MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cooking skills are bringing some widespread attention to a Mississippi volunteer organization.

Three recipes from the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers' own cookbook, "Down Home Dining in Mississippi," were featured in a new cookbook, "America's Best Recipes -- A 2001 Hometown Collection." This cookbook is produced by Oxmoor House Inc., the parent company of Southern Living magazine.

Putting together a state cookbook was the idea of Doris Hunt, past president of the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers. As president for 1998 and 1999, Hunt decided to collect members' favorite recipes. Under the coordination of Dot Barnett of Batesville, cookbook chair, about 500 recipes were published in March 1999 as "Down Home Dining in Mississippi."

"I decided to put together a cookbook as a fundraiser," Hunt said.

Hunt designated three projects that the statewide organization would support. She chose the Blair Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Mississippi and the organization's scholarship program at Mississippi State University.

Proceeds from the cookbook have been divided among these organizations.

"So far, we have been able to give $11,000 to the children's hospital, $8,000 to the multiple sclerosis society and $8,000 to the scholarship fund," Hunt said. "We still have about 4,000 more cookbooks to sell."

In a further effort to raise money for these charities, the homemaker volunteers entered their cookbook in a Tabasco contest, but it didn't win the prize. However, Oxmoor House heard about the cookbook from this contest and contacted the volunteer organization requesting permission to use some of their recipes.

According to Oxmoor House, the "America's Best Recipes" cookbook "showcases the very best recipes from outstanding community cookbooks from towns and cities across the country" and "salutes the dedicated volunteers whose successful cookbook sales raise funds to help meet the various needs of their communities."

The cookbook features 375 recipes from 146 local cookbooks. Those featured from Mississippi are a kiwifruit ambrosia, German chocolate pound cake and bayou rice. The cookbook names the person submitting the recipe, and acknowledges their organization.

Peggy Walker, Panola County home economist with MSU's Extension Service, said the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers is a major volunteer organization in the state. About 3,000 members can be found across the state in clubs in nearly every Mississippi county.

"Their goal is to make their communities a better place to live through volunteering and providing community service," Walker said.

Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers welcomes men and women of all ages and interests. Since volunteering is their primary goal, each club takes on their own local service projects, such as visiting nursing homes, promoting literacy and making stuffed animals for children in hospitals.

Copies of "Down Home Dining in Mississippi" can be purchased from Mississippi Homemaker Volunteer members and at some retail outlets around the state. Contact the local Extension home economist for more details.

For more information, contact: Peggy Walker, (662) 563-6260