Share your family’s recipes and stories for this year’s Ozark County Cookin’


This photo of Velta Hambelton and her recipe for strawberry shortcake, submitted by Shana Hambelton of Dora, was featured on page 40 of the 2017 edition of Ozark County Cookin’. *** Granny Velta's Strawberry Shortcake Submitted by Shana Hambelton, Dora 2 cups sifted flour 3 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar Sift together. 1/3 cup oil 2/3 cup milk Pour into measuring cup. Do not stir. Pour all at once into flour mixture; stir with fork until mixture cleans sides of the bowl and forms a ball. Smooth by kneading about 10 times without additional flour. Press out with hand or roll out between wax paper to half-inch thickness. Bake 10-12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet in very hot oven, 475°. Cover with freshly sliced strawberries and whipped topping and enjoy!

The 2018 edition of Ozark County Cookin’ will feature not only the recipes but also the stories of Ozark County cooks, present and past, whose kitchen talents created warm, enduring memories for generations of area families. As we do each year, we’re asking our readers to share their memories and recipes from Ozark County’s best cooks.

Send us your own recipes or those from cooks gone by to be published Nov. 14 in our glossy-cover,  magazine-style Ozark County Cookin’ magazine, which will have color on every page. We’ll draw a name from all those who submit a recipe or tribute, and that person will win $100 – just in time for Christmas shopping!

This year’s cookbook will be distributed free at the Times office and also at Town & Country Supermarket in Gainesville, Cash Saver Pantry in Theodosia and anywhere the Ozark County Times is sold. 

In this year’s edition, the Times staff is planning a special story on the ladies prayer brunches that are held monthly at Ozark County churches. The event, originally organized and planned by Polly Huddle, has become a popular tradition with area women. If you have a special recipe that you always prepare for this event or photos from a time when your church hosted the ladies prayer brunch, please let us know. This month’s prayer bunch will be held at Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

The 2018 edition of Ozark County Cookin’ is also an ideal way for area merchants and groups to advertise their Christmastime and year-round merchandise because it will be kept and used for months, even years, to come. For more information, see the ad on page 5.

The recipe and advertising deadline is Friday, Nov. 2. To submit a recipe, tribute and photo, email them to norene@ozarkcountytimes.com, mail them to the Times at P.O. Box 188, Gainesville, MO 65655 (be sure to let us know if the photo needs to be returned), or bring them by our office on the south side of the Gainesville square. Call us at 679-4641 for more information.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423