The 25th anniversary committee had a big task on their hands. How would they commemorate a quarter of a century of community and education with one generic school system-wide gift? The result: a cook book with one recipe from each teacher and administrator (even student teachers) employed in the school system during the 2007-8 school year.

“We thought that this would be a good community project that everyone could get involved in,” said Linda Rowe, a committee member. While they somehow ended up with 500 extra books, they ended up selling out of them within a month. The project coordinators were Mary Hollar and Tomi Nave.

“What’s cooking in Salem?” is the title, and the cover photo encorporates an old fashioned lunch tray with the 25th anniversary commemoration pin.

“Most of it’s very user-friendly foods,” Rowe said. “It’s a lot of stuff that you already have in your cabinets.” Other recipes include Trula Byington’s legendary blackberry cake, a hard to replicate but most-delicious and memorable dessert, according a few South Salem Elementary teachers who said “it’s just one of those hallowed things.” Other recipes include but are not limited to, Judy Fisher’s chicken cheeseball, Jeff Hodges’s Artichoke Dip, and a creative “Hokie Victory Turkey Barbeque” by Superintendent Alan Seibert.

Alumni were in for a treat, too. “I’ve heard that graduates flip through to find recipes by teachers,” Rowe said. Each of the Salem schools cooked up a recipe from the book and brought it in for a pot-luck style lunch during American Education Week on Weds, Nov. 19.

Below is Seibert’s recipe from the . For non-Hokie fans, if you have a UVA, Clemson, Red Sox, or whatever sports-team recipe, tradition, or good-luck behavior, let us know it at news@sosalem.com .

“Hokie Victory Turkey Barbeque

By Superintendent Alan Seibert

Roast a Turkey Breast:

Ingredients: 1 turkey, 1 onion, sliced, 1 bottle olive oil.

Line the bottom of a large crock pot with a layer of sliced onions. Add a whole turkey breast with olive oil rubbed in. As an alternative, roast a whole turkey for dinner the night before and hand-pull the leftovers.

Barbeque:

Ingredients: 1 onion, bell peppers, dark brown sugar, 1 stick butter, a dark and thick barbeque sauce, red wine vinegar, Worcestire sauce, spices (see below)

Pretend you do not have any measuring cups or spoons. Just keep in mind that the spicier it is, the better the Hokie defense will play. Remove the turkey breast, but save a ladle or two of the liquid and the cooked onions from the bottom. Chop up hte cooked onions and return to the crock pot along with the saved liquid. (Less is more with the liquid as this is a veggie-intensive recipe and as the onions and the bell peppers cook down it will become more juicy.)

Hand pull the turkey into good-sized chunks and drop into the crock pot. Add the following while saying the Hokie cheer (included here for those who may not have it committed into memory: Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi!; Tech, Tech, VPI; Sol-a-rex, Sol-a-rah; Poly Tech Vir-gin-ia; Ray rah VPI; Team! Team! Team!) One additional, large chopped onion, three large chopped bell peppers (optional: use one green, one red, and one yellow for color), a good sized handful of dark brown sugar (dark brown is preferable to regular for good special teams play), a stick of butter (one and a quarter sticks if the Hokies haven’t been running the ball well between tackles), a few squirts of a dark, thick, barbeque sauce (more for maroon color than flavor … plenty of that yet to come), good-sized splashes of red wine vinegar, Worcestire sauce, and anything else with some zing you find in the door of your refridgerator. Also add as much crushed red pepper, dried mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, Greek seasoning, chili powder, and Cajun spice and as you dare along with any other zesty spices you may happen to have (and are willing to include.) If time permits, stir in and refridgerate overnight.

(Note: Do not be alarmed if the uncooked barbeque appears to have too many onions and peppers, they will cook down nicely and taste great.) Cook on low for a long time (hours and hours) but avoid stirring until it first bubbles. Then stir occassionally. Keep a few crackers or a few slices of french bread on hand to sample from time to time and add more spices until perspiration forms on your brow.)

Serve: 1 package of rolls, 1 bottle Texas Pete

Serve with Cobblestone Mill Onion Rolls (unless you have relatives visiting from New Jersey who will stop by the local Italian bakery for some real rolls), sweet and creamy homemade slaw, and Texas Pete (have some barbeque sauce on hand for the light-hearted.) Double-chocolate chunk brownies are a recommended dessert and it is generally a good idea to chew Big Red gum during the game. (Remember to put a piece in ahead of time so we can win the toss and get the defense on the field first.)

Enjoy the game and the leftovers:

(approx.) Leftovers, (approx.) Go Hokies!

Like chili, the second and third day can be even better, unless the Hokies happen to lose. In the event of a loss, immediately discard the leftovers as it may have been a bad batch. If the loss occurred vs. UVA, discard the leftovers, the crock pot, and every spice, spoon, pot, pan, pot holder, and hand towel used in the process and consider renovating your kitchen … it is best to not take any chances with the next batch!”