Cooking for awareness

The Valley Walk for Alzheimer's group knows what's cooking, and they're sharing the information with everyone else.

"What's Cooking in the Valley" is a cookbook the Alzheimer's Association has put together in an effort to raise money for the association. The book contains almost 500 recipes from people around the Valley. The book has been out for almost a year, but the second printing has just been released.

The book has been in the works for about two years, and organizer Frances Vadla said coordinating the effort was a challenge.

"I think anybody who has put together a cookbook realizes it's a heck of a lot of work," Vadla said with a chuckle. "We managed to accomplish it though. It's one of those 'neighborhood things' where you get help from your friends."

The idea came from one of Vadla's friends.

"She's active with the Alzheimer's group in Cape Cod and they put together a cookbook we all looked at," Vadla explained. "When we were planning our walk, we took a long look at it."

The book is available for $10 -- $13 if you wanted it mailed to you -- and the money raised goes toward helping the Alzheimer's Association.

"Our efforts are geared toward raising awareness of Alzheimer's and the services we offer," Vadla said. "So much of the money is arrived at through grants. You don't get rich making a cookbooks, but anything helps. All fund-raisers make people aware of the services we offer, so that's good."

Included in the "What's Cooking in the Valley" cookbook is a collection of essays and poems by those whose lives have been affected by Alzheimer's.

"It's a cookbook, but it also has a bigger purpose," Vadla said.

Joanna Coleman provided the artwork in the book, including the cover, which depicts two cabins in a winter scene.

"She did such a wonderful job with the cover," Vadla said.

Once you get to the recipes, there are plenty to pick from.

The book is divided into seven sections -- appetizers and beverages; soups, salads, vegetables and side dishes; main dishes; breads, rolls and breakfasts; pies, pastries and desserts; cakes, cookies and candy; and condiments.

Making sure all the recipes were correct was Betty Victors, who helped make the cookbook a success, Vadla said.

"She is a retired librarian who is very precise and loves to cook," Vadla said. "She helped edit the cookbook. When people submit a recipe, it looks good to them, but it may not make sense. Betty made sure they all made sense before we published them."

People can get a copy of the cookbook by stopping by the Alzheimer's Association's office in the Trinity Barn Plaza on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, or by calling Vadla at 892-6722.

"We're also trying to connect with a lot of the bazaars out here," Vadla said. "Hopefully we'll have copies around town at the bazaars and craft fairs."

This year, the Valley Walk for Alzheimer's wasn't held as usual. The walk was teamed with the Charity Walk in Anchorage during May.

The annual Memory Tree Dedication was held during the middle of September, however. Next year, that could change.

"I think we're going to hold our traditional tree dedication in the middle of September, and those who want to walk at that time can do it," Vadla said. "People just didn't want to go to Anchorage in May."