For 30 years, Kathy Evans’ Georgia Peach Cobbler recipe has been under wraps.
Until now.
It took something pretty special for the Scotch Ridge resident to give up the goods. That would be the
cookbook by Wood County Hospital Nursing Excellence Committee.
It includes 279 recipes submitted by hospital staff including nurses, physicians, therapists and
environmental services folks.
The purpose of the cookbook is to generate funds to support activities related to the annual Nurses Week
celebration which takes place in May.
The $10 book will be sold initially at the Wood County Hospital Guild Holiday Sale on Nov. 6 and 7. It
will also be sold in the hospital gift shop.
"I thought this a great cause. It’s people I really respect and love – and they love to eat,"
said Evans, who is a nursing supervisor at the hospital.
The recipe has a bit of a pedigree.
"I got it from my aunt Elizabeth who’s the former first lady of Georgia," Evans said.
Her husband, Joe Frank Harris, was governor from 1984-91. Evans was a flower girl in their wedding. On
one visit to the governor’s mansion, Elizabeth baked the cobbler, and Evans particularly remembers the
spectacularly juicy Georgia peaches.
The cobbler has another star ingredient.
"First of all, it’s got butter. You can’t skimp on the butter or the sugar. This is not low
cal," Evans said. "It’s just so delicious. It’s like nothing you’ve ever had."
At home, she loves to cook for her family, which includes two sons, Franklin and Daniel, and her husband
of 27 years, Robin, who is a musician and a 1977 graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston and a
Local 8 Electrician.
"I like to try new things. My family likes to try new things so they’re receptive to anything. I
love to make beef brisket, ribs – barbecue ribs," Evans said. "When I’m home, I love to cook.
That’s what I do, rather than clean the house."
She also bakes cakes and pies.
Raised in Houston, Evans lived in Germany for a while, met Robin in Columbus, and they married in
California. In 1986, they moved to Wood County and built a house on some property near Robin’s parents.
Evans has been a nursing supervisor at Wood County Hospital since 1991 and has worked there for 27.
She worked the night shift for many years and said she preferred it because she got to know so many
nurses, employees and the patients.
"I think the night shift is a calmer atmosphere, for one. Everyone depends on each other."
Nurses Week is something near and dear to her heart.
The funds from the cookbook sales will go to provide activities and prize raffles during the week, which
is usually started around May 6 – Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
Evans also works one day a week at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg.
"I always wanted to be a hospice nurse. It was a goal in my life. I strive to be a hospice a nurse –
I’m not yet," Evans said humbly.
"I’m just blessed to be a part of that profession. It’s been good to me. I hope I am good to
it."
Georgia Peach Cobbler
2 cups peaches sliced
1 ½ to 2 cups sugar
¼ to ½ cup butter
¾ cup self-rising flour
¾ cup milk
¼ cup vanilla ice cream or heavy cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter in baking dish in microwave or oven (I use 9×9” square).
Add ½-1 cup sugar to sliced peaches-mix and rest until juicy (10-15 minutes).
Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, milk and ice cream until smooth.
Pour batter into dish with melted butter.
Top batter with peaches.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
(You can substitute any fruit for peaches.)
