LOCK HAVEN - Local schools opened today, the first college and high school football games of the season are scheduled this weekend, the days are getting shorter and the nights a bit cooler.
That means the end of summer is just around the corner and autumn leaves will soon be falling.
It also means it's time for The Express' Harvest Cookbook and our second annual Fall Harvest Cooking Show.
The 20-page cookbook, featuring tried and true recipes submitted by our readers, will be included in Thursday's Express. You'll find out how to make all kinds of deserts, salads, vegetable dishes, casseroles and crock pot favorites. One of the recipes will be drawn for a $100 gift certificate to Lucky Seven Meats.
And the cooking show... well... consider this:
n Tickets have been sold out for weeks with more than 300 people reserving seats for the Sept. 8 cooking extravanganza at the Castanea Fire Company picnic grounds.
n Famous local chef Robert Noble will be cooking up several recipes in front of the crowd and offering samples to those in the audience.
n One recipe from the Harvest Cookbook will be chosen to be featured at the cooking show.
n More than $3,000 in prizes will be given away, including the grand prize - a new dishwasher.
n Door prizes will be given throughout the show.
n Each participant will receive a bag filled with coupons and other goodies from local businesses and organizations.
n Several local caterers and restaurants will be sharing their specialties with the men and women at the show.
n Demonstrations on napkin folding, "fun with food" and cooking with herbs will be featured.
n The winner of a giant pumpkin contest will receive a weekend at Seven Springs.
n More than a dozen vendors will be selling their wares and services.
n The Express will be selling its "Hometown Heroes" book, filled with stories about more than 70 local veterans who were featured on the first phase of the Hometown Hero banners program downtown.
The excitement has been building in recent weeks as employees at The Express have been working overtime to make sure everything is in place for the show. They'll be working even harder in the final week to assure cook ing show attendees a good time.
Sounds like lots of fun. If you didn't get a ticket before they were gone, don't worry.
We'll be there taking pictures and getting all the information on who won the prizes so we can tell you all about the big night on the front page of The Express the next day.
