Elizabeth Crigger Scokin and I couldn’t be more different. Although both the daughters of cotton farmers raised in the same bend of the Mississippi River, we chose different paths. Or maybe those paths chose us. Elizabeth traveled the road to high fashion; my pathway led to not-so-high finance with a recent detour to writing.

Elizabeth Crigger Scokin

While her closet is full of couture and 4-inch designer heels, shopping for me involves browsing my favorite bookstore wearing shoelace-less Chuck Taylor’s.

It takes all kinds, right? Some are destined for the runway. Some dream to write about it.

Elizabeth  grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas, a few miles north of my hometown. The streets are lined with old southern homes and evenly spaced shade trees, planted by forward thinking city planners decades ago. Overlapping branches form a natural arbor leading to the charming storefronts along Main Street. In the 1970s, downtown Blytheville offered a variety of retail and restaurants options. It’s where we did our back-to-school shopping. Plus, there was a new Sonic near the Interstate.

A trip to Blytheville often meant a quick visit with the Criggers, family friends who farmed land near ours. Their home was always warm and inviting, with a fabulous dish simmering on the stove or baking in the oven. Mrs. Crigger was a quintessential southern lady who effortlessly cooked a standing rib roast wearing a string of pearls. Mr. Crigger was a fixture in our den each night, stopping for a cocktail on the way home from work.

Elizabeth, their youngest daughter, was tall, thin, timeless, as if the best attributes from each parent were hand-selected for her.  A natural beauty.I was generic and indistinguishable.

She was haute. I was most definitely not.

While I was more at home at That Bookstore in Blytheville, Elizabeth was apparently more influenced by Westbrook’s Fashion. Influenced enough to take fashion to another level… On second thought, she likely skipped Blytheville retail altogether, driving straight to Memphis for her shopping needs or pulling together some fabulous look from her mother’s closet.

Since those days in Northeast Arkansas, Elizabeth Crigger Scokin’s dreams lead her to modeling in Dallas, and later to Nashville where she founded Haute Hostess Aprons, a luxury apron line inspired by her Grandmother Crigger’s vintage apron.

 

These aren’t your everyday ho-hum, chicken frying, run-of-the-mill aprons. These elegant designs caught the eye of Oprah… The fabrics, silky or sheer netting, are embellished with ribbons, flowing satin sashes and flouncy hems. Looking more cocktail dress than cooking apron, they pair perfectly with Manolo’s and a tray of martinis.Haute Hostess Aprons can be found at Stanley Korshak and Duo in Dallas and Bauman’s in Little Rock along with other high-end boutiques throughout the South. And as a bonus, each apron comes with an enchanting name such as the cheetah printed Georgette from the Glam It Up Collection or the Cornelia from the Give Me Sugar Christmas Collection adorned with jewel-toned bells. For this Fall’s diva tail-gate party or sorority tea, there is a Collegiate Collection in game day colors.

Elizabeth brings glamour into the kitchen.

A few weeks ago one of my friends was stumped on what to wear to a business conference, the appropriate attire noted on the invitation as Delta Casual. Who better to ask than Elizabeth, the Delta’s own fashionista? Her answer included “for night, a great gold or silver belt for twinkle…” I don’t own a gold or silver belt. I was thinking more boyfriend jeans… Oh my.

As I considered our differences, I began to recognize our commonality beyond farm and geography.  We share a love of cooking, drawing on yesterday’s family gatherings for inspiration. And we both love aprons.

My fun collection of aprons includes mostly vintage ones picked up at flea markets. A bit kitschy, they feel and smell of another time. I imagine the ladies who wore them fifty years ago, and the large family meals they prepared.

Two years ago, my mother added to my collection giving me the most amazing apron, perfect for my annual Halloween party. Bright orange netting with a billowy black satin sash, the apron is trimmed in rows of black and purple rickrack. It’s an original Haute Hostess design – Samantha from the Give Me Sugar Collection. It is the only designer item hanging in my closet. And I wear it with my pearls, of course. And jeans and boots…

Me and Samantha:)

Elizabeth and I share the same mantra – if you follow your passion, great things will happen. Even for two farmer’s daughters.

2 c extra sharp cheddar cheese 
2 sticks butter – melted 
2 c plain flour – sifted (I NEVER sift flour, but Pat Crigger probably did…) 
1 3/4 T tabasco 
dash of red pepper 
2 c rice crispies 

Mix together cheese and butter. In another bowl, mix flour, tabasco and red pepper. All the flour mixture to the cheese mixture and mix in the rice crispies. Refrigerate until slightly firm – firm enough to roll into balls. 

Roll into marble size balls. Arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet and mash with a fork. Cook for 13-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Perfect fall appetizer!

Spicy Cheese Wafers