Easter At Ijams Nature Center

The sun was shining and the temps were in the low 70's.  I packed a picnic and Stone and I spent Easter at Ijams Nature Center.  Who knew there was so much outdoor activity so close to home!  Ijams Nature Center, located on 300 acres of urban green space, has a climbing location, not that we would do this, but its great for those who are interested.  There is a Beer Garden, Historic Home Site, birding trails, Tennessee River Boardwalk, Jo's Grove, the mysterious Keyhole at the Ross Marble Quarry, and the Historic Mead's Quarry, which is now listed on the National Register for Historic Places.  You can bike, canoe or paddle board which you can rent from River Sports Outfitters at Mead's Quarry. 

There is also a breakfast eatery, Peg's Kitchen, that is open on Saturday mornings only.  Hmmm, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.  One Saturday morning when Stone doesn't have golf, we will have to visit Peg's Kitchen.

Meads Quarry

 The Key Hole At Historic Ross Marble

 Spring Beauty

 Abandoned railroad tracks.

 River Boardwalk

 Along The River Boardwalk

 Maude Moore's Cave Along The River Boardwalk

 Celandine Poppy

 Virginia Bluebells

 Yellow Trillium

 Muscari

 Ijams Nature Center

 Where did all the people go???

Redbud Tree

The best part of a picnic is the dessert.  The meringue, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, filled with tart lemon custard.  That just says spring.

Lemon Meringue Nest

Meringue Nest Ingredients:

4 egg whites

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon cream of tarter

Meringue Nest Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven 200'.

2. In an electric mixer (make sure your bowl is greased free),  A stainless steel bowl is best, plastic can harbor grease and this can prevent egg whites to form stiff peaks.  beat egg whites and cream of tarter until the eggs start to form soft peaks.

3. Slowly add the sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time while beating at high-speed.

4.  Beat until the egg whites are shiny and the peaks are firm.

5. On a cookie sheet lined parchment paper, draw with a pencil, circles on the paper the size you want the nest to be.  I did 4 1/2" circles, filling the circles with 1 cup of meringue mixture.  It made 5.  They do swell as they bake, so they become even bigger.  You can do any size you want, smaller or one big one.

6.  Fill in the circles with the meringue using a spoon, filling the whole circle making a wide indent with your spoon to make a well to create the nest.

7.  Bake for about 2 hours.  Turn off oven.  Let cool completely in the oven with the door shut.

8.  These can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Do not do these on a rainy or really humid day.

Lemon Custard Filling:

1 1/3 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 2/3 cup water

4 egg yolks, beaten

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 teaspoon lemon zest, (1/4 ounce, 2 large lemons)

1/2 cup lemon juice

Lemon Custard Instructions:

1.  On a double boiler put the following: sugar, cornstarch, salt, and water.  Boil until the mixture becomes thick.  Continue stirring while it cooks.

2.  Add beaten egg yolks and continue stirring with a whisk.  If you don't the egg yolks will begin to cook.  No one wants scrambled eggs in their custard!

3.  Add butter, lemon zest and lemon juice, and stir.

4.  Remove from heat.  Let cool.

5.  Cover with plastic wrap right on top of the custard, lay it directly on the custard.  This prevents it from getting a skin.

6.  Put it in the refrigerated until ready to use.

Trick: take the custard and pass it through a sieve to remove lumps ( this will make your custard silky and smooth).  Recipe adapted from: http://mysweetremedy.com/tag/easter-dessert/

Assembly:

Fill the meringue nest with the lemon custard.

For Easter you could add a few easter egg candies and sprinkle with a little toasted coconut, or top with raspberries like I did.

http://ijams.org

An Evening At The Tennessee Theatre

The evening was clear and cool. It was going to be a perfect night.  Stone and I arrived earlier than our meet up time with friends Karen and Greg.  We walked around Market Square, took some pictures and ended at Scruffy City Hall.  We walked in and looked around. What a cute place.  There were two levels with a roof top patio opening soon.  Bands play nightly beginning at 10 pm. with a small area for dancing if you so choose. We do, so you best get out of our way.  Just saying!  I don't understand. You have a dance floor with people just standing on it talking like they don't know what its for, even though they see your doing your thing.  Either move your body to the music or get off the floor!  

We chatted with the bartender Marcus, who talked the place up.  Great personality and interested in making sure everyone has a good time.  He and another patron spoke of biking. I showed them the link to http://mbikesusa.com, my daughter and her husband's company.  They really like their bike's.  We chatted about Knoxville not being very bicycle friendly unless you're on the greenway. Hopefully that will change in the future.

Tito's Vodka with lemon and lime. Thank you Marcus.

Scruffy City Hall 

For dinner we met up with Karen and Greg at Tupelo Honey Cafe http://tupelohoneycafe.com/location/knoxville/?utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=tupelo+honey+cafe+menu+Knoxville&utm_campaign=Knoxville on Market Square.  Tupelo Honey Cafe is not diet friendly, but it is sooooo good.  Karen and I skipped lunch so we were ready to eat.  Our server, Jade, started our meal by bringing biscuits and blueberry preserves to the table.  Everyone who knows me knows I love a good biscuit.  I quickly devoured it. I actually wanted another, but refrained. It was delicious.  I had looked at the dessert menu and well, I love dessert as much as I love biscuits.  For dinner Stone and I shared the Jumbo Crab Cakes served on a bed of greens with this tangy dressing and asparagus.  Our meal was delicious, but we weren't finished yet.  There was dessert to be had.  Stone and I shared a slice of Brown Butter Pecan Pie with Dark Chocolate Sauce.  After we quickly cleaned our plate, I wondered why we shared it.  I wanted my own since it was so luscious.  With our meal complete it was time to make our way to the Tennessee Theatre http://www.tennesseetheatre.com and see the production of Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls, a broadway musical about a gambler, Nathan and his big crap game and his needing to find a place to host his game.  He needs to pay $1000, which he doesn't have, to have this game hosted.  The gambler also bet another not so good guy he couldn't get the virtuous mission worker to go with him on a date, which she did.  Meanwhile, Nathan's girlfriend for 14 years just wanted to get married.  Great musical with good music and numerous funny scenes.   

Tennessee Theatre

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. 

A Texas Family Gathering

After a week of extremely cold temps in Tennessee, it was such a welcome relief as we flew into Texas and greeted by temps in the 70's.  This really made me ready for spring to arrive.  As soon as we made it to mama's, she had food on the table and most importantly a carrot cake waiting to be devoured.  Mama just happens to make the best carrots cake I have ever eaten.

Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cup oil

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon lemon extract

3 cups grated carrots, do not use pre-grated as they are to thick.

1 cup toasted chopped pecans

Directions:

Toast pecans in a 350' preheated oven for 6-7 minutes.  Let cool and chop.

Mix all ingredients together, including toasted pecans.  

Spoon batter into a tube pan that has been sprayed well with baking spray.  

Bake in a preheated oven at 350' for 1 hour.

Icing Ingredients:

1 (3 ounce) package Philadelphia Cream Cheese

4-5 Tablespoons concentrated frozen orange juice, thawed.

1 pound box powdered sugar

Icing Directions:

Mix all ingredients together to spreading consistency and spread on cooled cake, pooling any leftover in the middle.

The buttercups were already in full bloom around the lawn.

After a full day of shopping we met up with brother Bob and his family.   

Stone-Me-brother Bob-Mama

Mama with one of  her grandsons, Brandon.

 Brandon, who just happens to be the most handsome young man in Navarro County.

Nephew Brandon-Me-Bob

9 out of 10 youngsters get their greatness from their Aunt.  Thats right, uh-huh.

Brandon-Me-Brother Bob.  

My brother has the best sister in the world, just saying.

Jonathan-Great Aunt Bee-Nolan

You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug.

 Mama with Nolan

 The charming Heather

Me-Jonathon-Mama-Stone

Our last day of visiting before we returned home was at my nieces house.  Jennifer of http://jenniferwillardphotography.com was kind enough to give me some photography pointers.  There is no way my pictures will ever be as great as hers, but with the few tips maybe I can become better.

Konnor-Me-Mama-Stone-Shane-Jennifer-Ashtyn 

He's just so adorable...

Konnor