Fall 2013: TN Connections by Journal Communications

tnconnections fall 2013

An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System

Mountain hideaway Jim Oliverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Smoke House in Monteagle draws hungry travelers

Picked From the Patch

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and other recipes highlight the classic seasonal ingredient

tn almanac

Travel, tips and tidbits at a glance Music and Molasses Take a free buggy ride, hear live bluegrass music and see how molasses is made at the Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival, held the third weekend in October from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tennessee Agricultural Museum. The harvest celebration draws several thousand people each year for live music on two stages, old-fashioned cooking demonstrations, storytellers, cloggers, traditional crafts for sale, and homemade cakes and pies. Kids can take part in log cabin activities, a trail hike, pony rides and animal petting. The Tennessee Agricultural Museum is located on the grounds of the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville. For more information, visit tnagmuseum.org.

A Tennessee Tradition

Let’s Talk Turkey Before long, it will be time to set the table for Thanksgiving dinner, so it’s never too early to start planning how to prepare a perfect holiday turkey. Consider these turkey tips to ensure a juicy, delicious bird. • A 15- to 20-pound bird is appropriate for a large party, and keep in mind that the amount of leftovers depends on the size of the turkey. • Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator to reduce the risk of harmful bacteria. Allow a full day of thawing for every 4 pounds of turkey. • Stuff your bird immediately before cooking to reduce exposure to bacteria. • Stuffing expands as it bakes, so leave room in the turkey’s cavity. • Roast the turkey on a rack in a shallow pan so heat can circulate. Baste after the first hour to keep it moist. Roast until a thermometer inserted in the thickest thigh area registers 165 degrees. • Let your turkey rest at least 30 minutes and remove stuffing before carving.

The 107th annual Tennessee State Fair happens September 6-15, 2013, bringing the Tennessee State Fairgrounds to life with rides, competitions and must-see events. The fair has been held every year since 1906, with the exception of a four-year span during World War II. Pay tribute to the Volunteer State’s longstanding tradition by bringing the family for cotton candy, corn dogs and snow cones. Let the kids get cuddly with farm animals at Lucky’s Barnyard Animals exhibit and watch the milking of dairy cows in the milking parlor. The youngest fair-goers can enjoy hands-on farming experiences at Tiny Acres, where they’ll learn how farmers put food on the family table. Find out more by visiting the fair’s website, tnstatefair.org.

contents

tnconnections Fall 2013 Edition Content Coordinator Rachel Bertone Content Director Jessy Yancey Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Contributing Writers Rebecca Denton, Roben Mounger, Jessica Mozo Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Creative Services Director Christina Carden Graphic Designer Matt West Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers, Michael Conti, Wendy Jo O’Barr, Frank Ordonez, Michael Tedesco Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Sr. V.P./Sales Todd Potter Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester Sr. V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim Holmberg V.P./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens Controller Chris Dudley Integrated Media Manager Robin Robertson Distribution Director Gary Smith Tennessee Connections is published quarterly by Journal Communications Inc. for participating members of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. TMEPA represents 61 municipal power distributors in Tennessee, which serve more than 2 million customers. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067. Phone: 615-771-0080.Email: info@jnlcom.com. For information about TMEPA, contact: Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association Paddock 1, Suite C-13, 229 Ward Circle Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone 615-373-5738, Fax 615-373-1901 tmepa.org Executive Director Mike Vinson

6 Features 4 Mountain Hideaway

Jim Oliver’s Smoke House in Monteagle draws hungry travelers

6 Picked From the Patch ©Copyright 2013 Journal Communications Inc. and Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. ON THE COVER: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto

Pumpkin recipes highlight the classic fall staple

10 Rural Relaxation

Red Boiling Springs famous for bed-and-breakfasts, mineral water

12 The Polk Pickle

tnconnections.com tnconnections Digital Magazine fall 2013

An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System

MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY Jim Oliver’s Smoke House in Monteagle draws hungry travelers

Picked From the Patch

Flip through the pages of the magazine without leaving your laptop. Print and email articles and instantly link to advertisers.

A traditional pickle recipe fosters community

Departments 2 Municipal Power Perspective 3 Tennessee in Focus 14 Fall Activities in Tennessee 17 Connect to Tennessee Products

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and other recipes highlight the classic seasonal ingredient

Fall 2013

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municipal power perspective

Save Power, Save Money Follow these tips to lower your heating and cooling expenses Mike Vinson Executive Director Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association

Here it is, late August (or will be when you read this), and hopefully the worst of the heat is behind us. It got a little warm this summer, and many of us experienced electric bills higher than normal. That’s typical for summer cooling expenses, though getting the bill after the heat has passed can be a little disconcerting. Late August and even September often have warm days, so don’t give up too soon on your energy conservation habits. I’m sure all have already heard about most of the ways to hold down the cost of cooling your home, but just in case, check out these helpful tips: 1. Keep your thermostat no lower than 78 degrees. Every one degree below 78 that you maintain your home increases your cooling costs by 3 to 5 percent. 2. Use ceiling fans and oscillating fans as much as possible. Position them so that the air moves across those sitting in the room. Fans only help when someone is in the room, so turn them off when you leave just as you do with the lights. 3. The filter in your air conditioner or furnace should be changed monthly – and more often if you have pets in the house, especially cats. When dirt/dust/ hair block the air flow, your cooling costs (heating in the winter) go up substantially. 4. Always close the blinds/shades/ drapes on the west and southwest sides of the home. Keeping out the sun helps, as letting it in causes the temperature to go up, which makes the A/C run longer. 2

5. Do as much of your cooking and laundry chores as early in the day as possible. Once the temperature starts heating up outside, adding heat to the living space just makes it worse. And always run your dishwasher late at night. 6. Appliances that use the most energy are your A/C, water heater, pumps (especially pool pumps), ranges/ovens, refrigerators/freezers and dishwashers. We encourage you to be conscious of your energy usage by evaluating your home for efficiency. It’s a great time to make your home more comfortable as well as more energy efficient during the fall and winter months. Replace your existing heating and cooling equipment with a high-efficiency system, add insulation to your attic and floor, insulate your water heater and properly ventilate that really hot attic space over your head. Replacing or adding caulking and weather-stripping around windows and doors is a relatively inexpensive action with big results. Have a reliable and licensed A/C contractor do a tune-up on your system to get ready for winter. Follow these steps, and you’ll pleased with the result – and with your electric bill. Whatever you decide for the future, your Hometown Power Provider will be there to deliver economical and dependable electricity exceeded only by their commitment to customer service.

Membership Alcoa Electric Department Athens Utilities Board Benton County Electric System Bolivar Energy Authority Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Brownsville Utility Department Carroll County Electrical Department Electric Power Board of Chattanooga CDE Lightband – Clarksville Cleveland Utilities Clinton Utilities Board Columbia Power & Water System Cookeville Department of Electricity Covington Electric System Dayton Electric Department Dickson Electric System Dyersburg Electric System Elizabethton Electric Department Erwin Utilities Etowah Utilities Department Gallatin Department of Electricity Greeneville Light & Power System Harriman Utility Board Humboldt Utilities Jackson Energy Authority Jellico Electric & Water Systems Johnson City Power Board Knoxville Utilities Board LaFollette Utilities Lawrenceburg Utility Systems Lenoir City Utilities Board Lewisburg Electric System Lexington Electric System Loudon Utilities City of Maryville Electric Department McMinnville Electric System Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division Milan Department of Public Utilities Morristown Utility Commission Mount Pleasant Power System Murfreesboro Electric Department Nashville Electric Service Newbern Electric Department Newport Utilities City of Oak Ridge Electric Department Paris Board of Public Utilities Pulaski Electric System Ripley Power and Light Company Rockwood Electric Utility Sevier County Electric System Shelbyville Power System Smithville Electric System Sparta Electric System Springfield Electric Department Sweetwater Utilities Board Trenton Light & Water Department Tullahoma Utilities Board Union City Electric System Weakley County Municipal Electric System Winchester Utilities

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tn in focus Staff photo

Pumpkin Harvest Display at the West Tennessee Research & Education Center in Jackson

Fall 2013

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feature

Mountain Hideaway

Jim Oliver’s Smoke House in Monteagle draws hungry travelers story by Jessica Mozo

Diners can enjoy a classic vegetable beef stew at Jim Oliver’s Smoke House restaurant. 4

ou might say Jim Oliver’s Smoke House in Monteagle, Tenn., is the quintessential American dream. “My dad [Jim] started in the restaurant industry in 1960 when he began operating a drive-in called The Beehive,” says James David “J.D.” Oliver, president of Jim Oliver’s Smoke House Restaurant & Lodge. “He had worked in the steel industry in Ohio and wanted to come back home. He couldn’t find a job, and he knew he could cook, so he borrowed some money for The Beehive. He almost starved to death his first six months in business, but then it started to take off.” Jim dreamed of creating a country-themed restaurant, and in 1975, he completed construction of the Smoke House. Using his mother’s recipes such as country ham, pit barbecue, fruit cobblers and buttermilk biscuits, he gained a substantial regional following. Today, the Smoke House is still drawing hungry crowds for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers much more than dining. Situated on

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Betsy Oliver, left, and James David Oliver, right, took over Jim Oliver’s Smoke House after their father passed away.

20 acres, the Smoke House has become a cozy mountain retreat. It includes a lodge with 85 motel rooms, a large conference room, 20 fully equipped cabins and a 10,000-square-foot gift shop filled to the brim with antiques, crafts, handmade fudge, old-fashioned candy, 20 flavors of barbecue sauce, jams and jellies, and an old 1920 player piano that’s a big hit with guests. “We brand our own barbecue sauces and make fresh fudge every day,” Oliver says. “The fudge has been really popular – we sold 18,000 pounds last year.” Jim died in 2007, and now Oliver owns the business with his two sisters, Betsy and Nancy. “Betsy runs the restaurant and has a lot of fun incorporating her own recipes with our old family recipes,” Oliver says. “We’re still serving dad’s pulled barbecue and ribs along with country ham, homemade biscuits, fried chicken, smoked roast beef, turkey and brisket. Betsy’s collard greens, turnip greens and cheese grits are always a hit, too.” Fall 2013

And save room for dessert – the Smoke House serves up six flavors of fried pies, including peach, apple, cherry, chocolate, pineapple and strawberry, topped with a scoop of homemade ice cream. “We make 10 flavors of ice cream, and we make some of these from melting the 16 flavors of homemade fudge we sell in our gift shop,” Oliver says. “We also make floats with our homemade ice cream, and we serve 39 different flavors of old-fashioned sodas in glass bottles.” Guests often compare the restaurant’s atmosphere to Cracker Barrel, with its crackling fireplace, old pictures and mismatched décor. “People always tell me, ‘Cracker Barrel stole your idea,’” Oliver says with a chuckle. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Smoke House hosts a familyfriendly singer/songwriter live music event featuring local and Nashville talent, no admission charged. Stella Parton, sister of Dolly Parton and Oliver family friend, has performed several times. The Smoke House gift shop sells

a cookbook of Oliver family recipes and arranges gift baskets stuffed with smoked meats, jams and jellies, and pickles and sauces. More than 350 food products are for sale in the Smoke House online store, store.thesmokehouse.com. Oliver says he loves carrying on his father’s tradition and the opportunity it gives him to meet passers-through. “Seeing people come back year after year makes them feel like friends,” he says. “It’s like inviting people into our own house – only bigger. The Smoke House offers a genuine and unique experience in food, shopping and lodging that just can’t be found anywhere else.”

If You Go The Smoke House is open every day of the year from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (until 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). Call (800) 489-2091 or visit thesmokehouse.com for more details. The Smoke House is located 80 miles east of Nashville, 45 miles west of Chattanooga at Interstate 24, Exit 134 for Monteagle/Sewanee on old U.S. 41A. tnconnections.com

cover story

Picked

From the Patch

Pumpkin recipes highlight the classic fall staple story by Rachel Bertone photography by Jeffrey S. Otto

hether you’re carving a scary jack-o’-lantern or topping the pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream, fall is synonymous with the bright orange gourd. Pumpkin patches are open for the season, inviting you to choose the best one, and local restaurants are using the fruit in everything from pasta to pastries. To welcome autumn and its abundance of pumpkins, we’ve put together a collection of our best recipes featuring the ingredient.

Annie B’s pumpkin bread recipe blends pumpkin with chocolate chips, perfect for breakfast with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. For a more modern twist on pumpkin, whip up hand-held pumpkin whoopie pies. A rich cream cheese filling is sandwiched between two soft pumpkin cookies for a sweet treat that’s sure to be a hit. Finally, nothing compares to classic pumpkin pie with the familiar fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Annie B’s Pumpkin Bread 3 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 cup oil ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 2 ⁄3 cup water 15 ounces canned pure pumpkin 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 cup chocolate chips (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients in order and mix with a wooden spoon. Add chocolate chips last. Pour into two greased and floured loaf pans Bake until toothpick comes out clean, approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. 6

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Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Cookies 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon ginger ½8 teaspoon cloves 2 cups dark brown sugar, firmly packed 1 cup vegetable oil 3 cups chilled pumpkin puree 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Filling 3 cups powdered sugar ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Fall 2013

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine thoroughly. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture; whisk until completely combined. Drop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto prepared baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are just starting to crack on top. Remove from oven and let cool completely while you make filling. To make filling, beat butter on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add cream cheese; beat until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, then add vanilla and beat until smooth. To assemble whoopie pies: Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down. Spoon about a tablespoon of filling onto half. Place another cookie on top and press down slightly so that filling spreads to edges. Repeat until all cookies are used. tnconnections.com

The Best Pumpkin Pie 3 ⁄4

cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground cloves 15 ounces canned pure pumpkin 2 eggs, lightly beaten 12 ounces evaporated milk 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in a bowl and mix well. Set aside. Combine the pumpkin and eggs in a bowl and mix well. Add to the sugar mixture and mix well. Add the evaporated milk gradually, stirring constantly. Pour into the pie shell. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for another 35-40 minutes or until the pie tests done.

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feature

Rural Relaxation Red Boiling Springs is famous for bed-and-breakfasts, mineral water

story by Rebecca Denton

ears ago, a stream of travelers flowed to the town of Red Boiling Springs in search of miracles. This scenic valley – about 75 miles northeast of Nashville, in the Cumberland Mountains – became famous for its natural mineral waters, which were said to cure everything from rheumatism to diabetes. In its 1920s heyday, Red Boiling Springs was home to numerous boarding houses and 11 hotels with bathhouses, pools and dance halls. Many hotels added annexes and cottages to accommodate the growing influx of guests who came in search of the healing waters. “They had a casino, a lake, an amusement park and big bands

– even Tommy Dorsey came here,” says Debra Emery, co-owner of Armour’s Red Boiling Springs Hotel. “It was almost like a small Las Vegas.” Red Boiling Springs’ bustling resort era evaporated in the 1940s after World War II, when modern medicine, transportation and recreational activities ushered folks in different directions. The town of about 1,000 people is much quieter these days, but the three remaining historic hotels – Thomas House Bed & Breakfast, Armour’s and The Donoho Hotel – offer a peaceful glimpse of the town’s resort history. One hotel still offers mineral baths, while the others regularly feature live entertainment. Antique stores, a motorcycle

museum, and other attractions are just a short drive away. Built in 1890 and renovated in the 1920s, the 22,000-square-foot Thomas House Bed & Breakfast is the town’s oldest hotel. With Victorian architecture and wraparound porches with rocking chairs, it’s a popular place for weddings, rehearsal dinners and other gatherings. One of the hotel’s main attractions is its dinner theater, which presents shows throughout the year. “It’s been very successful for us, and our prices are reasonable – $25 for dinner and a play,” owner Evelyn Thomas Cole says. The Thomas House is also known for its ghosts.

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Since being featured on the A&E television show “Paranormal State,” curious travelers from across the country and abroad to catch a glimpse of a ghost. Two weekends per month, the hotel hosts paranormal weekends where guests can visit with a paranormal expert and learn to use ghost-detecting equipment. “We’ve all seen things here,” says Cole, who bought the hotel in 1993 with her late husband, Roy Cole “We didn’t say anything for years, because you never know how people will react to things like that. But people started telling us what they were seeing.” Built in 1914, The Donoho Hotel is a plantation-style estate that has evolved into a full-service bed-and-breakfast. This elegant home with turn-of-the-century architecture offers wraparound porches on two stories, rocking chairs and an abundance of antiques. Woodrow Wilson spent the night here in 1916 on his way to Washington, D.C., from Clarksville, says Robert Stroop, who owns the hotel with his wife, Pauline. The original registry with Woodrow’s signature is on-site and can be seen by request. The Donoho is home to a modern entertainment center that hosts live music and can accommodate up to 400 people. With its stately front porch, gazebo and pristine grounds, the hotel has hosted a growing number of outdoor weddings and receptions in addition to other special events. Family-style country meals, the friendly nature of people in town and old-fashioned solitude keep visitors coming back, Stroop says. “We’ve had several doctors who like to get away for two or three days and just read,” he says. “It’s beautiful on the porch or under the 100-year-old shade trees. You have the ability to almost hibernate – to get out of the fast pace for awhile,

Visitors enjoy board games on the front balcony of Armour’s Red Boiling Springs Hotel.

with this beautiful scenery all around you.” The Donoho will celebrate its 100th birthday in April 2014. Built in 1924, Armour’s Red Boiling Springs Hotel offers the only mineral bathhouse in Red Boiling Springs – and it’s also the only mineral bathhouse known to be operating in Tennessee. The bathhouse features two claw-foot bathtubs, a steam room and massages by appointment. The 26-bedroom historic hotel includes a dining room that seats up to 80 people. Owned and operated by Dennis and Debra Emery, the home offers plenty of diversions aimed at slowing down: large porches with swings and rocking chairs, a library, a hammock, and classic games such as horseshoes and badminton. “We usually have a puzzle going in the dining room, and everyone comes along and works on it,” says Debra Emery. “I want everyone to feel like they’re at home – except they don’t have to wash dishes.”

Visitors will also find hearty, homemade, family-style meals here, along with some modern touches such as wireless Internet access. Red Boiling Springs first became famous in the 1800s for its mineral waters. An early settler claimed the water cured his infected eyes, and talk of his miraculous healing in the sulfur water spread fast. Before long, travelers began to arrive seeking cures for all sorts of ailments. Settlers soon noticed the water sometimes had a red tint, and it looked as if it were boiling. So in 1847, the town was named Red Boiling Springs. The springs were never hot, however – “boiling” refers to the water’s appearance.

If You Go The Thomas House thomashousehotel.com, (615) 699-3006 The Donoho Hotel thedonohohotel.com, (800) 799-1705 Armour’s Red Boiling Springs Hotel armourshotel.com, (615) 699-2180

Left: The Thomas House Bed & Breakfast, located in Red Boiling Springs, attracts ghost hunters during its bimonthly paranormal weekends. Fall 2013

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taste of tn

The Polk

pickle

A traditional pickle recipe fosters community story by Roben Mounger

T About the Author Roben Mounger cooks today as she has for the past 20 years, using seasonal elements produced by her local CSA and farmers market. Inspired by the musings of Barbara Kingsolver in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, she spent a year in a farm internship and now writes a column for The Columbia Daily Herald. She connects ideas about healing family and community with homemade food in her blog of revelations and recipes at mscookstable.com.

hough I never knew her, Emma Porter Armstrong and I are connected. She is my patron saint of community. Emma Porter, a lifelong resident of Maury County, worked for the Red Cross and served as Registrar-At-Large for 27 years. She was a superb bridge player, charter member and president of the Maury County Historical Society, devotee of Zion Presbyterian, Daughters of the American Revolution member and precise dresser. Her obituary read, “She was well-known for her hostessing and cooking abilities and she shared her cheese straws and chess pies with visitors to her home and office for many years.” Decades ago on a visit to my hometown of Columbia, my mother prepared an ordinary-looking chicken salad sandwich. “What kind of miracle goes on here?” I asked, after tasting the mixture. “Polk Pickle,” she said in hushed tones of reverence. And so began my personal quest for the story behind this legendary recipe. The story says that Emma Porter perfected the “Polk Pickle” for the Polk Spring Pilgrimage Luncheon. “If [Emma Porter] put it together, it was exceptional,” says Judy Andrews, an Armstrong family friend. “A sandwich could be perfection.” Many of her other recipes remain stellar: almond chicken salad, tomato aspic with homemade mayonnaise, squash casserole

with sharp cheddar cheese, country ham biscuits and dessert tarts. “But the pickle was magnificent,” says her friend and former bridge partner, Page Chamberlain. “A complement to every dish.” I certainly knew what he meant. When I was younger, I served as a cooking assistant to Martha Stewart during a tour for her first cookbook, Entertaining. I recall that she stressed a good pickle as essential to any sort of meal. Thanks to Emma Porter, I found that pickle. “Pickle recipes are important – they represent more than just food,” says Lucy Norris, author of the book Pickled. “They are a link to another human experience. Pickles are a kind of time capsule through which we explore and learn. When we preserve food, we preserve a memory. By preserving food traditions, we pay tribute to the people and places that shaped who we are today.” The Polk Pickle is a tradition all right. My mother and I bonded through Emma Porter’s recipe. We shared the pickles in everyday meals and holiday spreads. And a few days days after my mother’s death, my brother and I found in the back of the refrigerator, a newly prepared gallon of Polk Pickle. We halved the jar and smiled. We would be OK. After all, we had the means for a magnificent pickle.

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Polk Pickle

Wrap the pickling spices in cheesecloth and secure with kitchen twine.

2 tablespoons (½ bottle) mixed pickling spice 1 gallon sour jumbo pickles (must be sour; do not use dill) 4 ½ pounds sugar 2 heads of garlic cheesecloth 4 Ball pint jars

Cut the tips from the ends of the pickles and discard. Cut each pickle into ¼- to ½-inch slices.

Fall 2013

Alternately layer the sliced pickles, sugar and garlic cloves in a 2-gallon crock until all of the ingredients are used. Add the cheesecloth bag. Let stand, covered, at room temperature for 5 days, stirring each morning. Transfer the pickle mixture to the pint jars, discarding the spices and garlic. May be stored indefinitely in the refrigerator.

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events

Fall in Tennessee Festivals, celebrations, activities and more

Sept. 6-27, Springfield Main St. Live Jackson Downtown Development Corporation is pleased to announce its Main Street Live Concert Series. This concert series is every Friday night in September at 7 p.m. on Fox Property and will be a free community event for the whole family, featuring some of West Tennessee’s most talented bands. CONTACT: downtownjackson.com

Sept. 7, Jackson Casey Jones Village Old-Time Music Festival Take a trip to Jackson for this outdoor music festival dedicated to preserving old time string, bluegrass and gospel music. CONTACT: caseyjones.com

Sept. 13-14, Adams Bell Witch Bluegrass Festival People come from all over Tennessee and Kentucky to hear and participate in this first-rate musical celebration. Activities for this annual event begin Friday at 7 p.m. and continue Saturday from 8 a.m. until well after dark. There are competitions (with cash prizes) in fiddling, clogging, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, guitar and dobro. CONTACT: (615) 696-2593, adamstennessee.org

Sept. 13-14, Norris “Days of the Pioneer” Antique Show Norris’ own “Days of the

This listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled in September, October and November as provided to Tennessee Home & Farm by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Pioneer” Antique Show will feature 60 of the best 18th- and 19th-century antique dealers in the country. Held on the beautiful grounds of the Museum of Appalachia, the event will include historic demonstrations, Civil War re-enactors and mountain music. CONTACT: museumofappalachia.org

To include your local events in our listing, please contact them at www.tnvacation.com. Due to space constraints, we are unable to list all of the events provided or accept unsolicited events. However, you can find additional information and events at the department’s website.

Sept. 14, Goodlettsville 3rd Annual Arts & Antiques Festival

Tennessee State Fair

Events are subject to date change or cancellation. Please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

September Sept. 1, Knoxville Boomsday Festival The largest Labor Day weekend fireworks display in the nation is fun for the whole family including games, children’s activities, food, beverages and live entertainment. CONTACT: boomsday.org

Sept. 5-19, Dandridge Music on the Town Concert Series Tap your toes to the beat at the Music on the 14

Town Concert Series, which features live local bands every Thursday. The first concert of the season features Paula Michelle, and the event is free to the public. CONTACT: mainstreetdandridge.com

September 6-15, Nashville Tennessee State Fair Come hear one of over 50 musical acts perform, see the famous racing pigs, take in a mule pulling show and taste all the wonderful treats available during the fair. Don’t forget to try a deep-fried Moon Pie available only during the state fair. CONTACT: tnstatefair.org

Stop by this free event along Main Street in Goodlettsville, which features antique appraisal shows, the 100 for 100 Art Show & Sale, and the Goodlettsville Flavorfest with samples from local restaurants and caterers. Kicking off the festivities in 2013 is the new Joe Vickers Memorial 5k Run. CONTACT: imaginegoodlettsville.org

Sept. 14, Charleston International Cowpea Festival & Cook-off Don’t miss this event that focuses on the agricultural impact of the cowpea. A cowpea cook-off, marketplace, entertainment, food vendors and historical stories are just some of the activities visitors can enjoy. CONTACT: (423) 472-6587, cowpeafestival.com

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Sept. 14-15, Humboldt Crown Winery Guitarfest Get ready

Sept. 26-Dec. 1, Jackson Pumpkin Harvest Display Each fall,

for some strummin’ at this one-day lifestyle festival inspired by the guitar. Live music will play nonstop from noon until around midnight, with showcase performances from noon until 6 p.m. featuring artists sponsored by guitar companies and record labels. CONTACT: (731) 784-8100, crownwinery.com

the Pumpkin Harvest Display graces the grounds of the UT West Tennessee Research & Education Center. More than 5,000 pumpkins grown at the center for research and learning purposes are converted into art as the studies are completed. CONTACT: (731) 424-1643, westtennessee.tennessee.edu

Sept. 19-21, Kodak 14th Annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival Bring your friends and family for three days of some of the finest bluegrass you’ll ever hear in an old converted dairy barn. Music, food, fun, camping and jamming all make for a beautiful East Tennessee experience. CONTACT: (865) 397-7942, dumplinvalleybluegrass.com

Sept. 21, Sevierville Pittman Center Heritage Day Along with heritage-type crafts originally from the area, Pittman Center Heritage Day features food vendors, music, clogging, genealogy, children’s activities, a dog show and more as part of the day’s fellowship. CONTACT: (865) 436-5499, pittmancentertn.com

Sept. 21-22, Crossville 10th Annual Cumberland Homesteads Apple Festival This year’s theme is “Everything Apple” for this family-friendly event. The two-day festival includes live music, lots of good eats, a kids’ zone, the Spinning Yarns storytelling booth and many vendors selling quality arts and crafts. CONTACT: cumberlandhomesteads.org

Sept. 26, Jackson Pumpkin Field Day Pumpkin enthusiasts can gather on the grounds of the West Tennessee AgResearch & Education Center in Jackson for this year’s Pumpkin Field Day. This University of Tennessee sponsored event will feature educational discussions on pumpkin production focusing on pumpkin health, and new and interesting pumpkin varieties. CONTACT: (731) 424-1643, westtennessee.tennessee.edu

Sept. 26-29, Crawford Jammin at Hippie Jack’s Celebrate Americana, blues, bluegrass, folk, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll at this four-day music festival. Enjoy more than 30 live performances, camping along the Obey River, fine foods, local crafts, morning yoga, kids activities and more. CONTACT: jamminathippiejacks.com Fall 2013

Sept. 28, Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival Celebrate the Scots-Irish settlers through live music, dance, demonstrations and food at this Main Street Music Festival, which is free to the public. CONTACT: (865) 397-7420, scots-irish.org

Sept. 28-31, Spencer Baker Mountain Farm Fall Festivities Discover loads of fun for the entire family including pumpkins, a petting farm, mazes, play areas, concessions and gift shops. Open to the public on Saturdays and available for groups and tours throughout the weeks in October. CONTACT: (931) 316-9072, bakermountainfarm.com

Oct. 5, Sparta 15th Annual Liberty Square Celebration & Lester Flatt Memorial Bluegrass Day Celebrate the history of bluegrass and its legend Lester Flatt at this full-day festival. Guests can enjoy music, crafts, food, games, a truck and car show and much more. CONTACT: (931) 836-3552, sparta-chamber.net

Oct. 5, Unionville Halls Mill Sorghum Squeeze Watch sorghum syrup being made from the field to pour-it-on-the-pancakes ready. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. with music, clogging, homemade ice cream, food, crafts and more. CONTACT: (931) 294-2154

Oct. 5, Granville Granville Fall Celebration Activities include jazz on the Cumberland, a quilt show, storytelling, blacksmithing, scarecrows, arts and crafts, great music, food and Civil War living history demonstrations. CONTACT: (931) 653-4151, granviletn.com

Oct. 5, Jefferson City Old Time Saturday Visit Jefferson

October

County’s largest annual festival that features a yard sale extravaganza, regional vendors, music, food and so much more. CONTACT: (865) 475-7367

Oct. 4-5, Erwin Unicoi County Apple Festival Join in

Oct. 5-6, Centerville National Banana Pudding Festival

the fun at this 36th annual festival, which draws more than 110,000 annually. It offers something for everyone, including crafts, antiques, a children’s areas and entertainment. CONTACT: (423) 743-3000, unicoicounty.org/apple-festival

Come celebrate the ultimate Southern treat – banana pudding. Enjoy two fun-filled days of entertainment on two stages, arts and crafts, games, a large kid’s areas, and of course, banana pudding. CONTACT: (931) 994-6273, bananapuddingfest.org

Oct. 4-6, Jonesborough 41st Annual National Storytelling Festival This three-day event features compelling performances by internationally-known professional tellers at the International Storytelling Center. It celebrates the art at its finest. CONTACT: (800) 952-8392, storytellingcenter.net/events

Oct. 4-6, Tiptonville Reelfoot Arts & Crafts Festival Chosen as one of the top three arts and crafts shows in Tennessee, this event features more than 300 exhibitors including artists, potters, carvers and jewelry makers, along with music, delicious barbecue, fried pies, ice cream and more. CONTACT: (731) 885-7295, reelfootartsandcrafts.com

Oct. 11-13, Rogersville 35th Annual Heritage Days Rogersville’s historic downtown plays host to one of East Tennessee’s most enjoyable weekends. Join the fun with over 100 juried craft artists offering a wide variety of handmade items, craft demonstrations, and much more. CONTACT: (423) 272-1961, rogersvilleheritage.org

Oct. 11-12, Hohenwald Oktober Heritage Festival Lewis County attracts thousands of visitors every year on the second weekend in October. Arts, crafts, food and entertainment can be enjoyed by guests, as well as the annual Fall Classics Car & Truck Show, which takes place on Saturday during the event. CONTACT: (931) 796-4084, hohenwaldlewischamber.com tnconnections.com

Oct. 12, Grand Junction 16th Annual Heritage Festival Held on the picturesque grounds of the historic Ames Plantation, the Heritage Festival highlights the diverse lifestyles of West Tennesseans of the 19th century, from Native Americans to sharecroppers. Visitors learn about the ways of the past through hands-on farming, cooking and craft demonstrations. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. CONTACT: amesplantation.org

Oct. 12, Byrdstown Sierra Hull Bluegrass Festival Join in the fun at this bluegrass festival, which includes activities such as a 5k run/walk, a cruise-in to benefit the troops and live entertainment later in the day. CONTACT: sierrahullfestival.com

Oct. 12, Monterey Standing Stone Day Festival Come celebrate the rich history of Standing Stone/Monterey, with Civil War re-enactors, Native American dancers, a car show, dinner theater, excursion train, parade and much more. Arts and crafts vendors and food vendors will line the streets of historic downtown. CONTACT: montereytn.com

Oct. 19, Mount Pleasant Mid-South Barbecue Festival Celebrating its sixth year, this fall festival features activities for the whole family. The day includes a BBQ cook-off, a 5k race, live entertainment, a kids’ zone and kids’ costume contest, vendors, food and a scarecrow competition. CONTACT: (931) 379-9837

Oct. 19-20, Nashville Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival Don’t miss out on four acres of family fun with molasses making and tasting at the sorghum mill, music shows, square dancing and lots more. Attractions include two music stages, special garden exhibits, quilt displays and pioneer log cabins where you can see glass blowing and more. CONTACT: (615) 837-5197, tnagmuseum.org

Oct. 25-26, Lynchburg Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue Satisfy your taste buds at the event that has been called the most prestigious barbecue competition in the world. Teams from around the world bring their best barbecue to the table, judged by certified barbecue aficionados. CONTACT: jackdanielsbarbecuemedia.com

Oct. 26-27, Morristown 38th Annual Mountain Makins Festival Visit the historic 1892 Rose Center, which will be filled with fine arts and crafts along with live music, dancing, storytelling, food and expert demonstrations. CONTACT: rosecenter.org

November Nov. 1, Murfreesboro Oaklands Historic House Museum’s Autumn in the Oaks | Spend the day under the beautiful leaves of fall, as teachers and families guide children through activities, games, and pastimes of the harvest season as well as the experience of chores from the 1860s. CONTACT: (615) 893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org

Nov. 2, Piperton A Night of Southern Elegance Beginning at 5:30 p.m. and going until midnight, this elegant dinner auction gala with live entertainment supports the work of Fayette Cares. Every year more than 450 guests gather for decadent food and drink prepared and presented by top notch professionals. CONTACT: anightofsouthernelegance.com

Nov. 8-Dec. 31, Granville Granville Country Christmas The Sutton Homestead will be decorated in a Victorian style with guided tours Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. There will be Christmas dinner shows in December, weekly Christmas bluegrass dinner shows each Saturday night in December, antique toy shows and much more throughout the season. CONTACT: (931) 653-4151, granvilletn.com

Nov. 9-Jan. 4, Pigeon Forge Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas The Smoky Mountain’s family Christmas destination features more than four million lights, fun rides and attractions plus award-winning holiday shows. CONTACT: (800) 365-5996, dollywood.com/themepark/festivals

Nov. 15-Jan. 4, Bristol Speedway in Lights Tour this stunning display of more than one million lights and hundreds of displays by car on the Bristol Motor Speedway. CONTACT: (423) 989-6900

Nov. 22-Jan. 8, Memphis Christmas at Graceland See traditional lights and decorations, a life-size nativity scene, Santa Claus and much more originally displayed by Elvis at his mansion in Memphis. CONTACT: elvis.com/events 16

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Statewide roundup of favorite finds Sip on This You haven’t had fruit tea until you’ve tasted Alley Cat Tea, hailed as “The Original Fruit Tea,” made and bottled by Stephen Ashburn of Murfreesboro. Ashburn perfected his fruit tea recipe at his Smithville restaurant, Ashburn’s Alley Cafe, in 2002, and it was a favorite among customers until the cafe closed in 2009 after being struck by lightning. Due to popular demand, the Alley Cat Tea recipe was resurrected. Made with black tea and 70 percent real fruit juices, it is packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. Ashburn hopes to eventually sell his fruit tea nationwide. He exhibited the tea at the 2013 National Restaurant Show in Chicago and says his target customers include restaurants, hospitality, grocery, convenience stores and theme parks. For now, it’s available in single bottles and half-gallons for retail stores and 4-gallon cases for wholesale customers. Visit alleycattea.com for more information.

Apples Aplenty

Calling All Green Thumbs Colorful mums signal the arrival of fall, and you can find them – and more than 500 other varieties of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees – at Digger O’Dell Nursery in Arlington. Located on Highway 64 near Memphis, Digger O’Dell Nursery opened at its current location in 1979. The nursery’s nine large greenhouses provide ample growing room for thousands of flowers and hanging baskets, and it is known for having choice woodland wildflowers each spring that aren’t offered anywhere else in the area. Several large, poly-covered houses protect the nursery’s hardy trees and shrubs during colder seasons and allow customers to shop comfortably, no matter what the weather is like outside. For more information, visit diggerodellnursery.com. Fall 2013

Apple Valley Orchard in Cleveland is proof that from tiny seeds grow mighty trees. The orchard started with just two backyard apple trees, planted by the owner’s father in the 1960s. The first apples were sold in 1974, and today, the orchard has about 8,000 trees. A cider mill was added in 1978, and a new apple house and bakery rounded out the family business in 1987. Visitors to the orchard will find fresh apple cider, fried apple pies, fritters, turnovers and dozens of varieties of apples, depending on what’s in season. The farm also sponsors the annual Cleveland Apple Festival, slated for Oct. 19-20. Orchard tours and wagon rides are available by appointment. Visit applevalleyorchard.com for more information.

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Fall Energy-Saving Tips

Keep costs down this fall with these easy steps ■ Insulate:

•

Wrap a water-heater blanket around your water heater and insulate water pipes. This keeps your hot water hot, which can add up to big savings as it takes about 14 percent of your overall utility bill to provide hot water.

•

Check your attic. Since warm air rises, you want to be sure it is adequately insulated. You’ll know it needs more insulation if you can see your ceiling joists.

•

Bundle up! Lower the temperature in your home and put on an extra layer. You save about 2 percent off your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat.

■ Minimize heat loss:

• Seal leaks around doors, windows and electrical outlets to ensure that your warm air is staying in and the cool air is keeping out. • Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets, light switches and lighting fixtures to reduce heat loss, or install plastic security caps. • For those with single-pane windows, add storm windows and slice your heat loss by as much as 50 percent. ■ Save in the kitchen:

• Use glass or ceramic pans when cooking in an oven. Your food cooks just as quickly and

you can reduce the cooking temperature by 25 degrees. •

Make sure your refrigerator door closes tightly. To check, put a dollar bill in the door as you close it. If it doesn’t hold securely, replace the seal.

• Compost instead of using the garbage disposal and save gallons of water – and money!