Chef Barry Karrh, Culinary Arts Technology instructor at East Central Community College, provided an overview of the program at the April meeting of the Obadiah Homemaker Volunteers Club.

Karrh, an instructor at the Decatur college since 2013, said under his tenure ECCC’s Culinary Arts Technology program was ranked No. 3 among similar programs statewide in a recent report by Best Choice Schools (January 2017). 

“As the restaurant and food service is a $4.4 billion industry in Mississippi, employing over 123,3000 professionals, this is quite an honor,” he said.  

In 2014, an agreement was made between ECCC and Mississippi University for Women whereby career and technical credits earned at ECCC will transfer to The W.  

Karrh has earned the reputation as a favorite speaker due to him always having a special dish to share. This month it was meat loaf and cornmeal dressing from a 1943 Homemaker recipe. Using ground chicken and turkey, Karrh made heart healthy individual servings. Along with commentary about the recipe he was sharing, the speaker provided insight on his classes –peppered with antidotes from his classes.

“The culinary program provides instruction in the methods and science of cooking through teaching of classical, American and International cuisine, as well as the art of baking and pastries.” Karrh said. “My students must wear appropriate chef uniforms for all lab classes. They not only learn how to cook the food but the origin of the dishes. 

“There are some students who come through my class because they think it is easy; they find that it is not. There are others that have a passion for it. One of my students was the first Mississippi student to place in an international competition. Another is the owner of Pheanice’s Sweet Creations in Lake, Mississippi.

“My classes do catering, often to a particular theme or period in history, providing dishes from that era,” Karrh said. “Involvement with several ladies groups such as the Homemakers in the campus area has provided opportunities for my students to hone their craft and gain constructive criticism.”

Elouise Ethridge presented the devotion, reading a recent Meridian Star article by frequent guest columnist Virginia Dawkins titled “Twenty-Minute Flowers.” Beginning with a quote from career counselor and bestselling author Barbara Sher: “You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.” It encapsulates the idea that taking 20 minutes to begin something you want to do and doing it every day for 20 minutes and asking the question: ‘What do you think would happen if every Christian took just 20 minutes each day to pray for America and its leaders, asking God to intervene in our troubled world?”

Ethridge closed with prayer and blessing.

Members were reminded Mississippi Welcome Center week is May 9-13. Homemakers will take homemade cookies to the center to distribute to travelers passing through.

The Obadiah Club had several overall winners in the recent cultural arts competition at the Homemaker Council meeting in April:

• Judy Harwell, decorative machine sewing

• Doreen Daniels, hand stitchery/cross stitch and other fiber arts

• Kathryn Daniels, crochet

• Cathy Clearman, photography/landscape

• Elouise Ethridge, stained glass and miscellaneous. 

These winners will go on to the state competition in May. Overall winners in the creative writing contest will also go to state competition.

• Submitted by Cathy Clearman, reporter.