Presidents, movie stars and handsome naval officers have all been in Newport, Rhode Island. I know this because I met and married one there, made Secret Service agents jump when I planted a kiss on one, and as a professional dancer had a magical moment alone with Robert Redford on the set of The Great Gatsby.
Just three months ago we applauded the seventy seventh wedding anniversary of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and on the first day of this month the nation raised a toast to the longest living President of the United States as he marked his ninety ninth birthday.
While never having the opportunity to shake Jimmy Carter’s hand, as I did George W. Bush’s at the American Embassy in Paris, I did have the privilege hearing him speak during his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. Although I didn’t vote for him, I have always admired his example of “putting faith into action, and living a life of service.”
In the midst of the blizzard of 1978, I bid farewell to the seaside city, renowned for its rich history and as a stopover host for yachts in the round-the-world Ocean Race. I left behind the opulent mansions of Cliff walk, where I ran my first mile, and shed tears while crossing the Newport Bridge, thinking about the dancing school I had painstakingly built from the ground up.
My homesick heart found solace when we arrived in Honolulu and drove through the enchanting tunnels of the Pali Highway, offering my first-ever glimpse of the lush “cat scratched” Ko’olau cliffs and the mesmerizing tropical waters of Oahu’s Windward Coast.
Our initial home was nestled on McGrew Point, an area that extends into Pearl Harbor not far from the hallowed Arizona Memorial. During our time there, members of the MIDPAC officer’s wives club compiled a cookbook aptly titled; The MIDPAC mess. The inside cover contained a definition of the word “mess” shedding light on its historical origins and meaning. I came to understand this nautical term listening to my husband talk about the Officers’ Mess as the place where the ship’s officers ate and socialize.
On the first page of the MIDPAC mess cookbook, you’ll find the recipe I’m sharing with you this month: Plains Georgia Cheese Ring contributed and signed by First Lady, Rosalynn Carter.
Ingredients for Rosalynn Carters Plains Georgia Cheese Ring
- 1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated.
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 6 turns freshly ground black pepper
- Dash of cayenne pepper
- 12 ounce jar strawberry preserves
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Preparation:
- Combine cheese with mayonnaise, chopped nuts and onion. Mix in the pepper and cayenne, and blend thoroughly.
- Press the mixture into a 3 cup ring mold and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- To serve, dip the mold into a pan of hot water for 15-20 seconds before turning out onto a serving platter.
- Fill the center with strawberry preserves and serve at with Ritz crackers.
I hope you’ll enjoy this delightful recipe, and savor the memories it invokes!