Family is wrapped up in so many cooking memories for Vicky Graf, it’s no wonder a favorite story
accompanies her Mexican Bean Dip.
"It was my ex-mother-in-law’s recipe," Graf said. "We would have it on Saturday nights
when we played cards and had a few beers."
Her former mother-in-law, Willa Spears, worked at Bowling Green State University and welcomed company in
her kitchen.
"She loved cooking. She made the best fried chicken in the world."
Growing up in Milton Center, Graf said her mom, Mary Chamberlain, was the cook in the family. She was
also the sole provider after Graf’s father died. Tragedy had followed the young family; a younger sister
was killed in an auto accident – her dad was driving the car. But Graf said her mom rarely cracked.
"She was like the unsinkable Molly Brown. She never wasted time feeling sorry for herself,"
Graf said of her mom. "She never let life get her down."
The family was poor, but never felt like it. There was an abundance of vegetables in the garden and fresh
tomatoes, corn and lettuce would often make up a dinner.
Graf herself didn’t learn her way around the kitchen until she graduated from high school and moved in
with her sister, Brenda. She helped watch her nieces and nephews and learned to cook.
"Sunday was our cooking day," Graf said, remembering that they would make roasts, noodles and
gravy.
"Simple, to me, is the best way to cook. I don’t want eye of newt … just things from the
pantry."
The bean dip falls into that category.
It’s not only simple, but versatile. It could be used in a dinner, as filler for tortillas or taco
shells, Graf said.
"If you like it spicy, add some chili powder and chopped-up jalapenos."
She recommends fixing the dip in a slow cooker. If cooked in a skillet, it should be watched carefully so
the beans don’t cook down.
In her Bowling Green condominium, Graf likes to make stir fry and pies.
"I like Italian. I make a pretty decent spaghetti sauce," she added.
She and husband Jim have been married 31 years and have five children and 10 grandchildren between them.
They spend four months of the year in Estero, Florida, also in a condo community.
At the Villas of Summerfield on the west side of Bowling Green, she is the president of the condominium
association. She’s also volunteered for Court Appointed Special Advocates and was head of family
selection for Habitat for Humanity.
Graf worked for 27 years at the Sentinel-Tribune, retiring as advertising director.
She recalled taking boxes of donuts to car dealers – one of the newspaper’s biggest advertisers. There
would be one for the back shop and one for the front desk.
"Little things like that let them know they were valuable to us," Graf said. "I felt like
I was so lucky to have a job that I was well paid for and loved."