COOKING SCHOOL IS TODAY

Tickets for today's Southern Living Cooking School, which is expected to attract 5,000 people, will be sold at the door of the Show Me Center, where the event will be held.

Two shows are scheduled. They start at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The cooking school is co-sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, Schnucks and the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Alliance.

Admission is $3 per person, and seating is first come first served. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and will remain open throughout the day.

The cooking school performances last two hours.

All proceeds go to nine local charities. Those attending are encouraged to bring a canned good for Operation Food Basket. The American Red Cross and Salvation Army are collecting food for the needy.

The cooking school is a demonstration and stage presentation. Large mirrors and big screens will ensure everyone has a view of what is happening on stage.

A mock kitchen and living room will be set up as part of the presentation. Door prizes will be awarded during both shows, including hard-cover cookbooks from Southern Living.

Those attending will receive a gift bag filled with recipe books and gifts. Recipes for all the items prepared on stage are in the books.

In addition to the show, more than 40 local and area businesses have booths set up in the arena. The booths feature a variety of guests and activities.

"We encourage people to come early, find a seat and then take some time to visit the booths," said Kim Mitchell, cooking school director.

At the Southeast Missourian booth, best-selling cookbook author Angie Holtzhouser will be signing cookbooks and serving some of her favorite recipes, including White Lightnin' Party Punch.