Tennessee, Appalachian, Southern Foods & More
S11.E21 Zavels Family Farm, Knoxville Tennessee https://www.zavelsfamilyfarms.com/
Pictured are Tammy and Mike Zavels at home at the family table built by their son Zack. Every week on Friday night the family gathers around this table and shares a family meal. Photo from Amy Campbell, 2021.
S11:E20 Genera of Vonore, Making Sustainable Tableware From TN Grown Biomass. https://generainc.com/
Sam Jackson, Former VP of Business Development, Dr. Kelly Tiller President, CEO & Founder of Genera, and Brad Valentine, Feed Stock Manager pictured at Genera’s manufacturing facility located in Vonore, Tennessee, 2019.
S11:E19. 05/12/2024
Lard, Eggs, Making Biscuits with Aliceson and Marshall Bales and the Montvales
Aliceson Bales of Bales Farm, Mosheim, Tennessee, with her cookbook, shares with us the cooking aspects and nutritional properties of lard from pasture-raised animals. Aliceson also shares a recipe for her white cheddar pimento cheese from her cookbook “Bales Farm Cookbook” with the forward written by Dolly Parton. Marshall Bales, currently 17-years-old and the 6th generation to farm on Bales Farm, shares how he started his egg program on Bales Farm.
Molly Rochelson and Sally Buice from the musical group The Montvales talk about their group. In addition, Sally shares how she makes her biscuits. She at one time was the biscuit queen for Cruze Farm Dairy!
Links:
Bales Farms: https://balesfarmstn.com/
The Montvales: https://www.themontvales.com/
Emi Sunshine (sang our theme song when she was 9-years-old): https://theemisunshine.com/
Aliceson Bales, Bales Farms, Moshiem, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell.
Knoxville’s Own The Montvales holding their new album Born Strangers. Photo: Amy Campbell
S11:E18 05/04/2024
Kermit Caughron Striped Stick Bean, Cades Cove, Tennessee
In this episode, we are setting the table with “Kermit’s Striped Stick Bean”. We visit with John and Rachel Davis, owners of J & R Farms in Blount County, Tennessee. John Davis’s great-grandmother is Lois Shuler Caughron, and her late husband is Kermit Caughron. The Caughron family has raised and saved an heirloom bean for generations named the “Striped Stick Bean”. This bean comes from the last remaining descendants of white settlers and residents of Cades Cove, Kermit, and Lois Caughron. When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established, the residents of Cades Cove were made to move out of the area over a certain amount of years. These last remaining residents of Cades Cove are John and Rachel Davis’s ancestors. This family is very involved with a nonprofit organization called the Cades Cove Preservation Association, and a link is below to find out more about this organization and the repository of artifacts and pictures of the families of white settlers who formerly lived in Cades Cove. I (Amy) am actively gathering recordings and information on the original settlers of Cades Cove and Eastern Tennessee Mountains, Native American residents who long before white settlers came to the area of East Tennessee. I hope to be sharing podcasts and radio shows on the Native American perspective through the lens of food over the next months.
For his “Potluck Radio” series, Fred Sauceman recalls Tennessee memories of the Franklin Club and of Raymond Bautista owner of the former restaurant “Raymond’s Fine Foods” along with Raymond’s recipe for Cole Slaw. Raymond’s Fine Foods was inducted into the Tennessee Restaurant Hall of Fame.
There will be the first fundraiser for Battlefield Farms called Gospel in the Gardens featuring the UT Gospel Choir This Benefit concert is to support Battlefield Farms which is a local non-profit organization with the mission of ending food insecurity in East Knoxville by partnering with community members to make fresh food accessable. Other live performances will be featured and food trucks will be available. This event takes place Saturday, May 4th at 6:00 PM at Payne Avenue Baptist Church at 2724 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Knoxville TN 37914. They ask that you bring your lawn chairs. More infoormation from this link: https://www.facebook.com/battlefieldfarmandgardens/
Links:
Rachel and John Davis of J&R Farms, Maryville, TN: https://www.jandrfarmstn.com/
Cades Cove Preservation Association: http://www.cadescovepreservation.com/kermitcaughron.html
Bluestem Hollow Market Day Market and Farm Party https://www.facebook.com/bluestemhollow/
Ben Cohen and Family, Owners of Small House Farm offer for sale a limited amount of Kermit’s Striped Stick Bean seed. They have been saving and sharing this seed and the story behind it. Find out more by visiting their website: https://www.smallhousefarm.com/product/kermit-bean/
Emi Sunshine sang our theme song when she was 9 years old: https://theemisunshine.com/
Kermit Caughron at home in Cades Cove, inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Ruth Caughron Davis., Cades Cove Preservation Association: http://www.cadescovepreservation.com/kermitcaughron.html
Striped stick bean that has been passed down by the family of Kermit Caughron. Photo: Amy Campbell.
Striped stick bean that has been passed down by the family of Kermit Caughron.
Pellissippi State Community College and the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association present the 2nd Annual College Bluegrass Band Showcase with ensembles from Pellissippi State Community College (Hardin Valley Thunder) and the University of Tennessee.
Saturday, April 13, from 11-2 pm at the Strawberry Plains Campus of Pellissippi State Community College
With food trucks, kids activities, and lots of picking. In case of rain, this will move indoors. This is a free event and no registration or admission is required.
On this special edition of Sweetgrass, we visit with 4 people who work together to bring Appalachian Heritage Programming and acoustic bluegrass music together at the Strawberry Plains Campus of Pellissippi State Community College.
We visit with: Evie Andrus, musician and President of The East Tennessee Bluegrass Association
Jonathan Manus, Vocalist, instrumentalist, educator, audio engineer/producer
Allison McKittrick, Librarian at PSTCC Strawberry Plains Campus
Dr. Mike North- Campus Dean at Pellissippi State Community College, Strawberry Plains Campus Links: AppalachianHeritage Project https://lib.pstcc.edu/AppalachianHeritageProject and Campus Dean at Pellissippi State Community College
Links:
S11:E17. 04.27.2024
Farm to Feast, She Diggs Farm, Bluestem Hollow’s Market Day Market
Today we are sitting around the table and visiting with a family and farm and how this family uses their skills to farm, cook, and host elevated meals for private events and, on occasion, community dinners. We visit with Farm to Feast founders Chef Jeff Jorgensen, event planner Jessica Jorgensen, and Jeff’s sister Heather Fulghum, ecology teacher, farmer, and founder of She Diggs Farm, located in the Hardin Valley area of Knoxville, TN. Heather grows the food, Jeff uses it to provide farm-inspired dinners using seasonal ingredients, and Jessica uses her hospitality and event planning background to create elegant feasts on the family farm.
Bluestem Hollow: https://www.facebook.com/bluestemhollow/
Links: Farm to Feast: https://www.farmtofeastknox.com/
She Diggs Farm: https://www.instagram.com/shediggsfarm/?hl=en
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Jeff Jorgensen, Jessica Jorgensen, and Heather Fulghum. Photo: Amy Campbell
Bluestem Hollow’s Market Day Market https://www.facebook.com/bluestemhollow/
S11:E16. 04.20.2024
Morel Mushroom hunt and cook with Chris Burger and Chef Robert Allen, and Asparagus with Kelly Smith Trimble.
Searching for that fifth taste of “Umami” with a morel mushroom hunt, cook, and asparagus. My guests are Chris Burger and Chef Robert Allen of Bluestem Hollow. Plus, Author and Gardener Kelly Smith Trimble. Links:
Kelly Smith Trimble: https://www.kellysmithtrimble.com/
Bluestem Hollow: https://www.bluestemhollow.com/
Kelly Smith Trimble: https://www.kellysmithtrimble.com/
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Morel Mushrooms foraged from Bluestem Hollow. https://www.bluestemhollow.com/ Photo: Amy Campbell.
Chris Burger hunter of morel mushrooms of BluestemHollow, Greenback, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell . https://www.bluestemhollow.com/
Derek Trimble and Kelly Smith Trimble. Kelly wrote the book The Creative Vegetable Gardener https://www.kellysmithtrimble.com/ , and Derek was the Photographer for this book https://www.derektrimble.com/
Chef Robert Allen of BluestemHollow, Greenback, TN. https://www.bluestemhollow.com/ Photo: Amy Campbell
S11:E15. 04.13.2024
Small batch Tennessee Maple Syrup and Asparagus
We welcome spring in Tennessee with Clint Smith’s Small batch Tennessee maple syrup doings. And Author, Podcaster, gardener, and YouTube channel favorite “Digging It,” Kelly Smith Trimble on the topic of Asparagus.
Clint Smith: Clint is available by email, just email me first and I will text him.
Kelly Smith Trimble: https://www.kellysmithtrimble.com/
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Clint Smith holds a bottle of his small batch of maple syrup.
Photo The kind, smart, and amazing Kelly Smith Trimble. https://www.kellysmithtrimble.com/
S11:E14. 04.06.2024
Special Growers, Maryville, TN, offers workforce development training and employment for people with learning differences who age out of high school and special education classes. Their story and Chattanooga Bakery’s Moonpie on my latest podcast and radio broadcast. Hope to have the honor of your good company! Thanks! At Special Growers, they grow culinary herbs and cut flowers and are supported by area restaurants, corporate donors, and community members. Kent Davis is our guest, a founding member of Special Growers, and a parent of a child who benefitted from Special Growers. In Fred Sauceman’s Pot-Luck Radio Series, he features the Moonpie, which has been made for over 100 years by the Chattanooga Bakery in Chattanooga, TN.
Links:
Special Growers: https://www.specialgrowers.com/
Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Chattanooga Bakery, makers of the Moon Pie for over 100 years: https://moonpie.com/about
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
S11:E12. 03.23.2024
Chocolate Gravy and Sausage Gravy
We will be joined by singer-songwriter Verlon Thompson, his food memory of chocolate gravy, and what it meant to him as a kid growing up in Oklahoma. In addition, we will also hear Verlin Thompson’s song “DinnerBell”.
I’ll share with you the recipe I use to make chocolate gravy - and you might be surprised, it doesn’t have much fat in it. The recipe is also posted below.
In Fred Sauceman’s Pot Luck Radio series, he features the “Lord’s Acre Sale” at Hilton’s United Methodist Church in Scott County Virginia.
Links to guests: Verlin Thompson: https://www.verlonthompson.com/ Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Chocolate Gravy Recipe
“Chocolate Gravy” is not exclusive to Appalachian cooking, but it is commonly associated with Southern Cooking. It is typically served over hot biscuits, some people would have this often, for others, only on special occasions. While it does have a good bit of white sugar, it doesn’t have as much fat as we usually associate with gravy. This recipe calls for 1 Tablespoon of butter at the end of the cooking process.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Amy’s chocolate gravy. A note, this plate came from the former Harold’s Jewish Delicatessen. Harold’s Deli was a fixture of Gay Street in downtown Knoxville for over 1/2 a century. It was located at 131 S. Gay Street and closed in 2005. It was owned and operated by Harold and Addie Shersky. Harold and Addie were always friendly and hospitable. This deli was a gathering place for everyone. Addie died in 2003, and Harold died in 2008. Their memory lives on.
S11:E11. 03.16.2024
Tyler Rogers, Chairmaker from Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tyler Rogers from Chattanooga, Tennessee, makes wooden chairs, the old-style way with hand tools. His chairs are as beautiful as they are functional. Tyler also shares his Grandmother Wyoline Lewis's squash casserole recipe. Also, Fred Sauceman shares ham smoker Allan Benton's Red Eye Gravy recipe.
Links:
Tyler Rogers https://www.instagram.com/tr.chairmaker/
Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Allan Benton https://bentonscountryhams2.com/
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Photo: The book Tyler references in the podcast and snacks he had for our visit. Photo: Amy Campbell.
S11E10. 03/09/2024
SoKnoSourDough, Knoxville Tennessee Sourdough Maker
Our guest is Stephanie Carlson of SoKnoSourDough - a sourdough bakery in South Knoxville, TN. Stephanie had no plans of ever becoming a baker. Today, we will hear how she got into this line of work, where her starter came from, some of her products, and how she equips the community to bake sourdough for themselves. Also, on today’s program in Fred Sauceman’s Potluck Radio series, he features novelist Adriana Trigiani on culinary cultures. And we have pulled up another chair to this big TN table here - Jessica Carr, the owner of Girl’s Gotta Eat Good, Knoxville’s first Asian Bakery, is our guest interviewer today with SoKnoSourDough - I’m really excited to welcome Jessica Carr on board here at the Tennessee Farm Table helping to interview Knoxville Food Makers. Welcome, Jessica.
Links: SoKnoSourDough: https://www.soknosourdough.com/
Jessica Carr, owner of Girl’s Gotta Eat Good, Asian Bakery who interviewed Stephanie in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/girlsgottaeatgood/
Old Sevier Market: https://www.facebook.com/oldseviermarket/
Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Stephanie Carlson, creator of SoKnoSourDough. Photo: Jessica Carr, creator of Girls Gotta Eat Good, Knoxville’s first Asian Bakery.
S11E9 03/02/2024
Legendary University of Tennessee Football Coach Phillip Fulmer on the importance of honey bees. The Legendary University of Tennessee Football Coach Phillip Fulmer raises bees and is my guest on this episode. Coach Fulmer is passionate about raising awareness for honey bees and was generous with his time to record this story to advocate for the importance of these bees.
Note: Coach Fulmer does not sell his honey. This is something that he does for the enjoyment of it.
Links: Coach Phillip Fulmer: https://www.phillipfulmer.com/
Blount County Beekeepers Association: https://blountbees.wordpress.com/
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Resources on honey, beekeeping, and how to become a beekeeper: https://www.tennesseefarmtable.com/bee-keeping-local-honey
Beekeeper Coach Phillip Fulmer poses with a jar of honey that he extracted from the honey bees he raises. Coach Fulmer is passionate about advocating for the health of honey bees. He does not sell his honey but gifts it to family and friends. Photo: Amy Campbell 2023.
S10:E8. 02/24/2024
My first guest is Jessica Carr, a young entrepreneurial woman who created Girls Gotta Eat Good, Asian Bakery. Knoxville’s first Asian bakery. Jessica turned her love of baking, many of her mother’s recipes, and a daring leap of faith after prayer into an innovative business, and she is seeing good results. An inspirational story. In Fred Sauceman’s potluck radio series, he visits with Ron Hawkins of Hawk Nest Farms, a wagyu beef farmer located in the Greene-Washington County area of Tennessee.
Links:
Girls Gotta Eat Good facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlsgottaeatgood/ Girls Gotta Eat Good Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgottaeatgood/?hl=en
Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Ron Hawkins, Hawknest Farms Tennessee Wagyu Beef: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Grocery-Store/Hawk-Nest-Farm-435117246687134/
Emi Sunshine (sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
Jessica Carr, Founder of Girls Gotta Eat Good Asian Bakery holding her Kalamay. Photo: Amy Campbell, 2022.
S11:E6. 02/10/2024
Saving Seeds and Stories with John Coykendall
Seed Saving & Stories with our seed-saving pal John Coykendall of Knoxville, TN. John tells us how he became a seed saver, some of the varieties he has saved, where to find old-time heirloom seed like the ones he saves, and shares plus some cute stories. John and I (Amy) worked together in the garden at Blackberry Farm together in 2007, where I learned from John the importance of this heirloom seed.
Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show: https://www.dogwoodarts.com/houseandgardenshow
Many of the varieties that John has saved and referenced in the podcast can be purchased at http://www.seedsavers.org/
John Coykendall on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.coykendall.3
John Coykendall documentary: https://www.lpb.org/programs/deeply-rooted-john-coykendalls-journey-to-save-our-seeds-and-stories
John Coykendall book: https://lsupress.org/books/detail/preserving-our-roots/
Fred Sauceman “Pot Luck Radio”: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Emi Sunshine (Sings our theme song): https://theemisunshine.com/
More heirloom seed sources:
Seed Savers Exchange : https://www.seedsavers.org/
Southern Exposure Seed: https://www.southernexposure.com/
Sow True Seed: https://sowtrueseed.com/
Rare Seeds: https://www.rareseeds.com/
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Rare Seed: https://www.rareseeds.com/
Photo ID: John Coykendall with Amy Campbell at the Blount County Public Library Seed Swap, January 2023. Photo: Amy Campbell.
S11:E5. 02/03/2024
Femeika "Meik" Elliott, Creator, and Owner of Meik Meals, Knoxville Amy Campbell - The Tennessee Farm Table Podcast & Broadcast
Today, we are setting the table with pant-based eating and how this helps new moms. Today, my first guest is Meik Elliott, creator, and owner of Meik Meals. This young, black, Knoxville-based entrepreneurial chef creates foods that give us that comfort of taste while using healthier ingredients. Meik encourages people to make lifestyle choices that nurture the body, mind, and soul. She specifically works with postpartum Mothers to help them feel their best through food, education, and meditation with her Lotus program. Meik also speaks to groups throughout the community about her work.
Fred Saucepan’s potluck radio segment features Cherokee poet and storyteller Marilou Awiakta.
Fred Sauceman https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Femika “Meik” Elliott’s businesses and organizations:
Call for volunteers: Volunteers are needed for the Knox County Community Garden Alliance on Sunday nights at 6 PM. Especially Black and East Knoxville community members.
Address: 3907 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Suite 107 Knoxville TN 37914
Phone: (865) 310-1150
Email: Stair@knoxgardenalliance.org
Femika “Meik” Elliott, Founder, Owner of Meik Meals, Rooted East, The Lotus Experience, and Chief of operations of the Knoxville Community Gardens & Growers Alliance. Photo: Amy Campbell, 2021.
S11:E3. 01/20/2024
Comfort Food for Cold Weather
Chicken Pot Pie recipe from me (Amy Campbell), Hopping John Recipes from the late Minnie Pearl and Phila Hach.
Today we are setting the table with Comfort Food for Cold weather that is also economical. The sort of food that we can make a big pot of and eat on for several days. I (Amy Campbell) share my recipe for chicken pot pie that came about after a failed pot of chicken and dumplings. and I also share 2 Hoppin’ John recipes from two late great Ladies Minnie Pearl and Phila Hach also Mary Dee Dee Constantine also shares a Hoppin John Recipe from Lisa Smith.
I hope these recipes will be something that will help to stretch your food dollar and keep you and your loved one’s warm during these cold days.
For Recipes - keep scrolling below -
Links:
Chicken Pot Pie recipe. This recipe came to me in my kitchen as a result of a failed pot of chicken and dumplins. My dumplings fell apart. Dissolved in the chicken stock, and I decided it makes for the perfect base for chicken pot pie! This is a recipe that will make 8 - 10 cups of thickened chicken stock with chicken. Here are your ingredients -
At this point, you can eat this as is, or use this as the base for your chicken pot pie!
To make the chicken pot pie - Now, I like a pot pie with plenty of stuffing inside. This pot pie is chaulked full of goodness and is not only crust like most pot pies you find out there. This one will stick to your ribs.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Directions -
With the remainder of your chicken and dumplin mixture. Measue 2 cups to each zip lock baggie or glass container and freeze. This way, you can have about 4 or 5 baggies of Chicken Pot Pie base to work with. I think it tastes better and more rich than making a butter and flower cream sauce as most recipies recommend for Chicken pot pie. I have placed the directions for this on my website at TFT.com If you make this, let me know how it turns out! Enjoy!
Hopping john casserole (from "Minnie Pearl") Yield: 8 servings
Measure Ingredient
If using dried peas, wash and discard broken or dark ones and any foreign matter. Place in a saucepan with 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 3 cups of cold water. Cook over high heat about 5 minutes.
Reduce heat. Simmer about 2 hours or until soft but not mushy. When done, drain. Reserve liquid. If using canned peas, drain and reserve liquid.
In another saucepan, combine uncooked rice, 2 cups cold water, and salt. Cook over high heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat. Cover tightly. Simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the water is absorbed and the rice is almost tender.
Meanwhile, in skillet, cook bacon pieces and onion until bacon is lightly brown and onion is transparent.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 1½ quart casserole dish.
Combine cooked, drained peas, ½ cup liquid from peas, and rice.
Pour cooked bacon, onion and bacon drippings over rice and peas.
Cover tightly. Bake about 20 minutes. Makes about 8 servings.
From "Minnie Pearl Cooks, " p. 162.
Note: It is an old Southern tradition to eat black-eyed peas/"hoppin' John" on New Years Day in order to have good luck for the whole year.
Some say you will have one day of good luck for each black-eyed pea eaten on New Year's Day.
Amy Campbell’s Chicken Pot Pie. Photo Amy Campbell 2024.
Recipe for Minnie Pearl’s Hopping John Casserole from her cookbook Minnie Pearl Cooks.
Recipe from Phila Hach for Hopping John from her cookbook Kountry Kooking.
S11:E2. 1/13/2024 Sown in the Stars, Planting by the Signs by Sarah L. Hall. Published by University of Kentucky Press.
From University of KY Press - Sown in the Stars brings together the collective knowledge of farmers in central and eastern Kentucky about the custom of planting by the signs. Sarah Hall interviews nearly two dozen contemporary Kentuckians who still follow the signs of the moon and stars to guide planting, harvesting, canning and food preservation, butchering, and general farmwork. Hall explores the roots of this system in both astrology and astronomy and the profound connections felt to the stars, moon, planets, and the earth. Revealed in the personal narratives are the diverse interpretations of the practice. Some farmers and gardeners believe that the moon's impact on crop behavior is purely scientific, while others favor a much wider interpretation of the signs and their impact on our lives. Featuring photographs by Meg Wilson, this timely book bridges the past, present, and future by broadening our understanding of this practice and revealing its potential to increase the resiliency of our current agricultural food systems.
Purchase Book: https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813197043/sown-in-the-stars/
Dr. Sarah L. Hall and Amy Campbell at Union Avenue Books, Knoxville. Photo: Kelly Smith Trimble. 2023.
S11:E1. 1/6/2024
Good Ole Favorites with Iva Spoon Wilde
Cast Iron Cornbread, make your own butter, fried peach pies, Beef Stew, and “Pal’s Sudden Service”.
Guests:
Fred Sauceman’s “Pot Luck Radio” segment with Pal Kenneth Barger, the man who created an upper East Tennessee favorite eating establishment “Pal’s Sudden Service”.
Links: MAry Dee Dee Constantine: https://www.instagram.com/Skilletsister/?hl=en
Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Emi Sunshine (Sang our theme song when she was 9-years-old): https://theemisunshine.com/
Iva Spoon Wilde at her kitchen table where she served hot fudge cake on Valentines Day, 2023 to me (Amy Campbell).
S10:E48. 12/30/2023
Founding Member Thomas Williams and the beginnings of the Nashville Food Project.
The Nashville Food Project: https://www.thenashvillefoodproject.org/
Amy Campbell and Thomas Williams. 2023.
