The LCU Associates’ newest cookbook was announced as a second place winner in a national contest held by the publisher, Morris Press Cookbooks in Kearney, Nebraska. Cookbooks have been a part of the LCU Associates since the first Treasured Recipes was published in 1961 (the one with the blue cover). A second volume of Treasured Recipes was printed in 1975 with a red cover, and the third volume in a three ring binder was printed during the 2011-2012 year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first cookbook and the women who put it together. According to Carol Dahlstrom, a member of the LCU Associates, the women who produced the first edition tried and tested every recipe in the first cookbook, and they printed and assembled each book personally. The LCU Associates sold over 31,000 copies of the first edition Treasured Recipes. “I have so much respect for the first group of ladies,” says Dahlstrom. “That took an incredible amount of work, I don’t know how they did it.” The Associates were rewarded $2,000 for winning second place.  That and the funds raised from the sale of all three cookbooks have enabled university building improvements and refurbishments, the purchase of classroom equipment, enhancements to student academic programming, and the restoration of the historic Arnett House, which served as the first administration building for the new college. The Arnett House is highlighted throughout this elegant cookbook in mono-chromatic photography which helps showcase the university’s rich history. LCU Associates President, Wanda Dyess says, “We have been part of a competition of beautiful cookbooks represented by an array of amazing organizations. The money earned by each of the top 10 organizations has been able to touch so many lives in such positive ways. LCU senior, Macy Bryant, tries new recipes from the cookbook every week and writes food reviews as her reporting assignment for the Tasty Treasures column in LCU’s on-line newspaper, The Duster Today. “I was able to try out the recipes weekly and write about it. Every recipe I tried was delicious,” says Bryant. “My roommates thought it was the best idea I’ve ever had!“ The Morris Publishers contest winners were selected out of ten finalists by a panel of four judges from across the country: Hannah Agran, Food and Features Editor for Midwest Living magazine, Robert Cano, Student Success Manager from Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School, Dawn Saxton, Co-Founder and VP of Product Development at Specialty’s Café & Bakery, and Mark Aker, Executive Chef at Chicago Highlands. Considering the panel of judges and the competition, Wanda Dyess comments, “I am humbled to be part of not only our organization, the LCU Associates, but more globally the 10 organizations represented by this contest.”   The Treasured Recipes Cookbook can be purchased on Mondays at the Arnett House <link internal-link internal link in current>Gift Shoppe on the LCU campus. Contact <link mail window for sending>Carol Dahlstrom for more information, and visit <link http: www.cookbookawards.com external-link-new-window external link in new>cookbookawards.com to learn more about the annual cookbook contest winners.