| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 28.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 30 Nov 2008.
She's an angel of a cook and good friend to many
Author: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
The streets were rather quiet on Saturday morning below heavy overcast skies ahead of colder days and possible snow, yet folks in our hometown were warming up to the annual chamber of commerce Christmas parade. And we are all celebrating $1.60s gasoline in time for Christmas driving.
You would think that most of us have had enough treats for our taste buds last Thursday and have sworn off eating until at least Christmas dinner. Not so, I saw many people back in the local restaurants Friday morning, some of whom escaped with their limbs from Black Friday shopping sprees. If there is a recession you could not tell it by going to Wal-Mart, Newport Dry Goods, and other retailers. Friends who got up at 4 a.m. to be at Wal-Mart told me that some of the shoppers got out of hand. There was some extra low pricing on 500-count sheets and at least two women got into a pushing and cussing confrontation.
To sooth you troubled shoppers, I talked with Judy Wright, who enjoys cooking and especially baking. During the years I've gotten to know the Wrights because of Jimmy Wright's outdoor work as a backhoe specialist. You may have recalled seeing photos of the demolition months ago of the old Freeman's building off Main Street downtown. He did that work. Our advertising manager Betty McMillan introduced me to her younger sister, Judy, many years ago. And in case you don't know the family, they grew up in Parrottsville, at a time decades ago when you could raise chickens and hogs in your backyard even if you did live in town. She is one of five children of the late Dale and Nelle McMillan. One of the more famous family members is the late Parrottsville Mayor George Blazer, an uncle to the kids. My first contact with the third oldest town in Tennessee began when I covered sports news for the Plain Talk in the early 1970s and often photographed basketball games at the old high school in town. Judy and her closest-in-age sister Betty walked to school. And they hung out, as many of you did, at Charles Cureton's store. J.B. Trentham operated a store just across the Greeneville Highway, which was the Newport Highway if you were traveling south. Does that make sense? Dale McMillan managed the old Parrottsville milling company that no longer exists. It was at Hwy. 340, Baltimore Rd., at Hwy. 321, not far from where the bank branch used to be. It was a time when children of all ages safely walked to school and when your 25¢ allowance bought a big orange drink, Moon Pie, and poke of candy. Entertainment for Dale and Nelle was the Friday night races at the fairgrounds.
After high school, Judy married Jimmy Wright, and they have a son, Carson Wright. He operates a pool construction/sales company here. The smartest move Carson made was to marry former sheriff Billy Wayne and Patty Moore's daughter, Lora Moore. Their children are Cody and Lexi. I do know the family loves pets and that was something that Judy brought to the gene pool. Betty tells me that Judy was somewhat of a Tom Boy as a teen, often hanging out at the creek behind the Parrott-LaRue Park, which didn't exist then. She collected snakes, frogs, and assorted bugs and always had pets. She wisely gave these up for cooking. If you are fortunate to be a friend or family member, then you have enjoyed her recipes and good food. As Jimmy often says, "I'm used to the finer things in life and that's my wife's cooking." She is a consummate homemaker, but also is the behind the scenes partner in the construction business. She is the bookkeeping brains, message handler and scheduler of Jimmy's work so he gets to focus on the machine operations.
She graciously shared her angel food recipe with you after I ate some of the cake a week ago and thought it was something you might like to try.
There's nothing magic about the ingredients: 12 eggs, 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar, 1 cup all-purpose flour,1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a cup of sugar. Just follow these directions: Separate eggs; discard yolks or refrigerate for another use. Measure
egg whites, adding or removing whites as needed to equal 1-1/2 cups. Place in a mixing bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, sift confectioners' sugar and flour together three times and set aside. Add cream of tartar, extracts and salt to egg whites; beat on high speed. Gradually add sugar, beating until sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form. Fold in flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time. Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert pan; cool completely before removing cake from pan.
In case you wondered what Judy did for Thanksgiving meal: turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas or green beans, corn, deviled eggs, veggie platter, cranberry delight, and rolls. Jimmy got chocolate cake for dessert, and Carson, chess pies. The chess pie recipe is well over 100 years old given to her by Mom Nelle, that has been passed down for generations. Soon Judy will start her traditional candy making for the holidays. "It takes a lot of work, time, and sugar. I do the marshmallow creamy milk chocolate fudge, peanut butter rolls, chocolate coated caramel turtles with pecans, Martha Washington jets, snicker doodles, almond bark candy, and I invented a new candy last year I call Judy's Delights." She has no real secrets to her cooking, but taking the time to do it all from scratch and adding a little love seems to always make it taste better, she said.
In plain talk, during the holidays it's helpful and wise to have a few friends who are excellent cooks and on hand some well-tasted recipes.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name Judy Mcmillian
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 13 Feb 1969
Event Place Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender Female
Spouse's Name Jimmy Wright
Page 346
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