Wayne's Orange Crush-Pineapple Ice Cream
Last week, I wrote a column about my dear friend Wayne Singleterry, a great man and a great foodie.
In our Norman bureau, we did a Dirty Santa party every year. In preparation for it, a questionairre was circulated to help giftors satisfy giftees. One question read: Favorite Food?
His answer? Bacon.
Wayne was also known to say things like: I’ve had too much salt today, I need something sweet; or I’ve had too many sweets today, I need something salty.
I remember his exact menu the two days his death: The Sooner Schooner from the new-at-the-time Norman Hideaway and fried shrimp at the Norman Pearl’s. Perhaps his two favorite meals, outside of the Indian Taco, doubtlessly his favorite thing to eat on Earth.
One day we happened into a short-lived cafe on Berry called Country Favorites, who that day had Indian Tacos as their lunch special. Wayne called Country Favorites every day until they closed to ask if it was on special. When they had it, we were there.
I like to think that those final two meals were no accident. We found later that he knew treatment for his condition was no longer treatable. He knew the end was near, and he chose his favorite meals. No words can express how honored I feel to have shared those meals with him. He is one of my true mentors, and I miss him dearly.
After last week’s story, I got many lovely emails from Wayne’s family, one included the original recipe. It was also pointed out that our own Melba Lovelace included his recipe in her book “Recipes: Yours, Mine and Ours,” published in 1989.
With that information, I did something I should’ve done many, many years ago — check our archives. I can’t tell you how many inexperienced reporters I’ve chastised for not using the information we have under our very own noses. Paybacks are hell, I guess.
Anyway, with guidance from Wayne’s sister-in-law Maye and Melba Lovelace, here is what she wrote back in 1988 before including the recipe in her cookbook the next year:
Here’s the real scoop about Wayne Singleterry.
A reporter at The Oklahoman, Singleterry is one of the celebrated contributors on “food day at the office.’ When he brought Black-Eyed Pea Salad, everyone thought it was wonderful.
