THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190479
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Junior Leaguers hereabouts, all 600, are celebrating two birthdays, and they will tell the ages right off.
The Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach is 75 years old, and its award-winning cookbook - with the mouth-filling title ``TIDEWATER ON THE HALF SHELL, Fine Virginia Recipes'' - is 10.
The cookbook, with newly designed cover, costs $16.95. I wouldn't mind taste-testing each of its 600 recipes.
Wherever you live in South Hampton Roads, your life has been enhanced by the league's causes.
To support them, the organization will hold its annual fund-raising auction on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Cavalier Oceanfront Beach Club. Last year it raised $23,000.
It is billed as ``Hampton Roads' largest garage sale,'' with merchandise and services donated from the community. Bidding will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 per person in advance, $20 at the door.
As for the cookbook, on Page 244 one finds a stuffed pumpkin, something I'd never expected to meet.
It would be a wonderful surprise on Halloween for the neighborhood children. Cut off the top of a small pumpkin and set the top aside. Remove seeds and wash.
Now mix one cup each of chopped apples, cranberries, raisins, a half cup of chopped nuts, a third of a cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, a quarter-teaspoon of nutmeg and a quarter-teaspoon of cinnamon.
Set the pumpkin on a cookie sheet and fill it with the mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cover with the pumpkin top and continue baking for 20 minutes.
Set aside, to eat with the pumpkin, eight ounces of sour cream.
Soon as the stuffed pumpkin is done, take it to the roof and when a gang of teenagers, who shouldn't even be out with the little kids, comes to the door and rings the bell, drop the stuffed pumpkin on their heads and yell: ``TRICK OR TREAT AND WIPE YO' FEET!''
No, no, that's getting out of hand.
Being kind, you would, instead, invite them in and serve the delicacy, and they will have learned a lesson in gentility and Virginia hospitality.
Why in the name of Halloween did I go astray?
Among other fine dishes are angel biscuits, foolproof Smithfield ham, Great Grandmother's Sally Lunn Bread - anything handed down that far must be good - easy oyster stew, and lace cookies.
As well as praline parfait sauce, perfect tenderloin for a fool, as I, who has never tried to roast one, Mamie's corn cakes - anything named for someone is apt to be tasty - Aunt Mary's onion shortcake, company beef stew, old-fashioned date loaf - anything old-fashioned works.
Every item is delish. I bought it for someone for Christmas. ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
by CNB