Photo by Sarah Finnegan
Tammy Harris poses with the Dunnavant Fire & Rescue cookbook she helped put together.
The community of Dunnavant may be small, but the hearts of the residents are about as big as they come.
Members and groups have been taking many steps to ensure a sense of togetherness. And for the Dunnavant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, the best way to get to the hearts of friends and family is through their stomachs.
In the 1980s, the Dunnavant Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary produced the Dunnavant Valley Cookbook — the first of many, said Tammy Harris, president of the auxiliary.
Since then, the auxiliary and the fire department have put out a local cookbook every five or so years, with both updated and staple meals from some of the best cooks in the area.
The original concept of the cookbook was to link everyone in the area together by sharing the wealth of beloved recipes that have been passed down in each family. Today, it still serves the same purpose, connecting people from different families through the shared meals.
Anyone can submit a recipe, and most of those included in the book come from firemen, the auxiliary, local churches and any other residents who’d like to participate. While a good percent of the recipes in the cookbook are more recent, Harris said there are a few that are just too popular to exclude.
“We had two ladies in Dunnavant that were really good cooks, and they were famous for their coconut cake and pound cake,” she said. “So we always make sure those get into the cookbook.”
The last cookbook, which came out in 2012, was put together by Harris, who said this was her first time being tasked with the responsibility. In the past, she had helped with the final touches, but this time she did all of the proofreading and decision-making. The next cookbook will come out in late 2019 or early 2020.
Charging $5 per cookbook, Harris said the money made goes back to the fire department to allow for events such as the Fall Festival held on Oct. 20 and the car show on Sept. 29. The fire department puts these events on for anyone who wants to come.
While it does bring in some revenue, Harris said the cookbook is most importantly a way to bring everyone in Dunnavant together. It serves as a tie and is something that all members of the community enjoy.
The book features a section for appetizers and beverages, soups and salads, vegetables and side dishes, main dishes, breads and deserts. There’s something for everyone, Harris said.
“We’ve got some really, really good cooks in the community, and we try to pass those recipes down for everyone to have through the cookbook,” Harris said.
To learn more about the fire department, visit their Facebook page @dunnavantfire.
