My favorite recipes

Apr 24, 20130

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Recipe

Marie Dymkoski, a busy Palouse resident, has been executive director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce since December 2010. The Pullman chamber has a full schedule of activities supporting Pullman businesses and also coordinates events with other Whitman County communities.

Born and raised in St. Maries, Idaho, Marie was 28 when she moved to Palouse with the idea of living there a few years. As that was more than two decades ago, it looks like she is staying.

Prior to becoming the executive director of the Pullman chamber, Marie became office manager in 2007. Her previous part-time jobs were Palouse branch librarian for Whitman County Library and working for Palouse Humane Society. The Palouse library job was perfect because her young sons loved going to the library to meet mom after school.

The range of Pullman Chamber of Commerce activities is a bit daunting. The year begins with the Farm-City Day luncheon hosted by the Colfax and Pullman chambers which has been at Hill-Ray Plaza in Colfax the past few years.

Chocolate Decadence was a project coordinated with WSU’s visual merchandising students in April and November. Students work with businesses to create displays featuring chocolate and serving chocolate to the public during the event.

Unveiling of the poster for the 37th Pullman Lentil Festival will be June 6.

Pullman Fourth of July Celebration is coordinated by the chamber staff and run by volunteers on donations from the community.

Pullman Art Walk in July was coordinated with most Whitman County towns last year, and Colfax’s Art Walk included a chefs’ cook-off at Hill-Ray Plaza as well as other art displays. Palouse and other towns had art festivities, too.

September 13 will be First Down Friday, coordinated with WSU Athletics, a fun downtown pep rally to kick off the football season for the home opening game. Dad’s Day and Homecoming activities are planned. In November, the chamber gears up to promote holiday shopping.

The tourism director is part of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and has the task of marketing the whole region to the rest of the world. The chamber holds membership luncheons monthly with speakers, who include Mayor Glenn Johnson, WSU President Elson Floyd and business leaders.

The Dymkoski family is also very involved in Palouse.

Mike, a WSU grad now employed by WSU as a construction supervisor, currently serves as chairman of the Palouse School Board.

Matthew and Mitchell now attend Garfield-Palouse High School. Both boys play basketball and participate in FFA, raising sheep. Matthew, 17, is working on his lifesaving certificate and hoping to work as a lifeguard this summer. He loves sugar, so he’s a pretty skilled cookie baker.

Mitchell, 15, loves to ride dirt bikes with his dad and is eager to get his learner’s permit.

Older daughter Jennifer, Cheney, has two young daughters, and Kristin, St. Maries, has a boy. Being a grandmother is a joy for Marie, and they see the grandkids frequently.

When she has a little spare time, Marie enjoys gardening and bird watching, and sometimes she can do both at the same time.

Before she worked full-time for the chamber, Marie was on the Palouse Community Center board and worked to raise funds for the new center.

She currently serves on the Palouse Audubon Society board, the Washington-Idaho Symphony Board and the Halpin Foundation Board. The foundation augments project funds for science and math and gives awards to high-achieving students in elementary, junior high, and high school at Garfield-Palouse. She also works on the Palouse Music Festival.

Here are some of the Dymkoski family favorites.

Recipes:

No-Bake Yummies

My favorite ‘hidden’ lentils recipe

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 Tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

Mix first four ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve.

Remove from heat and immediately add:

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

3 cups quick oats

1 cup cooked lentils (cooked until done but not mushy)

Drop by the spoonful on wax paper and cool.

Sausage Spinach Loaf

My family’s favorite recipe. I’ve also used different combinations of other ingredients to create different tastes (pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni for instance). In the rare case there’s any leftovers, it’s also good cold.

16 ounce loaf of frozen bread dough-thawed as per package

3/4 pound sausage, cooked and drained (I add 1/2 diced onion to cook with the sausage)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or your other favorite cheese)

10 ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 egg white, slightly beaten

1 Tablespoon water

Caraway seed-optional

Cook sausage and drain. On lightly floured board, roll out bread dough to 15” x 8”. Sprinkle cheese over dough, leaving 1” free around edges.

Top cheese with sausage and spinach.

Bring long sides together and pinch to seal edges and ends.

Place loaf seam side down on lightly greased baking sheet. Combine egg white and water, brush on loaf and sprinkle with caraway seed. Bake 30-35 minutes in a 350F oven.

Let stand before slicing and serving.

Cowboy Cookies

My son Matthew’s favorite after school past time is to bake cookies and this recipe is his favorite to bake and to eat!

Blend together:

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

Stir together, and then add:

2 1/3 cups flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon soda