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'Aunt Wendy' shares garden and recipes with others

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When Wendy Shumaker decided to move to Rutherford County, as she looked at property one question came to mind: Where could she put her garden.

Being a farmer wasn't something Shumaker set out to do, nor was publishing her own cookbook. But the former construction industry worker has found that both provide a therapeutic outlet.

Shumaker, who lived on the coast of South Carolina, was familiar with Rutherford County from family gatherings in Lake Lure, a halfway point for all. One day she asked her father, who lived with her, what he wanted to do.

"I meant what did he want to do that day, and he looked at me and said 'I want to move to the mountains.'"

Father and daughter - who had previous experience with gardening after constructing a building for a landscape architect friend - made the move to Rutherford County and settled into putting down roots. At their Ellenboro home they grow tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, edible flowers and more and take care of more than 20 chickens.

In 2014 Shumaker began taking produce to the Farmers Market of Rutherford County. "The first year I had so many vegetables left over that I was giving them away to neighbors, so I decided to try selling them, too, at the farmer's market."

The farmer's market has also be come one of the locations to purchase her cookbook, "Aunt Wendy's Kitchen."

"I didn't learn to cook until I was in my late 30s," Shumaker said. "When I worked in construction I was traveling around the country and I didn't cook at home. One day I picked up a copy of Bon Appetit and saw something that looked good and decided to give it a try."

From that first try cooking became a passion, and it was at the urging of a veterinarian friend on Pawley's Island that she decided to create a cookbook.

"I saw an ad for publishing your own cookbook and decided to give it a try," she said.

The cookbook features family favorites as well as her own spin on restaurant favorites. Her favorite recipe is for Shrimp Pasta Primavera, which also one of her father's favorites.

"He asks for it for his birthday and Father's Day," she said.

Another favorite is for Habanero Jelly on chicken wings. It's spicy and tangy, she said.

Copies of the cookbook can be purchased from Shumaker's booth at the Farmers Market of Rutherford County or at Hill's Hardware in Rutherfordton or the Twisted Pear in Forest City.

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