The Promise Quartet Cookbook Recipes and Memories by Josie Degler
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To my dad, watching and hearing you sing has and always will be one of my greatest joys.
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Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 About this Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Meet Jeff & Kevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Jeff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Jennifer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Kevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Beth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Meet Todd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Todd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Jenny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Meet David . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 David . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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ost children don’t spend half of their childhood sitting on a church pew. I still remember the feel and smell of worn blue cotton, thin padding, and chestnut wood. It was both the perfect playground to go over and under while chasing my brother and also the ideal place to curl up for a nap. I knew these pews well because my dad was always on stage. No, he wasn’t standing in the pulpit waving a Bible in one hand; rather, he was holding a microphone and bouncing on the balls of his feet while smiling and singing. My dad was the chirpy tenor in the Promise Quartet, a Southern gospel quartet with his best friends.
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Every Monday night my dad would practice up at the church or at my house with the guys in addition to singing during the Sunday morning and evening services and choir practice on Wednesday nights. I was born into this tradition, not understanding its uniqueness. I had no idea that when people graduate high school, they rarely keep up with people from school or youth group. The idea that four men stayed together through the highs and lows during 23 years of singing together is amazing. The idea that all four of their families—in-laws, wives, and children—supported what they were doing and got along is amazing. The idea that they sang not for profit and gave up free time, using the money from cassettes and CDs to only pay for travel and supplies, is amazing.
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I don’t think a parent can set a better example of dedication and true friendship.
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s a fundraiser for the Quartet, my mom put together the Promise Quartet Cookbook in 1996. (It’s worth noting that she had just had my brother during this time too. She’s one dedicated wife.) With its cardstock laminate cover, distorted type, and cheesy clipart, it may not appear like anything extraordinary. But to me, it’s one of my greatest treasures because it’s full of my family’s recipes and memories.
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Growing up, I remember walking into the kitchen and the sight of my mom cooking up a storm. We didn’t have much counter space, so it could get pretty crazy. In the eye of the storm, her trusty Promise Quartet Cookbook was always in front and center. Grease stains, batter marks, and recipe notes adorned it like badges of honor.
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When I moved out and got my own apartment, my mom gave me my own PQC. I turn to it whenever I’m homesick and wanting food that warms my heart as much as it does my belly.
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Meet
Jeff & Kevin Jeff (tenor) & Kevin (bass) The Degler boys had a notorious reputation at Porter Memorial Baptist Church growing up, with getting into fights and making Sunday School teachers quit out of frustration. However, despite the trouble they caused, they were loved by their school choir teacher. She saw their potential and pushed them to sing notes that seemed painful but eventually developed their voices into what they are today. Both of them met their wives while singing in Christian Singers at Porter Memo3
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rial during high school. Jeff’s wife, Jennifer, grew up at Porter and never dreamed she would marry “one of those Degler boys.” Kevin’s wife, Beth, didn’t grow up in the church but knew Jennifer, Jeff, and Kevin from high school. Before and after having children, they spent many weekends, meals, and holidays together. Kevin & Beth now have two sons, Christopher and Nicholas. Jeff & Jennifer have a daughter and son, Josie (yours truly) and Jake.
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Jeff’s Favorite Recipe
Banana Creme Pie 3 egg yolks 2 T butter 2 t vanilla 2 ripe bananas, thinly sliced
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1 baked pie shell 2/3 c sugar ½ c all-purpose flour ½ t salt 2 cups milk
This recipe can be cooked in a double-boiler, but it is much easier to use a microwave. In a glass bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, and salt. Whisk in the milk. Cook on HIGH in microwave in 2-minute increments, whisking, until mixture thickens. Beat egg yolks and pour some of the hot mixture and cook in HIGH in one-minute increments until thickened. The mixture needs to be pretty thick because you will add butter later and this will thin the mixture somewhat. When thickened, add butter and vanilla. Cool slightly. Place sliced bananas in the baked pie shell and top with cream filling. I usually add a little banana extract to the filling to give it more flavor. Whip. Store in refrigerator. This recipe never fails and is delicious!
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P romise has enabled me
to have lifelong friendships with the guys. Looking back, it’s really cool all the doors God opened and how He provided for us.
~ JEFF
Jennifer’s Favorite Recipe
Hashbrown Casserole ½ c butter, melted 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 t salt 1 pint sour cream 2 c corn flakes, crushed
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2 pounds frozen hashbrown potatoes, slightly thawed ½ c chopped onion 2 c shredded cheddar cheese 1 t pepper
This is it—that delicious potato casserole that seems to show up at every potluck! Mix potatoes with butter. Add rest of ingredients except for corn flakes and about ½ cup of cheese. Pour into a well greased large baking dish. Mix corn flakes with ¼ cup melted butter and put on top of casserole. Sprinkle ½ cup cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. An alternate topping can be made of 20 Ritz crackers, crushed, and ½ stick of melted butter.
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M y favorite part of Promise was
seeing the close friendship shared by Jeff, Kevin, Todd, and David, and how they developed over the years, vocally and spiritually, into wonderfully talented men who love Jesus.
~ JENNIFER
Kevin’s Favorite Recipe
Cheesy Chicken Casserole ¼ pkg thin spaghetti 1 t salt ½ t pepper
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4 c cooked chicken, cubed 1 c chicken broth 3 c grated cheddar cheese 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
Break up and cook spaghetti in boiling salt water. Drain. Add cooked chicken, soup, broth, salt, pepper, and 2 cups cheese. Mix well and put into greased casserole dish. Top with remaining one cup of cheese. Bake for 1½ hours at 325 degrees.
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love the relationship I have with these guys. We got a chance to experience a lot of great things together that we will never forget. I really do love each of these guys. ~ KEVIN
Beth’s Favorite Recipe
Beth’s Famous Coffeecake 1 c dark brown sugar t cinnamon 6 T melted butter
½ c chopped pecans 1 pkg frozen roll dough 1 pkg regular vanilla pudding 3
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Beth introduced this recipe to the Degler’s and Mackey’s. Since it is very easy and so good (and looks like you went to all kinds of trouble), the recipe quickly became a family favorite known as “Beth’s Coffeecake.” Grease bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts in bottom. Place frozen roll dough on top of nuts in a single layer. In small bowl, mix dry ingredients together. Sprinkle over rolls. Pour melted butter over top. Cover with greased foil overnight, unrefrigerated. By morning, the rolls will have risen to top of pan. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes at 350. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes more. Wait one minute and invert onto plate or platter.
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P romise Quartet was
and still is a very integral part of our lives.
~ BETH
Meet
Todd Todd (lead) Singing was in Todd’s blood seeing as he grew up listening to his mom and two sisters sing in churches around Lexington. He was born and raised at Porter Memorial Baptist Church and became a part of their youth group and choir. In seventh grade, Todd met the ornery Degler boys and they instantly became friends. Little did they know that this friendship would extend all through high school, 3
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college, and adulthood. Joining Christian Singers in high school not only enabled Todd to hang out more with his best friends, Jeff, Kevin, and David, but it also gave him the idea to start a Gospel quartet. He hit it off with his wife, Jenny, right after college. They actually went to high school together but were only friends. He and Jenny have 2 sons, Cameron & Will.
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Todd’s Favorite Recipe
Coconut Creme Pie 2 T butter 1 t vanilla One baked pastry shell One recipe meringue
c sugar 3 T cornstarch Âź t salt 2 c milk 3 eggs, slightly beaten
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Combine sugar, flour, and salt; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat till mixture thickens. Cook two minutes longer. Remove from heat. Stir small amount hot mixture into yolks; Cook two minutes. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Cool. Meringue Beat three egg whites 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla tell soft peaks for. Add 6 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread on pie. Bake at 3:50 for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool.
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S pending 21 years with the guys of
Promise Quartet was awesome. God will put us back together one day soon. We’re like family...brothers and we will always be there for each other. God is good!
~TODD
Jenny’s Favorite Recipe
Grandmother’s Derby Pie 1 c chocolate chips ½ c chopped pecans 1 t vanilla
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1 c sugar ¼ c flour ½ c melted butter 2 eggs, slightly beaten
Mix sugar and flour; then add butter, eggs, chocolate chips, nuts, and vanilla. Mix ingredients well. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake for 40 minutes at 300 degrees.
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W hen Todd and I were dating, I would
go hear him sing with Promise. It’s one of the things that made me realize that he was indeed a good, Godly man. Traveling to hear Promise sing was always a fun treat.
~JENNY
Meet
David David (baritone) Growing up in Iowa, David was a part of his children’s choir. When he and his family moved to Kentucky, he whined and dragged on about how he didn’t want to go until he finally did try choir at Porter Memorial Baptist Church. This choir was different. He actually enjoyed himself and had a lot of fun. 3
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Ever since then, David was a choir kid at Porter. He sang all through elementary school and junior high and joined their high school choir, Christian Singers. It was there that he met Todd who approached him about starting a quartet with Jeff and Kevin. The rest is history.
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David’s Favorite Recipe
PBBJ Homemade sourdough bread (and a mom to make the bread)
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Welch’s Grape Jelly JIF Creamy Peanut Butter Butter
For years I have had friends in awe of my PBJ. When I was in elementary school, I could trade my PBJ for anything--pizza, hamburgers, snack cakes, etc...you name it. I never realized why my PBJ was different until years later; after all, I had always known it to taste like this. Even today, people at work will try to coerce me into “buying lunch out” in hope that I will give them my PBJ. The difference in my PBJ from others is very slight, yet essential to a better PBJ. See if you notice the difference. Take two (2) healthy cut slices of bread and butter each slice. Then take a moderate to heavy amount of jelly and spread on one slice of bread. Be careful as to not get so much jelly that it oozes out the sides. Then spread the peanut butter on the other slice of bread, using a moderate amount. Put the two pieces together and enjoy. The subtle difference and the key ingredient is--butter. Putting butter onto the bread will make for a much more creamy and richer tasting PBJ. I like to call it a PBBJ--a Peanut Butter, Butter, and Jelly Sandwich.
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I t was quick, amazing, and
effortless how we all came together. There is no doubt that it had to be God.
~DAVID
still remember the first time all of us Promise babies got up to sing together at the 1998 Homecoming Concert. My dad and I traded places as I saw him beaming at me from those old blue pews while I nervously held a microphone too big for my small hands. As the “Ride that Glory Train” track came over the speakers, I shook my swing skirt around like it was my job and sang my 5-year-old heart out.
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I continued to sing over the years in children’s choir and high school church choir. I knew I would never sing like my dad but I could carry a tune and rock some alto harmony. What kept me singing was seeing my dad’s face light up when I would sing or talk to him about choir. I loved knowing I was carrying on part of the Promise tradition and dedication. I sang in the same choir room where those men first met and became friends. I stood on the same altar steps for choir that they stood on for each other’s weddings. Promise decided to take a break back from singing in 2008. It felt weird to be doing homework on Monday nights without hearing southern gospel music coming from the basement. I remember how frustrated and sad my granny was about the break. The Promise guys were like her other sons and she always looked so proud while they sang. To this day, she still comments about how other groups don’t compare to how great they were.
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And she’s totally right.
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