Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160051
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ALMENA HUGHES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"This is our first time trying this, so we don't know what to expect," WBRA's public relations manager, Margaret Crouse, said.
The show, airing from 3-5:30 p.m., will revolve around approximately 12 local cooks preparing their favorite recipes, which appear in a cookbook published and presented as a premium by the station. Patrons pledging $50 or more will be entitled to the three-ring loose leaf formatted cookbook called simply "Food." Picnic foods are the first among what are hoped to be many installments sold to help underwrite public TV programming in general and the long-running nationally syndicated ``Cookin' Cheap'' program, in particular. The next anticipated addition to the cookbook is kid-friendly recipes.
This short-term, focused form of fund-raising marks a possible permanent move away from the Great TV Auctions of the past, which typically lasted several days.
"The last thing we did was a one-night travel auction that raised $22,000," Crouse said. "We are looking at other options to keep viewers satisfied and not disrupt programming that are also profitable."
For the past several months, in response to on-air solicitations, Blue Ridge Public Television watchers have proffered their preferred picnic recipes along with generous helpings of anecdotes about what makes them special:
Mrs. Jerry Conner of Salem, for the first time, shared her German grandmother's barbecue recipe. Ruby Lackey of Roanoke got a call from an out-of-towner who'd tried and loved her recipe for sweet potato pudding when years ago it ran in The Roanoke Times. William F. Hardin from Forest shared a coconut chicken salad he'd first sampled in Guam. Elmer S. Mayes of Salem had his favorite applesauce cake sent to him in various ports around the globe as he completed his U.S. Navy stint. And 5-year-old Zachary McKinney of Victoria, who loves to cook and is an avid ``Cookin' Cheap'' fan, shared his grandmother's secrets for Swedish meatballs.
A note from Julia B. Kraft of Roanoke, accompanying her recipes for onion sandwiches, Smores and California Baked Beans, was typical of many the station received, Crouse said.
"I've been watching PBS for 25 years, and I always enjoy many of the programs," Kraft wrote.
"I don't have much of an income, so when I saw a chance for a person like me to help out, I jumped."
Doris Ford, a long-time WBRA volunteer and indispensable assistant for the ``Cookin' Cheap'' show, is selecting from among the estimated 300 recipe submissions those best-suited for inclusion in the cookbook and for the on-air preparations. Ford also will help keep things moving along smoothly on Saturday.
``Cookin' Cheap'' hosts Larry Bly and Laban Johnson will do their popular show live during the last half hour of the fund-raiser, and also will assist the fund-raiser's hosts, Sam and Rindy Lionberger, during the 21/2-hour show.
Crouse said that 250 "Food" binders have been printed in anticipation of at least that many $50 or better pledges.
by CNB