Would you like to try a heapin’ helpin’ of Donna Douglas’s Meatballs? Or maybe sample some of Barbara Mandrell’s Apple Cake? Perhaps you would rather have a big bowl of Tim McGraw's Chicken and Dumplings or Alan Alda’s pleasing pasta?

No matter what your taste, “Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor,” the Catoosa Citizen’s for Literacy (CCL) latest fundraising cookbook offers a variety of choices.

Entertainer, actor, author and syndicated columnist Randall Franks co-authored the project with Shirley Smith welcoming 100 celebrity friends from music, movies and television, to raise funds for Catoosa County’s Learning Center and its programs.

“I am so excited to bring together another opportunity for folks to support this wonderful program with help from several new celebrity friends and close to 200 new recipes,” he said.

Franks and Smith authored the 2003 award-winning “Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor” that helped raise over $25,000 for the program.

“I want to thank all my media friends who graciously donated recipes, words of encouragement and photos to help us raise funds for the Learning Center,” he said. “Surely there is something in this sequel for everyone to enjoy.”

The brand new collection features over 200 recipes from more than 100 of the South's favorite personalities, politicians, performers from television, movies, country, bluegrass and Southern gospel music, as well as members and supporters of the Catoosa Citizens for Literacy and students of the Catoosa County's Shirley Smith Learning Center located just outside Ringgold.

Catoosa County artist Cathy Cooksey created a special painting for the book’s cover.

Franks previously served as Catoosa Citizens for Literacy (CCL) chairman and co-chairman and is currently a taskforce member. The organization coordinates the Learning Center.

He is an award-winning entertainer that achieved a top selling gospel release "Handshakes and Smiles.” The Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame member also scored consideration for top country vocal collaboration with his song “Let’s Live Everyday Like It Was Christmas” performed with the Grand Ole Opry’s The Whites. A former member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys and the Jim and Jesse Show, Franks also performed with the Marksmen, Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Lewis Family and folk legend Doodle and the Golden River Grass. He is currently part of the cast of "Robert Townsend's Musical Theater of Hope" on the Gospel Music Channel.

The Catoosa County Learning Center, on the Benton Place campus just off Battlefield Parkway, offers free day and evening GED classes The Catoosa Citizens for Literacy provide $65 towards the $95 test fee to Catoosa County residents who take a minimum of 12 hours of GED instruction and remain in class until ready to take the test. Reading and math tutoring are available. Free childcare is available. Free transportation is available. ESL, english as a second language, classes are offered.

Smith, who is Learning Center executive director, is enthusiastic about the release of the new cookbook.

“We have recipes from not only the celebrities but from the students, teachers, volunteer, supporters and CCL taskforce members which help to meet the growing needs at the Learning Center,” she said. “The book shares the latest facets of the Learning Center story including student successes. In addition, thanks to the extensive work of Randall, the book is a wonderful keepsake featuring photographs, history, sights and happenings from our county which everyone will want to make a part of their family keepsakes.”

Personalities who contributed to the book via recipes or photos include Ramblin' "Doc" Tommy Scott, the late Ernest Tubb, the Lewis Family, the Larry Stephenson Band, Judy O'Neal, Brooks and Dunn, Carol Burnette, Billy Crystal, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Mary Perdue, former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, Vince and Barbara Dooley and Maya Angelou.

“Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor” is available for $13 donation at the Catoosa County Learning Center at Benton Place near Ringgold, all Northwest Georgia Bank branches, Bits of This and That, Cottage Treasures and Uniktings!, all in Ringgold.

For book orders:

$18, postage and handling included

Sending a check or money order to:

Catoosa Citizen's for Literacy at 36 Muscogee Trail, Ringgold, Ga. 30736.

For more information, call the Learning Center at (706) 965-8275.