Kansas Wheat has launched a remarkable new cookbook honoring Charlene Patton and Sharon Davis, who recently retired from the Home Baking Association after over two decades of dedicated service. Both Charlene and Sharon have played pivotal roles in educating students, families, and communities about wheat foods and the joys of home baking. This cookbook encapsulates their passion for baking education, featuring a collection of beloved recipes they used to inspire bakers of all ages.

The cookbook includes a range of easy-to-prepare recipes perfect for any family and consumer sciences classroom. Educators will find timeless recipes that are both accessible and engaging for students, making it a fantastic resource for teaching foundational baking skills. From comforting classics like Oatmeal Yeast Bread, Quilt Patch Cake, Designer Oatmeal Cookies, and Czech Kolaches to holiday favorites like Snickerdoodle Cookies and Pilgrim Bread, the cookbook offers a diverse array of options for every taste. It even includes creative additions like Pet Treats, encouraging students to explore the versatility of baking.

Sharon Davis

 

Working with food & nutrition educators, the Wheat Foods Council and the HBA to teach grain food, milling and baking consumer facts and skills has made Sharon’s life rich. It allowed her to “get the flour in the bowl” in all 48 states with thousands of food service pros, teachers, parents, and child educators. She’s thankful to share some of her personal recipes from those years.

Charlene Patton

 

Charlene’s love for baking, instilled by her mother and grandmothers, has been passed down to her daughters and grandchildren, shaping cherished family traditions. Recognized for her contributions, Charlene has received numerous awards, including recognition from 4-H for her leadership and commitment to youth education in food and nutrition.

90 Minute Basic Yeast Dough

This cookbook not only commemorates Charlene and Sharon’s lifelong commitment to baking education but also serves as a practical, inspiring tool for educators aiming to bring the art of baking to life in their classrooms. Family and consumer sciences educators are the original influencers, with unimaginable reach spanning generations and generations and generations. Thank you for the work you do, it literally changes lives. Download the 2024 Kansas Wheat Commission Cookbook here!

Kansas Wheat produces these free cookbooks each year. Recipes are tested in the KWC “Speak for Wheat” Test Kitchen by Cindy Falk, Nutrition Educator, and Linda Beech, K-State Research and Extension Agent, Emeritus. Photography and design by J. Gordon Clark.