Fall/Winter 2013
Plenty of room to roam at this Doctor’s estate Green Country Living
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Green Country Living
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contents Thank You. A House for All Seasons
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Mary and Ed Robinson’s Honor Heights home is cozy and inviting no matter the weather.
Room for Everyone
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Dr. Kevin Wade and Raye Anne Wade fell in love at first sight with this spacious home.
Old and New
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Holly Berry cherishes heirlooms from her family, and the house her mother built her which sits on the family land.
This is the time of year when we turn our hearts toward home and family. We button our homes up for the winter. We gather for the holidays. We seek the comfort of friends and family. We remember why we are thankful. We here at Green Country Living are thankful to you. We are grateful to those of you who have opened your homes to us and to our readers. You have welcomed us into the places that are central to your lives. We thank you. We appreciate you, our readers, for taking the time to join us as we visit the impressive, interesting and inviting homes of Green Country. Stick around for more great things in the year ahead. We also want to thank our advertisers for supporting our work. You make it possible for us to do what we do, and we appreciate you. From all of us here at Green Country Living to all of you, happy holidays and we look forward to a great year ahead in 2014. Jerry Willis, editor, and the staff of Green Country Living.
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Great pairings for a holiday feast, gift ideas and drinks for a crowd.
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Scene and be Seen Snapshots from recent events around Muskogee.
The Cook’s Pantry
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The Dum family brings a sense of hometown pride — along with delicious coffee — to Muskogee.
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Historic Homes of Muskogee The Jackson House.
Happy holidays! From the staff of Green Country Living magazine. Pictured left to right: Jerry Willis, Jeff Parra, Muskogee Phoenix publisher, Amanda M. Burleson-Guthrie, Angela Jackson.
Cover photo by Jerry Willis
on the cover
Christmas 2013
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STAFF
editor ADVERTISING SALES Layout & Design
Issue 34
Jerry Willis Angela Jackson Amanda M. Burleson-Guthrie
Green Country Living is published quarterly by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Green Country Living, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee OK 74402. email jwillis@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2932 email adjackson@muskogeephoenix.com - Advertising and distribution: (918) 684-2813
Plenty of room to roam at this Doctor’s estate
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A staircase of wrought iron and wood sweeps into Dr. Kevin and Rae Ann Wade’s main living area.
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Comfort and Class This spacious home is cozy and inviting year round By Leilani Roberts Ott
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ary Robinson describes her home as a “house for all seasons” because of the way the light moves with the house. “Even if it’s dreary, light comes in for warmth,” she said. “Spring is fantastic with the azaleas.” Mary and her husband, Ed, moved to Muskogee from Tulsa. She chose the Honor Heights area and wanted to be a part of what the area was known for — azaleas. So, she planted every color. In the summer, there’s the kidney-shaped pool in the back that has provided a wonderful time for them, their seven grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.
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“This is just such a fun house,” she said. The Robinsons bought their home in 1999 and have remodeled the entire house with the help of their contractor, Mike Pruet. He’s very good with the “honey-dos,” Mary said. The brick house on a corner was built in 1962. An addition that includes the master suite, office and bedroom upstairs and bedroom, bath and kitchen downstairs, was built in 1985. The home is about 5,000 square feet with four bedrooms and five baths. In the foyer is an Italian chest, circa 1950, Mary found at McLain’s Furniture about 15 years ago. The formal living room was once paneled with a pink ceiling and burgundy walls. It’s now a soft beige with can
lighting in the ceiling. “It is nice, calming, soothing,” Mary said. The couple added crown molding and base trim throughout. On a drop-leaf table are Mary’s collection of crystal, such as tiny lovebirds her husband bought for her. “I like things that sparkle and shine,” Mary said. The gas-log fireplace has bookshelves beside it that hold Oriental vases Mary has collected. Throughout the home is Native American art. Mary has a true appreciation of the art and the artists as the executive director of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. Mixed with the Oriental vases are bronze birds by master artists Jason Stone and his father, the late Willard Stone.
“Willard Stone knew how to do it right,” Mary said. “I love art. I have a bird thing.” An egret painting by Mary Beth Nelson hangs on the wall. Mary went to interior design school and drifted into art. She also worked as an accountant. “I decided I liked being outside and seeing the colors. I love color and like to blend a bunch of stuff. I like art that soothes you and excites me.” At the back of the living room is the sun porch, or Florida room, with a brick floor. It offers a door to the pool and has windows all the way around. The couple removed a heater that was hanging from the ceiling and added a skylight. The water fountain offers a calming sound, Mary said. The kitchen and dining area
Photo By Jerry Willis
Above: Shelves in the family room hold several works by master artists. Left: Mary and Ed Robinson have surrounded their home with the azaleas the Honor Heights district is known for, as seen in a photo taken this spring. Originally built in the 60¹s, the Robinson home sits on a corner in Honor Heights.
have white cabinets. “I love white kitchens. They make me feel good.” The kitchen is where she and her grandsons, Ethan, 9, and Grant Robinson, 14, of Tulsa like to cook. She’s taught them to make apple pie, and Ethan makes a great Belgium waffle from scratch, Mary said. Down the hall is a bedroom done in black and spa blue with dark brown walls. Chairs that were green, button-tufted are now black with a tuck-and-
roll back. Most of the window treatments, including the black Roman shades, were made by Mary Faruqi of Muskogee. An Oriental screen is behind the black iron bed. The Jack-and-Jill bath between the bedrooms is painted sea green. The other bedroom walls are a Caribbean blue/ green with gold bedding. Dana Tiger original paintings are on either side of the windows. The windows in this bedroom also have Roman shades. Green Country Living
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Clockwise: A sitting room off of the backyard pool features a relaxing beach wall mural.
A Bert Seabourn’s painting titled “Love My Cello” hangs over the fireplace in the master suite.
A spacious sun porch sits just off of the Robinson’s formal living area.
Birds, a common theme in the home, adorn plates that add a splash of color behind a wicker seat on the sun porch.
A gas-log fireplace warms the living room.
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Clockwise: Blue-green walls compliment gold bedding in one of the guest bedrooms.
Mary Faruqi of Muskogee made the Roman shades in this guest bedroom, as well as most of the window treatments in the home.
Soothing water sounds come from the fountain on the sun porch.
The Robinson’s formal dining room.
The receiving room sits just off of the Robinson’s foyer.
Photography By Mandy Lundy
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The formal dining room in the center of the home faces the front. The walls are red with mahogany dining room table and china cabinet. The cabinet holds her Waterford crystal of the Twelve Days of Christmas. To the left of the entry is what Mary calls “the useless room” or receiving room. The focal point is a cabinet that belonged to her great-great-grandfather. There’s a tiger skin rug on the floor. Paintings by Jeanne RorexBridges hang on the wall. Adjoining this room is the family, or TV, room with paintings, pottery and carvings by Victoria McKinney, Bill Glass Jr., Sonja Ayers, Mel Cornshucker, Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Jason Stone. Going upstairs through an archway framed with columns is the spacious master suite. It once had 8-foot skylights that have been removed. The room is done in golds and reds. A large painting called “Love My Cello” by Bert Seabourn is above the fireplace. Ed’s office is down the hall. Downstairs from the family room is “fun, fun, fun.” Granddaughters Caroline and Eva Robinson who live in New York like to stay downstairs when they visit. The “fun and funky” bedroom is bright shades of orange, aqua and green. A light blue chair has silver nailheads. An aqua ball lamp is on a nightstand. Colorful artwork by Harjo and Nelson add to the fun. The bath is a “sea room” with blue fixtures and a handpainted seascape painted by Nelson. A sitting room faces the pool where they’ve built a new pool house. The patio tables have aqua, green and purple umbrellas. There is a full-service kitchen to make it handy for pool guests. Mary admits, she didn’t like the house that much when they first bought it, but now, it’s “everything to me.” 2 12
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Above: An elegant hand-painted cabinet sits in the living room beside the doors to the sun porch.
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Room to Roam
This spacious home has plenty of room for the large Wade family By Cathy Spaulding
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omething attracted Dr. Kevin Wade and Raye Anne Wade to the house on Putter Place. Maybe it was the wrought iron and wood staircase that spirals toward the entrance. Maybe it was the layout of the five bedrooms, perfect for a growing, blended family. Maybe it was the infinity pool with a hot tub or the limestone fireplaces or the alder wood beams. “After looking at this place,
we never changed our minds,” Raye Anne Wade said. “We wanted this one.” The Wades moved into the house about a year and a half ago, shortly after they got married, she said. Kevin Wade is a pediatrician. Raye Anne is a nurse, who now stays at home with the kids. “We loved the house because it had five bedrooms,” Raye Anne said. “He has three daughters, but they’re older. Mine are still ‘in-the-house’ age.” She said his daughters are
Karis, 23; Sierra, 20, and Alexis, 17. Her four kids are Miles, 18; Nicholas, 12; Andrew, 9, and Milee, who just turned 6. She said her kids stay in three upstairs bedrooms. Alexis has a room off a downstairs living area. Kevin and Raye Anne have the master suite. Raye Anne said their main desire was to have a beautiful house that was “child friendly.” The house already had beautiful features. A limestone fireplace dominates one living
area. A smaller limestone fireplace offers an intimate warmth on a back porch. Blackish-brown alder wood beams stretch across ceilings of a living area and the master suite. The beams also border main room entrances. Raye Anne said the builder had beaten the beams to give them a weathered look. The open kitchen features granite countertops. The refrigerator and two dishwashers blend in with the cabinetry. The kitchen also features stainless
Dr. Kevin and Rae Ann Wade have made their home in this spacious, limestone and stucco house in Putter Place.
Photography By Jerry Willis
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Clockwise: Fireplaces grace several rooms in the house, including this one with a carved mantle in the main living area.
The main living area has large doors with plantation shutters that open onto an outdoor room flanking a large pool.
A commercial cooktop occupies the central island with a sink nearby to create an efficient workspace.
The formal dining room has a clean, elegant design.
The work surfaces in the kitchen are granite. The kitchen is open to a living area centered on a large limestone fireplace.
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steel Kitchen Aid convection and conventional ovens. A smaller stainless steel refrigerator keeps the kids’ drinks cold, Wade said. An Avanti wine cooler keeps adult beverages cool. “It cools wine really quickly, within hours,” Raye Anne said. “You can put it on red wine or white wine, and it cools it to the temperature it’s supposed to be.” The kitchen has a large ceramic sink and a separate sink for vegetables. Off to one side is a walk-in pantry and a large utility room. A wet bar in the main living area features a sink and a small refrigerator. Wade said she likes the house’s three living areas. “If people want to watch three different things on TV, they can,” she said. “The kids have a sitting room upstairs.” Downstairs, a room with walls and ceiling shrouded with dark wood paneling serves as a media room, Raye Anne said. Muskogee’s own Thayer Upholstery Inc. made a plush couch that lines the wall opposite the big screen TV. “They measured the wall and did it just perfect, the way it fits in there,” she said. Every item of furniture and nearly every piece of art in the Wade home is either custommade or newly bought, she said. “I don’t think we brought anything that was ours from the old house,” Wade said. Thayer made most of the furniture to order, Wade said. Wade said the family turned to interior decorator Judy Littrell for design inspiration. “They are the most wonderful couple to work with,” Littrell said. “They tell you what they like and what they don’t like. I like to let the house demand the look.” She said the high ceilings in the entry and main living area posed the main challenge. “Because of the high ceilings 18
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Clockwise: The bureau in the master bedroom is finished in a metallic sheen that plays off the colors of the rug and bedding.
The master bathroom has his-and-her sinks with granite countertops and a whirlpool tub in the corner.
Thayer Upholstery created the custom furnishings for the media room of the Wade home.
Beaten alder beams stretch across the ceiling of the master suite. They also run through the living area and around the main entrance.
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and the weight of the wood and iron railings on the round staircase, we had to have heavy furniture,” Littrell said. “The chairs were oversized wingback chairs. We needed a large sofa. Raye Anne chose red side pieces to complement the rails on the stairs.” The bulky, cushioned furniture complements the house’s spaciousness. “Every room is cozy, even though there is a lot of space,” Littrell said. “It just has a coziness to it. Dr. Wade and Raye Anne are casual people. They love relaxing. They are
so lovely and gracious.” Littrell even designed the headboards in Milee’s room and the master bedroom. “The daughter wanted a headboard that had bling,” Littrell said. The custom headboard in the master bedroom is a beige and white striped animal print. The pattern appears a little zebra and a little tiger. The couple bought the metallic dresser and bedside cabinets at I.O. Metro. Raye Anne said she likes I.O.
Clockwise: The spiral stair is framed by a curved limestone wall penetrated by a doorway framed by beaten alder beams. The passage leads into the kitchen. Rain doesn’t dampen the beauty of the elegant pool that fills the backyard of the Wade home. A wet bar in the main living area features a sink and small refrigerator.
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Metro, which has a store in Tulsa, because the furniture is so different. The master bathroom has his and her sinks with granite countertops. “You can almost fit the whole family in the shower,” Raye Anne said. “You can turn on a heater and it’s a sauna.” The tile floor can be heated. “That way, when it gets cold in the winter, you don’t have to walk on the cold tile floor,” she said. The bathroom has his and her toilets and his and her walk-in closets. A whirlpool bathtub is in one corner. “My little girl thinks it’s a swimming pool,” Wade said. The actual swimming pool is in the back. It features a hot tub on one corner and a tanning ledge on another. Wade said people can put lounge chairs on the ledge and keep cool while getting a tan.
One side of the pool has an infinity edge, which makes it look like the pool ends in midair. Actually, water cascades over the edge into a basin where water is recirculated into the pool, she said. Two fire pits are on each side of the infinity edge. Wade said they look beautiful at night. A round table on the back porch also has a small fire pit. The beige cushions on cast iron frames lend a cozy feel to the patio furniture. In one corner of the porch is another flat screen TV. Kevin and Raye Anne have their own porch by their master bedroom. Raye Anne said a white rope swinging chair is one of her husband’s favorite spots. “He likes to drink his coffee there,” she said. “We were on vacation when we saw it. He liked it and had it shipped here.” 2
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An Ecclectic Legacy Holly Berry’s home is a mix of old and new family heirlooms By Leilani Ott
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olly Berry was about 10 when she asked her mother why they never used the china dishes. At the next meal, dinner was served on the fine china in their Tahlequah home. “I use the fine things every day and not just for special occasions. She had personality galore,” she said of her mother. “I learned to entertain from my mom. I helped her with decorating and setting the table.” That’s just some of the many things Holly’s mother has inspired her to do. Holly grew up the youngest of three children, the only girl, living with parents, Bob and the late Sherry Berry of Tahlequah.
Holly has worked in the family business most of her life except for a few years working for William Sonoma in Tulsa. The family’s businesses have included Mid-Western Nursery in Tahlequah, which later became American Nursery Products; Plantation Nut Co. in Guatemala; Cherry Springs Golf Course and Restaurant in Tahlequah; Tri-B Nursery in Wagoner/Hulbert; Park Hill Nursery in Park Hill; and Sanders Nursery in Tulsa. Holly lived in Guatemala City for six months after college. Sherry also was a real estate broker and knew the value of a home to fit your personality and style, Holly said. Sherry and Holly decided it was time to build Holly, at age 29, her own home. They started
in 1999, and she moved in the fall of 2000. The home is on the family land. The land, which included about 500 acres, was purchased in the late 1930s by Holly’s maternal grandparents, the late Burl and Lottie Wilcox. A portion of the land was used to build the golf course. Holly’s house is on two acres on the golf course. A Henri fountain in the front was her mother’s from Cherry Springs Golf Course and Restaurant. It is near a wild cherry tree that was there before the house was built. Sherry designed the house inside and out. The Berry family home is on the opposite side of the golf course. “She wanted me to have a house I could live and age in,” Holly said. “I love it. It is comfortable.”
The exterior is gray stucco with a two-car garage and golf cart garage. It was built by contractor Larry Sisney. The concrete foundation is the floor, which reduces maintenance. It has been scored and stained in shades of dark beige sponged with a tan pattern. In the 2,300 square feet are two bedrooms, two and one-half baths and a library. The back patio is like a spa, Holly said. It is shaped like a half moon with tan curtains hanging over open spaces looking out on the golf course, which was recently sold to the Cherokee Nation. Some of the wicker furniture is from Holly’s college days at the University of Arkansas where she graduated in 1993. She gave the wicker new life with paint and pillows. The patio also has a Henri water fountain for its calming effect. If it’s cold, a table lamp doubles as a heater. The inside is warm and inviting with the shimmer of jewel-toned Glassy Baby candles atop a wine rack that backs up to a sofa. Holly recently had the two sofas, a chair and ottoman reupholstered in a cream chenille at Thayer Upholstery
Holly Berry’s 2,300-square-foot home, completed in 2000, has two bedrooms, two and onehalf baths and a library.
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Clockwise: Holly Berry lightened the cabinets in her kitchen by dry brushing them silver blond. The kitchen flows into an informal dining area.
In the guest bedroom, Berry displays the typewriter used by her mother when she worked at a floor covering store in Tahlequah.
The guest bedroom is eclectic and inviting.
The master bedroom is done in calming colors. One of Berry’s favorite finds in the room is an antique globe in an aqua color she found at the Community Center in Grove.
The dining table is surrounded by 1800s hand-carved mahogany chairs that Berry had refinished.
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in Muskogee. Interior decorator Judy Littrell of Muskogee helped Holly coordinate the fabrics. Her pillows are a Charles Faudre pattern of salmon, reds, greens and cream. In the open space, 1800s hand-carved mahogany chairs were a find by Holly and her mother in Warren, Ark., in 1998. The pair were in town for a friend’s wedding and went antiquing. Each chair has a face carved in the back. The tapestry fabric was old and crackled. Littrell found a red and cream fabric to recover the chairs in, and Holly loves it. The seats had only been recovered twice. They are estimated to be worth more than $12,000, Holly said. Her mother’s silver tea set is on the buffet by the table. “I love antiques,” she said. “I like new and old and mix it all.” She had the legs cut down on the table in the living room. “It was my mother’s favorite table, where she would sit every day at Cherry Springs.” In 2006, Holly painted the interior of her home. Her colors changed from purple in some rooms to soft beige. The once white trim is now cream. She called painting her home her “therapy” after divorce. She went to Paris in 2007, where she became inspired to have silk fabrics for drapes. The drapes flow from the ceiling to the floor in bright vivid colors. She took down her white blinds and left the window view open except for wheat-colored linen cafe curtains she can open. Photos Holly took of her Morgan horses make a statement on the wall behind the sofa. Her father bought her first Morgan horse, Beau, when she was 16. He died three years ago at age 30. Her two new Morgan horses stay at “the farm,” her grandmother’s original home place. There are family photos of her parents and grandparents throughout the home. One of 28
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her favorites is in the library where a black and white photo shows her mother at the Republican National Convention in Kansas City in 1976 dancing with former President Ronald Reagan, who was then governor of California. An unusual piece in the library is a table made from a thick grape vine from Napa Valley given to Holly from a close friend of her mother’s. Clear glass is on top of it to make a table. Near the library is the dining area and kitchen. Holly replaced the bigger table with a smaller one and added a red sofa because it’s “cozier.” She spends more time in the room now. She lightened her cabinets by dry brushing them silver blond. A “chicken coop” from the Haskell Auction holds hers and her mother’s stemware. The master bedroom is “calming” in shades of blues and greens. A painting of “Three Friends,” which are horses, was painted by her friend, Monica Brown. One of her favorite finds in the room is an antique globe in an aqua color she found at the Community Center in Grove. The guest bedroom is on the opposite end of the hall. She calls it a “free for all.” It has a photo of her mother’s pet, Simon the bull terrier, and her mother’s typewriter used when she worked at a floor covering store in Tahlequah when her mother was in high school. “When I get home, I want to sit down with a glass of wine and feel comfortable,” she said. She also has to give her bull terrier, Stella, some attention. “I love her. She’s so cute.” As Holly petted Stella and looked around she said she would describe her home as a “shabby chic French country cottage. I want a house that is lived in. I’m such a believer in that.” 2
Clockwise: Holly Berry has created an outdoor room on her back porch that overlooks Cherry Springs Golf Course. Berry says she created the space as a retreat that feels like getting away to a spa.
The office in the Berry home includes a glass-topped table made from a Napa Valley grapevine.
A small table off the kitchen has three chairs and a red sofa with it for cozy seating.
Holly Berry pets her bull terrier Stella. Photos Holly took of her Morgan horses are artfully arranged behind her above the sofa in her living room.
Berry uses seasonal touches such as pine cones and hedge apples in the outdoor room she has made on her back porch.
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Scene and Be Seen Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Reception The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was a chatty gettogether this year. Friends shared stories and jokes about the inductees. And some inductees had their own stories to tell. Seven musicians and an event center were inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame for 2013. Photos by Mandy Lundy
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Scene and Be Seen Superhero 5K The Superhero 5K raises money to help cancer victims and survivors. This year funds were raised for Corey Coleman. Coleman is battling breast cancer and is the wife of Muskogee High School softball coach Keith Coleman. Photos by John Hasler
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Scene and Be Seen State of the City Address Area residents gathered September 26 to hear Mayor Bob Coburn paint a picture of a “new city ... under construction� during his second State of the City address. Photos by John Hasler
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food & drink
Wonderful Wine By Valarie Carter
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he holidays are coming, and I think it’s the most wonderful time of the year. They’ll be parties for hosting, wine glasses for toasting and gift giving to everyone you know. Sing along, won’t you? But with all of the joy of the season,
Great Pairs for Holiday Gatherings & Gift Giving there’s always the angst of which beverages to take to or serve at a party or for gift buying for those who seem to have everything. I can help. If you’re in a quandary as to which wine to take to a party, here are a few suggestions. Bring your hosts’ favorite or your favorite. You can’t go
wrong with that. If you know what’s going to be served bring a wine that will complement the food, such as a bold cab for grilled beef or an oaky chardonnay for creamy seafood pasta. If the menu is vague, I’d suggest either a sparkling wine, sauvignon blanc or pinot
noir. Sparkling wines and champagnes (simply sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France) work well for the holidays because they are traditional, festive, and complement a variety of party foods like ham, smoked salmon, seafood, caviar, hard cheeses, olives, nuts, potato chips and
Cranberry mojito is a great option to serve for large holiday gatherings.
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butter breads and crackers. Sauvignon blanc works well with many foods, too, so make it your go-to white party wine. It marries beautifully with chicken, fish, shrimp and shellfish, most cheeses (especially goat cheese) and herbs. Pinot noir could be your best bet for red dinner party wine. It works well with tuna, salmon and other oily fish, beef, pork, poultry, lamb, cherries, mushrooms, tomatoes, spicy seasonings and creamy sauces. Certainly the above advice also rings true for wines to serve at your own party. Don’t forget to consider boxed wine as an option for larger parties. There are many palatable and award-winning boxed options on the market these days. As for libations, a pitcher or groupstyle cocktail such as sangria, eggnog, margaritas, cider punch, mulled wine, rum punch or bourbon cider is another great option. It frees the host and hostess from playing bartender and might save a little money, since a single bottle of booze for punch usually costs much less per serving than bottles of beer and wine.
Cranberry Mojito for a crowd
2 cups fresh mint, washed and de-stemmed 1 cup superfine sugar 3 ¹/₂ cups light rum 2 ¹/₂ cups fresh lime juice 12 ounces frozen cranberry juice cocktail concentrate, thawed 2 liter bottle sparkling water or soda water, chilled Crushed ice Additional mint and fresh cranberries for garnish Using a wooden spoon or a muddler, mash mint with sugar in bottom of large pitcher. Add rum and lime juice; stir to dissolve sugar. Mix in thawed cranberry juice concentrate and water. Mix in crushed ice. Stir in a few additional cranberries and mint leaves for garnish. Serves 12 Whether you’re looking for that special host or hostess gift or simply need a gift for someone who seems to have everything, don’t forget to shop your local package store. Along with any of the wine suggestions below, consider a special higherend champagne like Dom Perignon or Schramsberg. Another fun option is a special liqueur. The flavor possibilities are endless and, if you know your recipients’ favorite flavors, the decision
should be easy. Liqueurs or cordials are sweet spirits infused with just about any flavor from fruits, herbs, spices, coffee, flowers, other liquor and even your favorite soda pop. Along those same lines, clear spirits like gin, vodka or rum also come in array of flavors these days. Include a mixer or recipe that utilizes the spirit to complete your gift. Other great, safe gift options are: a special bottle of brandy, spiced rum, port, scotch, bourbon or Bailey’s Irish Cream. If you’re looking for something a little more outlandish, try a bottle of chartreuse or absinthe. Looking for a decadent but simple appetizer for your next party? Look no further.
Chicken liver mousse 1 pound chicken livers Salt ¹/₂ teaspoon black pepper ¹/₄ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ¹/₄ teaspoon cinnamon ¹/₈ teaspoon ground cloves 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 4 sage leaves 2 shallots, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed and minced 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
leaves 1 tablespoon brandy ¹/₃ cup port ¹/₃ cup marsala 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened Rinse the chicken livers well and cut out the nerves. Pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. In a large sauté pan, heat vegetable oil until shimmering. Add livers, herbs, shallots, and garlic. Cook until livers are medium rare. Transfer liver mixture to a bowl and refrigerate about an hour. Return sauté pan to medium heat and carefully add brandy, port and marsala to deglaze the pan. Stir well to release all the fond (brown bits) from the pan. Reduce liquid by ³/₄ and transfer to a small bowl. When the livers are cold, transfer them to a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the reduced wine and softened butter and pulse to combine. Taste for seasonings. Force the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, transfer it to a small terrine lined with plastic wrap (a small loaf pan works well too.) Covered with plastic film and refrigerate. Chill well. Serve the mousse with cornichons and crostini. 2
Wine list Sparklings • Moet & Chandon Rose’ Imperial • Moet & Chandon Imperial • Mumm Napa Brut Rose’ • Banfi Rosa Regale • Chandon, Blanc de Noirs, Carneros • Lamarca (prosecco), Italy
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Whites • Sonoma Cutrer chardonnay • Folie a’ Deux chardonnay • Mer Soleil Chard Chardonnay • Triumph Cellars sauvignon blanc • Brancott Estate sauvignon blanc • Kato sauvignon blanc
Reds • Le Crema pinot noir • Bridlewood pinot noir • William Hill cabernet sauvignon • Honig cabernet sauvignon • Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek cabernet sauvignon • The Spur red wine • Planet Oregon pinot noir
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food & drink
The Cook’s Pantry
Jim and Em’s A Work in Progress
By Melony Carey
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ather-daughter duo, Jim and Emily Dum, had an idea five years ago that has been a work in progress ever since. Emily had been a manager and barista at several coffee shops both here and in Oklahoma City. Jim, who grew up in a family business, was looking for more flexibility and a way to invest creativity into his work. Together they decided to open Jim and Em’s, a full-service coffee shop that will offer freshly roasted coffee beans in addition to walk-up and drive-through service. “I love being a barista and
everything about the coffee industry,” Emily said. “I started experimenting with roasting my own coffee beans about seven years ago and found I could do it right in my oven.” Emily discovered she had a talent for creating different flavors of coffee and discussed the idea of opening a coffee shop in Muskogee with her dad. The two attended coffee school in San Diego to better understand the business and take advanced barista and bean roasting training. Their dream is coming to fruition at 618 E. Okmulgee Ave., near Spaulding Park in
a business location formerly occupied by family friend, Kathy Hall. Just as Hall was moving her long-standing window design shop, the Dums were scouting possible buildings. The exchange was fortuitous. “We wanted to be close to downtown,” Jim said. “The historic sections of Muskogee are beautiful. Oklahoma City, Guthrie, and Tulsa, as well as entrepreneurs here, have all proven that it’s possible to come in and create a sense of community and culture that is appreciated and enjoyed.” Emily, who is a graduate of
Youth Leadership Muskogee, concurs. “Youth Leadership Muskogee gave me the sense that I wanted to come back and contribute to Muskogee’s environment. The whole point is to keep young people here who can make a positive contribution to the community and carry on its economic and cultural growth.” Jim and Em’s is a family venture involving everyone. The store’s logo is reminiscent of the old Spot Bargain Center on York Street owned by Jim’s parents. Family members have worked on reconfiguring the shop’s interior to accommodate the roasting ovens and brewing equipment. “We love to be around people and talk to people,” Jim said. “When you know
A fresh cup of coffee adorned with a biscotti cookie pairs with a fresh bowl of taco soup. The Dums have a repertoire of delicious recipes to feed a hungry crowd, including Granny’s Taco Soup.
Photography By Mandy Lundy 42
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your neighbors, you have an obligation to offer them a quality product. That’s what we hope to do.” Find out more at www. jimandemscoffee.com. Jim and his wife, Mary, raised five children who had friends dropping by their house all the time. They developed a repertoire of recipes that could feed a soccer team or youth group quickly and easily. They
share some of their recipes here.
Granny’s Taco Soup Original recipe came from Aunt Peggy. 1 pound ground beef 1 medium onion 1 ¹/₂ package taco seasoning Salt and pepper to taste 2 cans tomatoes (chopped, pureed, crushed - your
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preference) 1 can red beans 1 can shoe peg or whole kernel corn 1 large can tomato sauce 1 ¹/₂ cups hot water Brown ground beef and onion together. Add taco seasoning and salt and pepper. Add all remaining ingredients and bring to boil — then lower heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, Fritos, or cornbread. You can add shredded cheese, chopped onions, and sour cream on top of serving, if desired.
Cheater’s Chili 2 ¹/₂ pounds of ground beef (as lean as you like) 1-2 pounds of your favorite sausage (optional, we like it a little spicier) 1 chopped onion 1 chopped green pepper
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1 extra large size can of crushed tomatoes (or pureed or diced) 1 extra large size can of tomato sauce Chili seasoning, approximately ¹/₄cup or to taste 1 regular sized can of refried beans Brown ground beef with the onion and green pepper. Drain the excess fat. You can salt if you like, but I usually wait until everything is cooked and see if it needs it - the chili seasoning can have quite a bit of salt in it. Add seasoning and stir into the meat mixture. Add the tomatoes and sauce and stir together. Add the refried beans, the secret ingredient to the flavor of the recipe. Let simmer slowly at low heat for at least 15 minutes. You can leave on low heat if you want, but this will actually taste like
it’s been cooking all day — thus, “cheater’s” chili. Eat with crackers, cornbread, or add Fritos and cheese for everyone’s favorite Frito chili pie. All amounts are adjustable to your needs or preference. If you increase or double the amounts, you may need to let it simmer a little longer to meld the flavors.
Emily’s Pistachio Biscotti ³/₄ cup butter, softened ¹/₂ cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup cornmeal 1 ¹/₂ cup all-purpose flour 1 ¹/₂ cup chopped pistachio nuts 2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel 5 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon shortening Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high for 30 seconds. Add sugar and baking powder; beat until combined. Beat in egg and vanilla; add cornmeal and as much flour as you can. Add 1 cup nuts and orange peel. Shape dough in 3-8 ¹/₂ inch loaves. Place 4 inches apart on large ungreased cookie sheet; flatten slightly. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on sheet 1 hour. Reduce oven to 325. On cutting board cut each loaf in ¹/₂ inch slices or use specialty cookie cutter to make shapes. Return slices to cookie sheet. Bake eight minutes then turn cookies and bake eight to 10 minutes or until brown; cool. In saucepan melt white chocolate and shortening. Dip cookies in melted chocolate, sprinkle with remaining nuts and let set on waxed paper. 2
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Historic Homes of
Muskogee
M
uskogee has more historic homes that just about any community in Oklahoma. The city’s importance as the site of the federal court and the Dawes Commission in its formative years attracted tradesmen, railroad investors, attorneys, physicians, real estate speculators and oil wildcatters. Many built beautiful, one-ofa-kind homes that grace the original townsite of Muskogee, and these unique homes have interesting stories to tell. In the Founders’ Place Historical District, the Jackson Home on 13th Street is a wonderful example of a grand home with a fascinating history. The home was built in 1909 by Wayman and Elfleda Jackson. Of brick and wood construction, it sits on a gentle rise above the treelined street. The style of the home is called Prairie School, which is typified by long horizontal roof lines and banks of windows assembled to repeat the horizontal lines. The most noted architects associated with Prairie School design were Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. The name was applied to this design style because the architects wanted to create something that fit into the flat prairie landscape of the American Midwest. It is a very popular style found in Muskogee’s historic neighborhoods. A beautiful brick porch wraps around the house and must surely have provided a place for socializing among the 46
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The Jackson House By Jonita Mullins
neighbors who lived along the block. Wayman Jackson was an attorney and so were several neighbors in the early 1900s including Nathan Gibson, George Ramsey, and James Zevely. Were interesting cases discussed by these men out on the porch after dinner while their wives gathered in the parlor? Perhaps Mrs. Jackson would entertain visitors with her
a lawyer, Jennings had joined his brothers to become the Jennings Gang that gained a reputation for violence after killing a store clerk in a robbery. Al Jennings was captured after being wounded in a gun battle with Deputy Marshal Bud Ledbetter. Jennings was brought to Muskogee for surgery and then a trial. We have no way of knowing if the infamous Al Jennings
music. The former Elfleda Coleman had been a music teacher at nearby Henry Kendall College. She likely would have lived in the teacher’s housing on campus down on Kendall Boulevard before her marriage. The home may have frequently been filled with music wafting out into the summer evening air through the many windows that line the outer walls. Mr. Jackson’s most interesting court case would likely have been that of defending noted outlaw Al Jennings. Himself
might have visited the Jackson home while Wayman was preparing his court case. We do know that somehow Jackson ended up in possession of the outlaw’s Winchester rifle and it was probably stored in the home. Jackson’s son, Wayman Coleman, was known to have played in the neighborhood with the old rusted gun with his good friend Pat Fite who grew up nearby. One can imagine young Wayman after a long day of play sleeping on the second-story
porch at the back of the house on a hot summer evening with the bank of screened windows opened wide to catch a breeze. Two pine trees towering over the back porch and deck may have even back then provided whispering shade to the Jackson family home. Jackson later worked as president of the Union State Bank in Muskogee. His vice president for a time was Leo Bennett, the former U.S. marshal who lived just a half block north on 13th with his wife, Anna. Most certainly they would have socialized with the Jackson family in their home and perhaps shared stories about famed deputy marshals such as Bass Reeves, or the day that Anna had portrayed “Miss Indian Territory” when Oklahoma Territory “married” Indian Territory at statehood, Nov. 16, 1907. The Jacksons continued to live in the home until the mid-1920s. At that time, an insurance broker named Leland Cook with his wife, Lynnie, purchased the home. From the 1930s until at least 1980, the home was occupied by the Ambrister family. Clarence Ambrister had also been an attorney with an office on the top floor of the Barnes Building. His wife (and later widow), Caroline, was the home’s longest resident. Today’s owner is working to restore the house to ensure that it will have many more years of interesting use as one of the grand old homes of Muskogee. 2
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