Category Archives: food

Craving a Slice of Elvis Cake

  By Melly | March 22, 2013 - 8:57 pm | , ,
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picture of a slice of Elvis cake
Although Elvis did spend a lot of time in Nashville recording his records, he is really known for getting his start in Memphis, where he built his mansion, Graceland. Memphis has huge celebrations the week of his birthday and also the week of his death, in fact, they call it “Death Week.”

Elvis was known for having some strange tastes in food. I think his most famous “Elvis Specialty” was probably fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But he was known for loving this particular cake that I have a picture of. “Elvis Cake” is a white cake with special icing that has crushed pineapple and cream cheese in it, that is topped with chopped pecans. I saw a photo of this and it made me get a craving tonight. I think I have everything on hand here in my pantry. So I’m heading to the kitchen to bake a cake!

Best Burgers in Nashville

  By Melly | January 21, 2013 - 8:03 pm | , ,
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We grew up thinking that hamburgers from McDonald’s were a big treat. But now that I am older and know the difference between good hamburgers and barely edible hamburgers, I almost never go to McDonald’s anymore. When I want a good hamburger, the only place to go in Nashville is Backyard Burgers. They use 100% Angus beef for their burgers and they are a full 1/3 pound of hamburger.

Backyard Burgers has a variety of toppings and options, including 4 different kinds of cheese. The standard topping are a slice of fresh tomato, a large leaf of Romain lettuce, a couple slices of red onion, a splash and ketchup and mustard and three slices of dill pickle. I like the Black and Blue burger, which has a slice of thick bacon and a sprinkle of bleu cheese crumbles on it.

 

Sweet Tooth

  By Melly | December 7, 2012 - 3:57 am |
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I have a sweet tooth today, doesn’t happen too often, but when it hits, it is usually followed by the baking bug. I don’t know about you, but I prefer homemade goodies to store bought ones any day of the week.

Since the weekend is coming up and I will have more spare time on my hands, I have bought all of the ingredients that I didn’t already have to make some scrumptious white chocolate macadamia nut cookies! One of my girlfriends and her 10 year old son will be coming by to visit for a couple hours on Sunday as well, so I think they will also enjoy something to snack on while they are here.

They are my favorite cookies in the world, and the great thing about baking cookies is, they are very hard to screw up! I have a great recipe that my mother used to make quite often when I was a kid too. I love baking some of the goodies that my mom used to make for me when I was growing up, it makes me think of coming home from school and that delicious smell that would linger in our home. My mother is a great baker and we never ate store bought cookies or cakes, mom made them all herself.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner With the Homeless Shelter

  By Melly | November 21, 2012 - 9:11 pm | , , ,
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This year for Thanksgiving, I was asked to join a small group of good friends and help cook food for the people who stay in our local homeless shelter. The shelter is actually in a church and is mostly supported by that church’s congregation and private donations. Every year they have a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who needs a good meal.

We will have to report for duty around 7:00 tomorrow morning to start cooking everything. The church has a nice commercial kitchen and a fellowship hall big enough to seat about 120 people. I have never cooked for a large crowd before, so I am a little apprehensive about this, but I like the idea of doing something good for other people not as fortunate as I have been.

Baking Urges

  By Melly | October 23, 2012 - 4:48 pm |
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Has anyone else been feeling the urge to bake? It might be because the seasons are changing and the holidays are fast approaching, but I have had the urge to get into the kitchen and create something scrumptious to snack on.

My mother did a lot of baking when it came to our snacks when I was a kid. One of my favorite things that she would make had to be Oatmeal Scotchie cookies. So while I was picking up a few things at the grocery store, I grabbed a package of Nestle Butterscotch Chips and oatmeal so that I can create some myself.