.
“This was done a long time ago, it’s still going on, in Ogden, Utah, and they make a lot of money,” Heasley said. “What is so nice about it is the guys are from all walks of life. … Most of the people in here cooking are not members.”
The cooks used Dutch ovens, chafing dishes, slow cookers, barbecue grills and other equipment to prepare their specialties.
An hour or so into the event, more than 150 people had come in to sample plates and bowls of dips, salads, desserts, casseroles, soups and entrees including salmon and prime rib.
Tom Andrews brought Cincinnati chili, an unusual combination that pairs spaghetti with chili and a variety of other ingredients — cheese, oyster crackers, onions, for example — depending upon preference.
“I’ve never been to Cincinnati, but I did order Skyline chili on the Internet to see if I’m making it right,” Andrews said.
Obviously, he had the recipe nailed.
Mark Shook had smoked prime rib, using cherry wood, and served up tender pink chunks of meat to those who strolled by.
Father and son Rick and Blake Mitchell brought a traditional lasagna, and next to them Bryon Estes offered glistening, gooey squares of “wacky cake” — “sugar and chocolate with a little bit of flour,” Estes said.
Doug Stueve contributed what he called “field biscuits,” that resembled Rice Krispie treats with a little extra kick.
“There’s some flavoring agents in it,” Stueve said.
Don Bailey’s Italian tacos went quickly. They were made with flour taco shells containing spaghetti sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage and a blend of cheese that he broiled before serving.
Okra shrimp gumbo warmed in a slow cooker brought in by Joe Denson, who said he loves to cook.
“Too bad, I love to eat, too,” Denson said, laughing.
A spicy Indian hominy was S.C. Dixon’s donation to the sampler meal.
“I used to cook for my family when I was 12 years old,” he said. “I love to cook, mostly Italian, Mexican and Midwest, I like to say.”
Leftovers, if there are any, are easily recycled into another dish.
“You take a big bowl of chili and put a dollop of this in it,” Dixon said.
Mexican fare turned up intermittently along the buffet. Jorge Cazares brought chicken stuffed with cheese and herbs in a tomato cilantro sauce. Randy Heavener contributed his recipe for chicken taco soup. Nearby, Marlin Ball offered a perfect complement to the savory chicken dishes — brownies.
Ken Hanson combined pumpkin with chocolate chips to make 140 cookies that quickly disappeared, as did David Crotts’ slow cooker full of sauerkraut dip, made with a blend of ingredients, including hamburger.
Eric Hawkins prepared two meat dishes — walleye and a salmon concoction with southeast Texas sauce.
“It is not in the cookbook,” Hawkins said of what he called his secret recipe.
Jerky, cheesy potatoes, pork tender roast, granola, salads, chili, Mexican fruit cake and steak soup were among other tasty dishes available for ticket-holders.
The recipes for each — with the exception of Hawkins’ fish — are contained in the cookbooks, which remain for sale at $10 each and may be had by calling Heasley at 412-2169.
The tech college’s graphic arts department also printed posters and tickets for the fundraiser, and M&A Designs of Overland Park made special woven and printed aprons for the cooks.
Sponsors, in addition to the Hi-Noon Kiwanis Club, were: Country Mart/Price Chopper stores, KVOE, Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Waters True Value Hardware, Allstate Insurance, Flint Hills Care Center, Emporia Chiropractic Center, Hopkins, McKenzie Pest Control, Interstate Brands Corp. and M&A Designs.
Comments
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Posted by bloomsbury (anonymous) on October 23, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was SO MUCH FUN...a real coup for a fundraiser and we hope it is the beginning of many, many more to come...I think everyone was surprised at the turnout, the variety of dishes, and the number of dishes to sample. I bought the recipe book, and will buy others, the money goes to a great organization and will make nifty Christmas gifts. Mark's beef was to die for and SC's "Apache Corn" will become a staple at our house! But then there was SO MUCH GOOD FOOD! Thanks, men...something new and unique to do in Emporia!
Posted by seriouslyfolks (anonymous) on October 23, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm against cannibalism.
Posted by Observation (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not sure we want to start defining "Real Men" or "Real" any other group, by the tasks that they can perform. This isn't the 1950's anymore.
Posted by chiefsfan (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does there always have to be negative comments made on everything? I think this was a great idea as a fund raiser, and obviously it was a huge hit!! Great thinking "real men"! Congratulations on this being a huge hit and making lots of money!!
Posted by create (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those naysayers should man up and mail in a contribution. This was a worthy cause.
Posted by seriouslyfolks (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Humor escapes most.
Posted by deluvly1 (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Observation, please, please try to get some help, you and your “observation” are obviously troubled and very unhappy with life. The Kiwanis is one of the most selfless and beneficial groups in the country with no political agenda and no motives other than helping the children of the world and make their communities better. You are just too, too sad. I hope you get better soon.
Posted by oh4theluvof (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So if there was an event named "Real Women Can Cook" it wouldn't be taken as offensive? I know that the event title was tongue in cheek and so was Observation's comment, but I'm just saying, the lib movement sure put a stop to it when it was the other way around. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.....almost literally in this case.
seriously...your goofy but be careful. Henry got in trouble the other day for responding to the impression he got from just a headline.
Posted by Observation (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually it was a fun event and I enjoyed it very much. I don't mean to come across as a naysayer, but sad to say we now have behaved ourselves into a world where we cannot use tongue in cheek comments across the board. Perhaps, not even by real do gooders like the Hi-Noon folks. I didn't make up the nutty politically correct mess that we live in, I am just pointing out that it does exist. Next year I hope to participate.
Seriously, I do appreciate your humor.
deluvly1 Hmmmm. Black kettle…Hmmm?
Posted by Steve_Corbin (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi noon......Hmmm?
Posted by giggles (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Over analyze much?
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