Garlic Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes

With Parmesan

I hate sweet potatoes, but I loved these smashed slices; I probably will leave out the salt next time, because their taste was a little salty to me.  I don't like a lot of salt.  I will make these again though!

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes (or 3 large sweet potatoes)*
• A light spray of olive oil
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese

Instructions 

1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees setting. Trim off the ends of the sweet potatoes. Cut each sweet potato into slices (or 1½ - inch pieces). 

Smash:

1. Lightly grease a large baking sheet or tray with cooking oil spray. Arrange sweet potatoes onto the sheet for 30 to 40 minutes.
2. Then use a fork to LIGHTLY flatten each piece (they will be soft, so try not to press too hard or they will end up breaking and mashed).
3. Mix together the butter, garlic and parsley. Pour the mixture over each sweet potato, along with the Parmesan Cheese.
4. Bake about 15 minutes after you put butter mixture and cheese on the slices. Remove from oven,

To Serve:

1. Season with a little extra salt and parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

*Look for long sweet potatoes that are fairly wide in diameter. I found the fatter, the better (larger smashed sweet potato pieces)

BLT Sushi

Ingredients

• 10 slices bacon
• 2 tbsp. mayo
• 1 c. chopped tomatoes
• 1 c. shredded romaine
• kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. On a large baking sheet with a wire rack placed on top, line 5 slices bacon side by side. Lift one end of every other bacon slice and place another bacon slice on top of the lifted pieces. Lay the slices back down. Next, lift opposite bacon slices back and place a bacon slice on top. Lay the slices back down. Repeat the weaving process until you have a bacon weave of 5 strips by 5 strips.
2. Bake until cooked but still pliable, 20 minutes.
3. Pat bacon weave with paper towels to drain fat and transfer to a piece of saran wrap (helps for rolling!).
4. Spread a thin layer of mayo on top of bacon weave, then top with tomatoes (keep them on the bottom 1/3 for easier rolling) and romaine. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Starting from the bottom, tightly roll, then slice.

My Weaving - I did pretty darn good!

I changed this recipe a tad.  I used "Turkey" bacon for the bacon, "Sour Cream" for the mayo (I don't like mayo.), and salsa for the tomatoes (my sister don't like tomatoes).  

My only issue was that I wasn't able to cut it into sushi rolls; I don't know if my knife wasn't sharp enough, or I didn't have it rolled tight enough.  It all came apart, but that was ok, since it tasted so delicious!!!  If you have a chance, you've got to try this!!!!

Double Decker Mexican Pizza

The original recipe is below, which I bet tastes amazing.  I wanted to be able to make it a little healthier.  So, I replaced the premade pizza crusts with "BFree" seed wraps and used light cheese and sour cream.

2 premade pizza crusts, such as Molinaros approx 10 inch round

1/2 cup refried beans, more or less to taste

1 lb cooked ground beef, seasoned with your choice of taco seasoning, divided

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

3 cups shredded cheese, a combination of Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar, divided

1/2 cup enchilada sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a round pizza pan place 1 pizza crust. Spread beans, half the ground beef, and half the cheese.

Add second crust. Add enchilada sauce, remaining beef, tomatoes, and cheese. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

*It's a little messy putting together, but it tasted really good.

Nashville WhatLiftsYou wings!!

This is the largest WhatLiftsYou mural that Kelsey Montaque has done yet. It's 20 feet high, took 60 paint pens with a very large boom lift.  The wings, are located at 302 11th Ave S in The Gulch close to the "Juice Bar" and "Biscuit Love".

I'm on a mission to see as many murals in Nashville that I can, this one has been on my list for several weeks now.  Since it was such a pretty day yesterday, I picked Robin up from work.  Then proceeded to the Gulch.  It was so worth it; such an amazing mural, and it just makes you feel good.  The name "Nashville WhatLiftsYou wings" is perfect.  

Another great reason to love these wings is that  Country music platinum-selling singer and songwriter Eric Paslay has requested the original creator of the pair of angel wings mural, Kelsey Montague, to paint a replicated set of wings for Paslay to take on his tour in dedication for his latest single “Angels In This Town”. His fans will be able to take pictures with this replica of wings.  Paslay has also formed a partnership with Dexcom by creating a website in hopes to spread positivity by helping raise awareness of type 1 diabetes and the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring for those who have the disease.  During a tour stop in Denver, Paslay and Montague made a visit to the children and staff of the Seacrest Studios at Children’s Hospital Colorado where  Paslay performed and Montague handed out her wing artwork in the form of coloring sheets.

After seeing the wings and taking several selfies, we strolled the streets of "The Gulch" and took in some sunshine.  My favorite past time is to people watch, you see them with their dogs, by themselves or with someone else.  There are so many cultures and styles, I'm always surprised and amazed.

There was a restaurant there that we had not eaten at yet so we tried out City Fire.  It's a casual American restaurant that features home made comfort food.   I had meatloaf, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and mac-n-cheese, while Robin had crab cakes and broccoli.  The Yukon gold mashed potatoes were the bomb!

After our amazing meal and great company, I took Robin back to her car and we drove home.  It was such a treat to be able to do something a little different.  The work week can get a little stressful.  

What does it mean, What's the Thought behind the Picture?

German duo, Herakut painted a dog holding onto a little girl reading ” One day I will rescue your brother to

The "Nashville Walls Project", sponsored by Gibson Custom Guitars, will bring eight of the world’s top street artists to design and paint a series of murals across the walls of some of downtown Nashville’s oldest buildings, between 1 May and 1 July 2016.  The interactive event encourages the public to watch the artists paint and chat with them while they create. The artists who will participate are Herakut (Germany), Rone (Australia), Niels Muelman (Amsterdam), Adele Renault (Amsterdam), Hush (England), Mars1 (USA), Mike Shine (USA) and Curiot (Mexico). The idea behind the project is to encourage art, especially public art, in all its forms. “Nashville has always been known as an arts city, and the ‘Nashville Walls Project’ will add to the City’s ‘visual arts’ image.

I saw this picture on a building last week while walking out of a parking garage across from The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville.  I'm really into art, not so much abstract, but I try.  This mural just caught my eye and I wanted to understand it.   So does it mean that an animal could save a family, is the dog a metaphor for security or protection, or does it have some other meaning?

I'll probably continue to wonder and search to find out the meaning of this painting, but I think that's what the artist wants.  Herakut did an outstanding job on this mural.

If you have any thoughts about the mural's meaning, please let me know. 

The "Minister's" Tree House

Located in Crossville, Tennessee, the Minister’s House took Horace Burgess 14 years to build around an 80-foot-tall white oak tree, with a diameter of 12 feet. The wooden edifice itself is 97-feet-tall and it’s supported by six other strong trees that act like natural pillars.

Burgess says he started working on this giant tree house after he had a vision back in 1993. God spoke to him and said: “If you build me a tree house, I’ll see you never run out of material.” And so he spent the next 14 years building God’s tree house, using only salvaged materials, like pieces of lumber from garages, storage sheds and barns. So, as far as Horace is concerned, God did provide him with all the materials he needed.

Although he never bothered to measure Minister’s House (he estimates it must be about 8,000 to 10,000 square feet), he did count the nails he had to hammer into it, 258,000. It cost the 56-year-old landscape architect around $12,000 to construct the world’s biggest tree house.

Officially this is a closed attraction on private property due to the fire Marshall, and there are posted "No Trespassing" signs.The word is "No one cares." No one cares, no one will report you going in, no one cares if you take pictures, and everyone is trying to save it. It is still trespassing to go in, of course, but the liability is yours, and yours alone.

When I saw the "No Trespassing Signs"; which one of them said absolutely no vandalism, smoking or sex allowed, they sorda threw me!  I try so hard to be law abiding; so Robin and I were content on  taking pictures from afar.  Then Robin and I looked up and saw a couple climbing through the gate.  They had tattoos all over their body, and one had spikes in her nose and in her ears.  I should not judge a person by their appearance, they were the sweetest people that I have met in a long time.  They told us that we had to walk down, it was so amazing to see up close.

I'm not saying that I trespassed; I am saying that short legs are not good when you are trying to climb over a fence into grass as high as me or higher.  The couple were exactly right that you have to see it up close!  I just can't believe it is sitting there, and the fire marshal will not work with the minister to get it reopened.  This would be such an attraction again, and bring so many people into the area to help the economy.

The funny part is that when I'm worried; I start itching, and I have to scratch.  So I itched from the time I was close to the structure until I was off the property, and every time that Robin told me that I trespassed (I'm not admitting that)!  Even today while I"m typing this post, I start itching.  

I'm going to look at it this way; I didn't do everything that was stated on that "No Trespassing" sign; I didn't vandalize, have sex (darn), so it's not that bad.  

I hope it gets back open soon!

his is the most amazing place I have ever been. I talked to several people at the "outlet center" just down the road, and they all said the same thing: "No one cares." No one cares, no one will report you going in, no one cares if you take pictures, and everyone is trying to save it. It is still trespassing to go in, of course, but the liability is yours, and yours alone.
The structure is very sound, and there is an amazing swing that hangs all the way from the top. There is a room full of huge wood carved statues, which are simply incredible.
[Lore, 06/21/2014]

Officially this is still a closed attraction on private property, and there are posted "No Trespassing" signs.

- See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/13746#sthash.CWs76fjY.dpuf

his is the most amazing place I have ever been. I talked to several people at the "outlet center" just down the road, and they all said the same thing: "No one cares." No one cares, no one will report you going in, no one cares if you take pictures, and everyone is trying to save it. It is still trespassing to go in, of course, but the liability is yours, and yours alone.
The structure is very sound, and there is an amazing swing that hangs all the way from the top. There is a room full of huge wood carved statues, which are simply incredible.
[Lore, 06/21/2014]

Officially this is still a closed attraction on private property, and there are posted "No Trespassing" signs.

World's Largest (aka Minister's) Treehouse
Yup. Closed. Padlocked. Plethora of NO TRESPASSING signs. Shut down by the fire marshall. No one to be found with whom to negotiate a visit.
[Jason, 10/28/2012]

Luckily for Human Civilization, the treehouse isn't going anywhere (it's just too big). We hope that the minister and fire marshall can resolve their differences, and that the treehouse can reopen to the public sooner rather than later.

- See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/13746#sthash.CWs76fjY.dpuf

Jailers Inn Bed & Breakfast

Jailer's Inn Bed & Breakfast - Bardstown, KY

The Jailer's Inn is located at 111 West Stephen Foster Avenue in Bardstown, Kentucky (Nelson County).

The Jailer's Inn, now a bed and breakfast, was the former Nelson County Jail. It was in operation from 1797 until 1987, and today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The front building is the oldest, constructed in 1819. The back building was constructed in 1874, and it is surrounded by a tall stone wall.

Now, being able to sleep in an old jail is cool enough. But it's even better when it's supposedly haunted! Many visitors see the prisoner's ghosts roaming the halls, and almost everyone has heard unexplainable footsteps while staying there. One of the most well known ghosts at the jail is that of Martin Hill. Martin Hill was convicted of the murder of his wife, and was sentenced to execution by hanging. The execution was scheduled to take place at the gallows behind the Nelson County Jail. However, he died in his cell before they could hang him. His death was very painful, and witnesses claimed they could hear him crying and moaning in agony from his cell. Some believe it was the spirit of his wife who slowly killed him in revenge.





I hadn't read the ghost stories before staying at The Jailer's Inn; I thought I saw someone write on the wall, and I heard a crying baby.  There were no guests that had children.  Robin thought she saw the night gown on the wall move.  


You know, I don't know if these were ghosts sighting or that we were way tired!  The most scariest thing that happened to us was that we had to walk through the graveyard from the parking lot behind the inn after going to "The Stephen Foster Story" at around midnight.  I was being brave and trying to scare my big sis, and then I started to get scared.  


Then we got to the front door and the key that the inn keeper had given us didn't work no matter how hard we tried.  So, we had to wake up the inn keeper to get in.  The next morning when we went out for breakfast; I was so frustrated with that front door lock from the night before that I left it open.  The sun was up, it was OK!






In my opinion the room at The Jailers Inn was nice enough; some of the furniture and such was worn out and things were taped together.  I still don't understand that the claw foot bathtub was painted blue.  It would have been so pretty restored, but I guess in a very small town you have to be thrifty.  The beds were way comfortable though.  I probably would not stay here again, but you have to stay here at least once to see if you experience the paranormal activity and to learn all history.  Jails are not made like this today.

They do have one room at the inn that contains the actually jail beds and the original bars.  That room goes fast. 

On the morning of our departure, I found a book on our wicker coffee table.  It was a place where each guest would write a review, and if they had any sightings.  There were some interesting sightings.  I wished I have had time to write in that book, but I found a piece of paper with a clue to a riddle.  It was like a scavenger hunt. We found the first clue under a brick by the fire place, and it went on from there.  I believe the answer to our riddle was "Singer"; the last clue directed us to an antique sewing machine that was a Singer. 

Robin and I was off to Louisville, KY after solving the riddle, but that riddle was so much fun and solving it with my sister was even better.

So much fun!

St Joseph Cathedral

This magnificent structure began with the laying of its cornerstone in July 1816. Five years of hard work by its Bishop, Benedict Joseph Flaget, to raise enough money to begin the building had preceded this historical day in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral is the first west of the Allegheny Mountains and is listed by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national landmark possessing exceptional interest and worthy of careful preservation. Having been sufficiently completed in 1819 for services to be held, it rose in the Kentucky wilderness as a monument to the faith, toil, and zeal, of the French priest, Benedict Joseph Flaget, who became the Bishop of the Diocese of Bardstown, and the families of the area both Catholic and Protestant. It truly became a work of human hands! This historic edifice contains fine paintings and other gifts from Europe donated by Pope Leo XII, Francis I, King of the Two Sicilies, and King Louis Phillippe of France, just to name of few.

In 1775, Catholic settlers, mostly of English and Irish descent, began emigrating chiefly from Maryland to Kentucky, an outpost of the crown colony of Virginia. The first missionaries came around 1787. In 1808 the four new Catholic dioceses, created at the request of Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, included Bardstown along with Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The new diocese of Bardstown covered almost the entire Northwest Territory, south to New Orleans and as far north as Detroit. 

In 1811, three years after he was appointed, Bishop Flaget arrived at Bardstown, traveling down the Ohio River by flatboat and overland from Louisville by wagon, accompanied by a group of seminarians. Bishop Flaget was able to build a small brick church near Bardstown, named St. Thomas. Soon he was consumed with the idea of erecting a cathedral of majestic proportions. Since most of the settlers were very poor, people contributed their materials and their labor as carpenters and masons to build the cathedral.

Architect and builder of the cathedral was John Rogers of Baltimore. Bricks were baked on the grounds, and solid tree trunks cut from the wilderness were lathed in a circular pattern to form the stately columns supporting the building. 

The Cathedral was consecrated in 1819, though the interior was not fully completed until 1823. When the Episcopal See was moved forty miles away to the fast growing city of Louisville in 1841, St. Joseph's became a parish church, hence, the title "proto-cathedral." In 1995 Bardstown was named a titular see by the Vatican for its contributions to Catholic Church heritage in America. Once again, Bardstown, only one of three titular dioceses in the U.S., has a bishop, though in an honorary capacity. 

St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral complex, which includes Spalding Hall and Flaget Hall of what was originally St. Joseph College, is on the National Historic Register.

Today St. Joseph Cathedral is a thriving Catholic parish with more than 4,900 individuals and 1,900 families.  It is the largest parish outside of Jefferson County.

The St. Joseph Elementary, St. Joseph Montessori Children's Center and Bethlehem High School has over 150 full or part-time employees and serves more than 700 students.  That is a an accomplishment for such a small town as Bardstown.

Robin and my Mom had stopped by this cathedral to take pictures when we both were very little, and we wanted to do the same.  Unfortunately it was too late to tour the inside, but we were able to walk the grounds and take some awesome pictures. 





 

Troll Pub Under the Bridge

The Troll Pub is located on the site of the original Galt House hotel, built in 1834. A fire ravaged the building in 1865 and destroyed the hotel. After that fire, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad built its headquarters on the site in 1877 where it remained until 1907.  During this time, many Kentucky bourbon distilleries moved into other buildings on the block , using them for warehousing, distributing and as a headquarters, which is why the block became known as Whiskey Row.

The Ohio River flood of 1937 put Washington St and the underground space under water. In the 1970’s the entire building became an artist live-work-create colony. During that time, the Troll Pub space was filled in with 4 feet of dirt and concrete and murals covered many of the walls.

A local investor, along with a developer, saw the vision for the subterranean 6000 square-foot-space at 150 W. Washington in 2010 and transformed room after room of cozy nooks, original brick walls and beamed wooden ceilings into the Unique Underground Dining Experience you see today.

In 2011, after months of digging out mounds and mounds of dirt, the vision for the restaurant began to appear along with the historic bones of the building. While using reclaimed remnants of original building materials that were incorporated into the build-out, as well as adding a hickory bar with curly myrtle wood bar-top, a hidden bookcase room and a concrete floor, the Troll Pub Under the Bridge was opened and has been proudly serving Louisville since October, 2011.

If you are looking for cold local beers, delicious libations, or the best pub-grub in the ‘Ville with a historic and unique ambiance, find Louie the Troll! He is proudly standing at the corner of 2nd and Washington streets, pointing you in the right direction.  Robin and I were fortunately able to take a picture with Louie, same troll that Rick Pitino (Coach of U of L basketball team) stood by.  You can see that picture on their website.

       I had seen this pub online before Robin and I arrived in Louisville; I knew Robin would love it, so we checked it out for a snack when we arrived and after we checked into the new site of "The Galt House" East. 

 

The wings were so good; they boil them in beer before they are fried up and tossed in whatever seasoning you would like.  We had barbeque, Yummy!

 

"The Watauga House"

The "Watauga House" on Polk Place in Nashville has a story to tell.  I was fortunate to be able to visit one of the condos during the "Downtown Home Tour 2014"; below is what I found out about the building.

1847 - James K. Polk purchases "Polk Place", former home of Felix Grundy. He Occupies the home in 1849. He will die later that year from cholera and will be buried on the property.

1891 - Mrs. Polk dies in the house.

1893 - Polk tomb moved to the Capital grounds.

1900 - "Polk Place" purchased by J. Craig McClanahan



WET BAR

1903 - McClanahan donated the city a $12,000 lot where the Carnegie library now stands. He built two large modern apartment houses on the property - "Polk Flats and the Watauga".

1905 - McClanahan dies in Philadelphia leaving "Watauga" in trust for his daughter and wife.

 
 
 

1919 - Building was rented by YMCA - 164 single female residents lived in the building according to the 1920 census. (August 24, 1920 - Tennessee became the perfect 36) The 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified.




1946 - "Polk Flats" was sold and demolished, converted into a parking
 lot.

1946 - 1980 - Continued as an apartment building.

1984 - Renovated for luxury condos.

1986 - Converted to a "Boutique Hotel" - many state legislators stayed during the legislative session each year.

1991 - Converted back to apartments.

2006 - Sold as condos.

2014 - Now celebrating 110 years as one of Nashville's first oldest apartment building. 

The condo that Robin and I were able to see had a wet bar, kitchen, an office, a sitting area and a master bedroom.  The owners had two condos put together to get the room they needed.  Probably not an inexpensive thing.

I was mesmerized by the amazing artwork that they had on the wall!

Youth Villages invited my company to their annual celebration to honor their volunteers! Such a GREAT charity.  It was at the Dan McGuinness Pub on the patio, a fun evening of food, fun and friendship was had by all.

When you arrived you received a shamrock pin, a miniature pot of gold (chocolates), and two drink tickets.   Then they brought the food!  Chips, salsa, these sausage/cheese fried batter on a stick, fried pickles, and sandwiches.   Believe me when I say that I ate too many fried pickles, but I oh so love those!  (I even got to take home to my sister the shamrock plant on the table - she was excited!)

I've begun this scavenger hunt; the Nashville Art Commission gives out post cards of most of the art that they have commissioned in Nashville.  So I take the post card and try to find where it is in Nashville and take a picture.  

Last night when we were coming out of the pub, I saw the "Microphone" bike rack on the corner.  I had that post card at home, and my friend Nicole was nice enough to help me take a picture.  There are 6 of these bike racks in Nashville with different artwork; so, I have 5 more to go!

 Anything to make life more fun and exciting!!!!

Remembering September 11, 2001

 

Today I reflect on 9/11/2001; I can't get it out of my head, and that's probably a good thing.  The day it happened I was sitting at my desk working, and my co-worker Valerie came in telling me to check the news.  I think that day showed all Americans that we could pull together in adverse situations.  

 I was fortunate to have gotten to go to New York City last year; it was amazing to see all the sights, but  the most rewarding moments in NY for me was listening to the stories of the crash and seeing the memorial at the World Trade Center location.

One of the stories that I heard was from a tour guide that Robin and I had while taking a night tour through Brooklyn.  The tour guide had been a taxi driver when the attack happened, and his fare was a couple of business men going to the World Trade Center at the exact moment that one of the planes crashed into the building.  He wasn't able to get his customers to their destination; after hours and hours of traffic and smoke, he was finally able to get them back to their hotel.  He said he would have taken them home with him in the event they were not able to get to their hotel.  

The thing that mesmerized me and that I can't fathom was he told us the one memory that sticks out in his mind the most was that there were millions of shoes on the Brooklyn Bridge.  The woman and I assume maybe some men would take off their shoes and drop them on the Brooklyn Bridge to run fast enough to get away from the collapsing building.  I bet since this happened in NY city that there were some expensive shoes.  

 

Our tour guide gave up driving a cab after 9/11; he realized how close he came to dying, and he just wanted to live his life a little easier.  He still thinks about that day often, and I'm so happy he told us his story!

"God Bless America"