Author's Corner

Was it the brightly colored sprinkles on the homebaked Christmas cookies of her childhood that first hooked Ashley that first hooked Ashley Madden Rowton on cooking? Perhaps Madden Rowton on cooking? Perhaps the holiday sugar cookies played a part, but this life-long Mindenite says the joy and comradery of preparing dishes and meals with multiple generations of her family and then sitting down together to share the flavorful results is what sealed share the flavorful results is what sealed the deal for her then — and continues to make cooking a passion for her today. With a great-grandmother and multiple grandparents who excelled in the kitchen, plus parents who loved to cook as well, it’s no surprise that Rowton had plenty of inspiration to carry on the tradition. What’s the next natural step for an excellent home chef with a knack for writing? A cookbook of course!

With a great-grandmother and multiple grandparents who excelled in the kitchen, plus parents who loved to cook as well, it’s no surprise that Rowton had plenty of inspiration to carry on the tradition. What’s the next natural step for an excellent home chef with a knack for writing? A cookbook of course! What started out as passing thoughts during Covid-19 isolation began to take a more definitive culinary shape in the months that followed. Rowton found herself sorting through literally hundreds of

BY ELLEN NICHOLSON

tried-and-true, hand-scribed family recipes with the thought of creating a publication similar to those revered fundraiser cookbooks put together by churches and other organizations. Encouragement from friends, family, and her husband, Nick, plus a suggestion to include photos to go along with the recipes, led her to think outside the plastic-spined cookbook box. An internet search helped rule out self-publishing a hard-cover cookbook, but a friend’s coffee table book led her to contact designer/publisher Chad De-

Board in Illinois. The collaboration Board in Illinois. The collaboration bore fruit in the form of The Copper Whisk – Rowton’s first professional publication. publication. With so many family offerings to choose from, how did she whittle choose from, how did she whittle the selection down to the 200 or so recipes included in The Copper so recipes included in The Copper Whisk? According to Rowton, she focused on her life as the working focused on her life as the working mom of three active boys – Ryan, mom of three active boys – Ryan, 13; Hank, 9; and Grady Woods, 3. Sharing cooking and time management tips from their own family experiences as well as beloved family favorites rounds out the cookbook that offers a Louisiana flare as la that offers a Louisiana flare as lagniappe! Included are many of the makeahead dishes that are a lifeline for the 38-year-old construction accountant who often rushes from work at the family’s Madden Con work at the family’s Madden Contracting to pick up one or more of her boys to make it to football practice or the ballpark on time. Meals that can be served and then re-heat that can be served and then re-heated for latecomers are a must! And ed for latecomers are a must! And as for the much-loved Louisiana of as for the much-loved Louisiana offerings like jambalaya, etouffee, and ferings like jambalaya, etouffee, and gumbo, now that her eldest sons are old enough to hunt, adding game from their outings makes the dishes even more special. A personal note from Rowton at the A personal note from Rowton at the end of each recipe shares an interesting tidbit about the dish’s origin, a preparation or serving tip, or gin, a preparation or serving tip, or maybe a mention of which family maybe a mention of which family member considers it their favorite. member considers it their favorite. The Louisiana nod, quality photos and delicious recipes have com and delicious recipes have combined to create a success, with the bined to create a success, with the cookbook’s initial printing of 2,000 cookbook’s initial printing of 2,000 books having sold out. A second printing is expected this fall in time printing is expected this fall in time for holiday gift giving. What about all those other recipes? Food is meant to be shared, according to Rowton, who says Food is meant to be shared, according to Rowton, who says feeding her sons and their buddies gathered around the kitch feeding her sons and their buddies gathered around the kitchen island along with dropping off dishes to friends and family en island along with dropping off dishes to friends and family are some of her greatest joys. Future cookbooks on the drawing are some of her greatest joys. Future cookbooks on the drawing board will continue the theme of sharing home-cooked South board will continue the theme of sharing home-cooked Southern bounty at parties, game day events, and family gatherings. ern bounty at parties, game day events, and family gatherings. She might even drop in a sugar cookie recipe.

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Ashley shares recipes daily through her public Facebook group that inspired the name of her cookbook, The Copper Whisk. In that inspired the name of her cookbook, The Copper Whisk. In Shreveport-Bossier, the cookbook is carried by Ivy & Stone, Jolie Shreveport-Bossier, the cookbook is carried by Ivy & Stone, Jolie Blonde, and Lewis’ Gifts.

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