Nashville To Atlanta

Five days plus late nights equals a whole lot of fun.  Stone and I where recently on the road to Nashville where the University Of Tennessee mens Basketball competed in the SEC basketball tournament.   

Printers Alley

 Printers Alley is home to numerous bars and ugh, ewww,  adult entertainment.  Neither of these did we attend.  It's funny that all the trips I've made to Nashville over the years and I've never heard of Printers Alley.  

 Along Printers Alley

Tootsies Orchard Lounge, a legendary Honky Tonk bar features live music and is where some of the worlds greatest songwriters and country music legends have spent time, including  Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline and numerous others.  On November 13, 2014 Tootsies celebrated 54 years of being in Nashville, Tennessee.  While in town, Stone and I spent many hours at Tootsies dancing the night away, song after song as he twirled me all over the dance floor.  

Band at Tootsies Orchard Lounge.

Tip Off 

UT vs. Vanderbilt

 UT vs. Vanderbilt

Following our time in Nashville, we drove to Atlanta to visit the girls and of course Jimmy, my favorite son-in-law.  With the weather being nice, we walked everywhere we went, which I always love.  A body in motion stays in motion.  Soon after our arrival we had a quick lunch and then were off to the High Museum Of Art https://www.high.org/Art/Exhibitions/Gordon-Parks-Segregation-Story.aspx, where Africa American Artist Gordon Parks Segregation Story exhibition was on display.  Parks, a photographer and writer for Life magazine, became "one of the most provocative and celebrated photojournalist in the United States."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Parks

While walking on the Atlanta BeltLine, Abby Gail, Malia, Stone and I stopped to look around in this shop along the trail.  This adorable little guy just laid there, happy to be at work with his owner.

Malia, Abby Gail, and I along the Atlanta BeltLine.

Orange Syrup Cake with Candied Oranges

I am a huge fan of syrup infused cakes.  The first one I had ever eaten was a Lemon Polenta Cake that my friend Jhumpa had made.  Although it still remains my all-time favorite, this ultra-moist Orange Syrup Cake with Candied Oranges is definitely a keeper.

Orange Syrup Cake with Candied Oranges

Makes: 1 (10") cake-10-12 servings

Orange Cake Ingredients:

4 oranges, zested

1 lemon, zested

14 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

10 ounces almond flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 large eggs, at room temperature

pinch of salt

Syrup Ingredients:

3/4 cup orange and lemon juice ( squeezed from the zested citrus)

6 Tablespoons granulated sugar

Candied Orange Slices Ingredients:

1 orange

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup water

1. To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350'.  Spray a 9-10" springform pan that was lined with parchment paper with baking spray.

2.  Grind the citrus zest in a food processor with the 1 1/2 cups of sugar until it's finely ground.  

3.  In a bowl of a stand mixer, or by hand, beat the butter with the zest-infused sugar until well-combined.

4.  In a separate bowl measure out the almond flour, all-purpose flour and salt.  Stir together.

5.  Add half of the almond flour mixture to the butter, then add the eggs one by one, stopping the machine a few times to scrape the sides down. Then add the remaining almond mixture, stirring just until incorporated.  

6.  Scrap the batter into the pan.  Level the top of the batter, and bake the cake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out relatively clean, but a little moist.

7.  While the cake is baking, make the syrup by heating the 3/4 cup citrus juice and 6 Tablespoons granulated sugar is dissolved, then set aside.  When the cake comes out of the oven, brush the syrup liberally over the hot cake.  Let cool completely in the pan.

8.  To candy the oranges, cut the orange into 1/4" slices.  Put the slices in a nonreactive saucepan, and add enough water to cover them well, and bring to a simmer.  Blanch the slices for ten minutes, or until they are tender and translucent.

9.  Put the oranges back in the saucepan and add the 2/3 cup sugar and 2/3 cup water and cook the oranges at a simmer for about ten minutes, or until they are tender and translucent.  Save the syrup, do not discard!

Serving: Serve slices of the cake with whipped cream, and a slice of candied orange along with some of the syrup from when you candied the oranges.

Reciped from: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2013/04/orange-syrup-cake-recipe/

CAbi Time

Twice a year CAbi comes out with their new line.  The Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.  My friend/CAbi Consultant Helen phones and we schedule a date for the showing.  I then invite guests and plan a menu.  I usually have my showing on a Saturday morning, therefore I do a small brunch.  The ladies arrive, we mingle, eat and Helen presents the new line of clothing.  Following the presentation there are lots of trying on, decisions, girl time and  the ladies giving each other their opinion as to what looks good.  My family knows I'm not one who enjoys going out and shopping for clothing.  This is perfect.  The cloths are brought to me. I do not have to leave the house and walk the malls, which I HATE!   Actually, the clothing arrives early and I try on each piece for my husband. With his help we make a decision.  He's really good at this.  We make a yes, no and a maybe pile.  Each season the yes pile is huge because the CAbi line of clothing has a timeless design.  The clothing is created to mix well with previous and future pieces, therefore you are alway mixing and matching pieces to change it up.  

 Don't all husbands say this?

Walnut & Apple Coffee Cake

Cake Ingredients:

1/4 cup oil

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cups sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup grated apples, (I use my large grater for this).

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 Tablespoons flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 Tablespoon melted butter

1/2 cup walnuts

1 Tablespoon Sparkling Sugar or Turbinado Sugar (optional)

Icing Ingredients:

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon milk

Preheat oven to 375'.

In a small bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In a separate mixing bowl, lightly mix together oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk.  Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture.  Do not over-stir.  Fold in apples.  Pour into a pan sprayed with baking spray. and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the topping ingredients until combined.  Sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter in the pan.  

Using a wooden spoon or spatula, lightly press most of the topping about halfway down in to the batter.  Leave some on top.

Sprinkle sparkling sugar or turbinado sugar on top, this is optional.

Bake for 25 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool just a bit, then mix up icing and drizzle of coffee cake.

Serve warm, or cool.  Recipe from: http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/walnut-and-apple-coffee-cake/

 This coffee cake is so good, I have made it three days in a row.

For those more health conscious I had a tray of strawberries and apples.  I just had to dip some of the strawberries.  Hey, a little chocolate never hurts anybody and one must always have a little sprinkle in their life. My children would all agree.

 Brie and Bacon Quiche

Quiche Ingredients:

1 deep dish pie crust

4 ounces brie cheese, diced

4 ounces swiss cheese, diced

10 slices bacon, cooked crisp and drained, and crumbled

6 whole large eggs

1/2 cups whipping cream

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1 dash each nutmeg and pepper

Quiche Preparation:

Preheat oven 375'.

Roll out pie crust into a deep dish pie pan.

Place diced cheeses into pie shell.

On top of cheese spread out crumbled bacon on top.

Mix up remaining ingredients thoroughly and pour into the pie pan.

Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool slightly before serving.  Recipe from: http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/05/brie-and-bacon-quiche/

I didn't precook the pie crust any, but I think next time I will.  The bottom wasn't as flaky as I would have like.