FACES & FRIENDS AT TUSCULUM

APRIL LANE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TRIO

April Lane, administrative assistant with the TRIO program, as the next Paula Deen?

It's possible, as she has been recognized on numerous occasions for her cooking and her recipes. In fact, she was recently been notified by "Taste of Home Healthy Cooking" magazine that once again a recipe of hers has been selected for publication.

This is the second time April has been published in "Taste of Home Healthy Cooking" and in addition, she has been recognized for her food, and in particular for her recipes, many times.

"I received a letter recently stating that I have won third place in the "Taste of Home Healthy Cooking" magazine," April said. As a result, the recipe, a story and a picture will be featured in the June/July 2009 issue of the magazine. She placed third in the contest and won $200 for her effort.

Cooking is a hobby for April, and she has entered many contests in the past.

"I have been featured in "Taste of Home Cooking for Two" magazine in the past and have been a runner-up and won a cookbook," she said. "I have also been in the Greeneville Sun's Cooking School Contest and have won several times. Just this past Christmas, I won first place in the appetizer category."

April says she plans on continuing to enter her recipes in cooking contests and that one day you might just see her doing a show with Paula Deen!

April's Award Winning Fruit and Cream Layered Salad

SERVINGS: 8
TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 0 min.

INGREDIENTS:
Topping

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese softened
8 ounces strawberry yogurt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 cups Cool Whip Lite
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Salad

2 cups fresh blueberries
3 ripe peaches peeled and sliced
2 cups fresh strawberries halved
2 cups green seedless grapes
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges well drained
2-4 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds (optional)
1 whole strawberries for garnish

Directions:
In small bowl, combine cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and lemon juice. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Add whipped topping and almond extract, continue beating until smooth and thick. Refrigerate. In large glass bowl, layer blueberries, peaches and strawberries. Spoon on half of topping mixture. Layer on grapes and mandarin oranges. Spoon on remaining half of topping over fruit to within one inch of edge. Sprinkle with almonds. Garnish with whole strawberries. The salad can be made a day ahead and any fruit combination can be used.

Yield: serves 8