Local cook featured in Wal-Mart cookbook

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
A recipe from a Russellville Wal-Mart employee was selected to be included in the 2007 Wal-Mart cookbook, which is now on sale nationwide.
Cashier Patsy Williams' decision to enter her rice and pasta recipe may have been last minute, but it was good enough to land her on page 41 of the book.
"I don't know how many employees made a submission for the book," Williams said. "I work up front and the forms were in the back. I got my form at the last minute. They were almost gone."
This is the second year in a row an employee of the Russellville Wal-Mart was selected for the book. Della Yarborough was picked last year.
"Della and I even talked about entering the contest this year," Williams said.
The rice and pasta recipe was Williams' second submission for the cookbook competition.
"I submitted another recipe a few years ago but it didn't get picked," she said.
Williams said she decided to submit another recipe because appearing in the cookbook was something she had not done in her 15-year career with the world's largest retailer.
While she enjoys her full-time position as a cashier, overseeing the self-checkouts at Wal-Mart, Williams said she still does her share of cooking.
"Together, my husband and I have six children and they have children, too," Williams said, adding that having all of the children over for dinner on a regular basis calls for substantial time in the kitchen.
"I do my share of cooking," she said. "The kids come over very often to visit."
Williams found the rice and pasta recipe several years ago and it has become a regular on her dinner table.
"I've added to it and I changed a few things around so it would meet the contest standards," Williams said.
Contest rules mandate all dishes must be made with products produced by the sponsors, which can be found on the Wal-Mart shelf.
Williams lives in Russellville with husband of 30 years, Qunnice.
The cookbooks are currently available at Wal-Mart locations across the nation, including Russellville.