February 10, 2023
All About our Chickens
We recently had a surprise cold snap. Of course Jack was out of town, so keeping the chickens healthy and happy was my responsibility!
The first frigid morning, the sliding door to their coop was frozen shut. Eddie
kindly came to our rescue and opened the door and broke the ice on the chickens’ drinking
water. However they remained huddled in their little coop, not braving the cold even for a drink
of water. So of course, I served them their breakfast food and beverage “in bed”! The chickens have come to expect pampering, I guess.
Eddie, with assistance from Jonathan, built a fenced in play yard for their free-range time. They free-range in the late afternoon as the conventional local wisdom is that day predators will be sated by then and night predators will not have started hunting yet. We found a place in Cosby, TN, with metal art, so promptly brought home pieces of yard art to decorate their space.
The chickens eat a well-balanced organic layer feed. Their daily treat is a mix of protein flakes, dried mango, dried peas, and pumpkin seeds. It looks pretty tasty! I also grow them a variety of sprouts—clover, alfalfa, mung bean, barley, and rye. If I don’t sprinkle out the sprouts fast enough, Benedict leaps up to take them from my hand.
Benedict is not our only athletic chicken. I thought Hazel would be too plump to fly,
but I was wrong. We had a guest arrive in a helicopter this summer and the chickens got quite
excited. When I came that evening to feed them, Hazel surprised me from behind, leapt onto
my shoulder, and proceeded to beat me about the head with her wings. The harder I tried to
brush her off, the more she dug her feet into my shoulder. When I finally pried her off, she looked at me as though she were saying “You need to take better care of us!”
Hmmm, so far two of our chickens can do tricks. If I get Poached, Scrambled, Quiche, and Omelet to follow suit, we could have a vaudeville act!
We have learned that happy chickens reward us with lovely eggs! They c0me in dark chocolate brown, brown spotted, blue, green, and pink. They have brilliant orange yolks and are
delicious. I hope you will have a chance to try some when you are here.
A Bountiful Brunch Recipe
Thinking about our chickens and their eggs brings quiche to mind. Chef Frank Downs is famous for his quiche—he has a knack for tender pastry and creamy filling. But when I am pressed for time, instead of Frank’s recipe I use frozen puff pastry. The following recipe is quick, easy and delicious! We served it during the holidays and rounded out our brunch menu with roasted rosemary potatoes, and Greek yogurt topped with limoncello-marinated berries.
For ingredients and directions, see below.
Goat Cheese Quiche
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
1 T unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups kale and/or chard
Kosher salt
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
5 ounces goat cheese
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
4 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1/4 t black pepper
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Heat olive oil and butter in large skillet. Add garlic and cook about one minute. Add greens and 1/2 t salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens wilt and the
liquid evaporates. This should take 5 to 7 minutes.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured board until large enough to fit a 9” pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, trim and crimp the edges. Scatter the cheeses in the bottom, then top with the sautéed greens. Whisk the eggs, cream, nutmeg, 1/2 t salt, and 1/2 t pepper together. Pour over the greens.
Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling set. Serves 4.
November 17, 2022
Breast of Chicken with Apricot-Onion Pan Sauce
This chicken dish makes regular appearances at Buckhorn Inn. Guests are always delighted to
see it on the menu. The apricots are the star of the dish. The tart/sweet flavor of the fruit
brings out the sugar in the onion. We usually suggest Meiomi Chardonnay as a good pairing.
The aromas of stone fruit in the wine work well with this dish. To complete your Buckhorn
Evening in our own home, don’t forget to take home our logo stemless wine glasses! You will
find them for $12 in the gift shop.
3 1/2 oz dried apricots
4 skin-on boneless chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper
1 T olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
2 thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
1/2 c dry white wine
1 1/2 c chicken stock
2 T apricot preserves
1 T unsalted butter
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Rehydrate the apricots by covering them with hot water and letting
then stand for 15 minutes, then drain. Season the chicken and cook in hot oil until the skin is
golden brown. Turn and cook 3 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet and roast for 15
minutes. Meanwhile, cook the onion, garlic, thyme and bay leaf in the skillet until the onion is
tender. Add the wine and boil until reduced by half, scraping up the browned bits. Add the
stock, apricots and preserves. Bring to a boil. Cook until the sauce thickens. Remove from
heat and stir in butter. Discard the thyme and bay leaf. Season. Plate the chicken and spoon
the sauce over it. Makes four servings.
Historical Places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1. Walker Sisters Place
The Walker Sisters Place is a log cabin located in the Little Greenbrier section of the National Park. The Walker Sisters spent their entire lives in the cabin, which was built by their grandfather in the 1840s. When the Walker Sisters’ father died in 1921, the property was left to the sisters, who then took on all the responsibilities on the farm for more than 40 years, including raising livestock, growing vegetables and even making their own clothes! When the National Park was established, the Walker Sisters remained living in their cabin and became quasi-ambassadors of the park. Visitors to the park had the opportunity to chat with the sisters, who sold homemade treats and toys. Although the Walker Sisters are no longer there, you can still go see the historic cabin today!
2. Cades Cove
Cades Cove attracts more than 2 million visitors per year, and is the most-visited section of the national park! That’s because not only does it offer great chances to view wildlife, but it’s full of a number of historic buildings and landmarks. You can find John Oliver’s cabin, one of the oldest historical structures in the National Park. The cabin was built in the early 1820s by John and Lucretia Oliver, who were the first to come to this area of the Smokies. You can also see 3 beautiful churches that each come with their own unique history. There’s the Primitive Baptist Church, the Missionary Baptist Church and the Methodist Church. And we can’t forget to mention the John Cable Grist Mill. The Cable Mill was built in the early 1870s and processed logs, wheat and corn. The mill is still functional, and visitors can purchase its corn meal at the Cades Cove Visitor Center seasonally. These are just a few of the many historic sites in Cades Cove!
3. Elkmont Ghost Town
The story of Elkmont Ghost Town is definitely an interesting one. What was once a sleepy mountain community transformed into a bustling logging town in the 20th century when the Little River Lumber Company was formed and a railroad was built to connect the logging operation to a sawmill in Tuckaleechee Cove. Many of the residents got lifetime leases for their summer cottages, but many of the leases expired in 1992, turning Elkmont into a ghost town. Some of the cabins are still being preserved by the National Park Service and are open to the public to walk through and view.
4. Little Greenbrier School
Built in 1882, the Little Greenbrier School is a 1-story building that doubled as a church and a school for the residents of the Little Greenbrier Town. The school was started because citizens of the town wanted a teacher for their children. For a little more than 50 years, from 1883 until 1936, the Little Greenbrier School was a place for the community to grow academically and spiritually. Today, school groups can visit the historic building and learn about the Smoky Mountains while sitting in the old desks.
5. John Ownby Cabin
The John Ownby Cabin, which was built in 1860, was constructed from tulip trees, white pine logs and clay mortar. If you hike the Fighting Creek Nature Trail in the National Park, you’ll get to see this historic log cabin, along with beautiful forest scenery and a mountain stream. The John Ownby Cabin is one of the oldest remaining pre-park cabins in the Forks of the River community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
6. Little Cataloochee Church
The Little Cataloochee Church was built in 1889 and served about 1,200 people who lived in Cataloochee Valley at the time. It is a white painted church surrounded by the Smoky Mountains and was a popular place for community gatherings. The well-maintained cemetery that is close to the church became the final resting place for many of its members. On Memorial Day, many descendants of the early Cataloochee families return to the church to decorate the graves of their relatives.
Now that you know more about these historical places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s time to come see them in person! Learn more about the National Park and plan your visit today.
November 10, 2022
Buckhorn Inn Guests Can Get Wild at Zoo Knoxville!
The 53 acres of Zoo Knoxville is about an hour’s drive from Buckhorn Inn. It is part of the largest species conservation movement on earth. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the zoo participates in a collective Species Survival Plan. The goal of AZA is to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population in zoos. Because so many wild populations are in peril, zoos play an important role in ensuring we don’t lose species to extinction. Part of each Zoo Knoxville ticket sold is donated to conservation organizations to fund programs worldwide.
Yellow-backed duikers live in a habitat similar to its native open rainforest.
The initiative to create a zoo in Knoxville began in 1923 with funds collected to create a park for poor children. The first four-acre plot was purchased in 1935. In 1951 the city took over the park and renamed it the Municipal Zoo. The first animal welcomed to the zoo was Al the alligator, donated by a local family. On Al’s first day, about 4,000 people came to see him.
Zoo Knoxville Firsts
In 1963 the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus donated a seven-ton Bull elephant called Old Diamond. The modern Zoo Knoxville was born in 1971. In 1978, Old Diamond was successfully mated with a younger female, Toto. Their daughter was called Little Diamond. Her birth was a huge achievement for the zoo as this was the first African elephant born in the eastern Hemisphere.
The zoo also was the first in the world to hatch critically endangered northern spider tortoises. Knoxville also was the first zoo in the world to successfully breed the second generation of captive-born Arabian forest turtles and common spider tortoises.
It is noteworthy that the zoo is home to more red panda births than any other zoo in the world.
Fun Activities
Families will enjoy animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, twilight tours and night safaris, and a zip line. Dining options include: Beastro’s, Safari Smokehouse, Al’s Rockin’ Cantina, and Tennessee Dogs. Additional information is available at http://Www.zooknoxville.org
October 25, 2022
Don’t Miss the Chili Cookoff and Winterfest Kickoff!
Bush’s Chili Beans is presenting the 33rd Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff on November 10, 2022. Samples of a variety of chilis, from mild to wild, will be available from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Anakeesta Plaza, 576 Parkway in Gatlinburg. Free, live entertainment will be offered throughout the event. This is a popular event, so we recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance. General Admission tickets are $15 per person (5:30 pm entry) and VIP tickets (good for early entry) are $20 per person. To purchase tickets, please visit http://Www.gatlinburg.com
November 10 also marks the official lighting of the thousands of twinkling lights that will adorn the city all winter long! The Headliner for the Kickoff will be singer Hannah Dasher. She will be performing in the Shade Tree Lot.
While we won’t be entering the friendly competition this year, we are sharing our chili recipe with you!
Chili is a fall favorite! Photo by Green and Great on Unsplash.
Beef Chili
2 1/2 lb chuck roast, cubed
Salt and Pepper
1 T vegetable oil
2 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 sweet onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
24 oz lager beer
1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
3 dried guajillo chiles
2 T chili powder
1 T ground cumin
1 T dried oregano
3/4 c corn meal
1 15 oz can of each, drained and rinsed: dark red kidney beans, light red kidney beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans
Heat the oil. Salt and pepper the chuck roast and sear until browned. Remove from the pot and add the ground beef. Cook until browned. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes. Add back the roast along with the beer and tomatoes. Snip the chiles into small strips, add to the pot, and bring to a boil. Add the spices and 2 t of salt. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Mix the corn meal with just enough water to form a paste and add to the pot. Add the beans. Adjust the seasoning and simmer for one hour. Makes 10 servings.
We like to serve this with sour cream, cilantro leaves, fresh tomatoes, lime wedges, and finely sliced green onion.
September 29, 2022
Buckhorn Hosts Wine Tasting Event in October
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September 6, 2022
Park It Forward
Parking Fees in GSMNP in 2023
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has announced its new Park It Forward
Program. The program includes the implementation of parking fees to support Park
operations. Nearly 4,000 Park visitors responded when asked for feedback on the proposed
plan. More than 85% of the comments received were in support of the plan and provided
ideas directed at making it as effective and practical as possible.
Park Superintendent Cassius Cash shares the weight he carries: “The duty to ensure this park
is protected, to ensure our employees have the tools to do their jobs, and to ensure the visitors
of tomorrow have this sacred place to explore. With Park It Forward, we will accomplish these
important goals.”
Here are the basics of the program, which will be effective on March 1, 2023:
1. Vehicle parking tags will be required for any vehicles parking in the park.
2. Display of physical parking tags in each vehicle will be required.
3. Three tags will be available: Daily—$5, Up to 7 days—$15, Annual—$40.
4. Parking tags will not be refundable, transferable, or upgradable.
5. Each tag will be valid for a single vehicle.
6. Parking tags will be available for purchase both online and onsite.
7. Tags will NOT be required for motorists who pass through the area or who park for less
than 15 minutes.
8. Parking tags will not be location-specific. A parking tag will be required to park in any
designated parking spot within park boundaries.
Watch this newsletter for any updates to the implementation of this new program.
September 5, 2022
Gremolata: An Easy Way to Add Flavor
Have you tried gremolata? Last week the Mellor family celebrated Lee’s birthday at The Appalachian http://Www.theappalachianrestaurant.com in Sevierville. If you have not been there, it is one of the restaurants we highly recommend, if you are not eating at Buckhorn Inn, of course! Anyway, Lee and I both had a lovely trout dish. The fish was split open and deboned and cooked perfectly. It was topped with pickled onions, fresh greens and gremolata.
Gremolata is an Italian green sauce with chopped parsley, lemon zest and garlic. It is a close cousin to pesto sauce. It added a zesty note to our trout, and we thought it would be delicious in a variety of dishes. You can easily create variations on this sauce. For example, you could substitute lime, orange or grapefruit zest for the lemon. You might want to add cilantro, mint, sage, or another herb to the parsley. And adding some Parmesan cheese, walnuts or toasted pine nuts would give a new, and delicious, flavor profile to this versatile topping. If you like a bit of spice, crushed red pepper or horseradish would be a great add-in.
Classic Gremolata
1 small bunch of parsley, rinsed and dried. (About 1 cup of loosely-packed leaves.)
1 clove of garlic
2 lemons, washed and dried
Very finely chop the parsley. Finely grate the garlic over the parsley. Grate the zest from the two lemons over the garlic and parsley. Continue to chop the ingredients, mixing it all together, until the texture is very fine. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for a day. This recipe yields about 1/3 cup.
Lemon, herbs and garlic make for a flavorful sauce.
This sauce is wonderful on top of grilled meat or fish. But you could also try it on top of a creamy bisque, roasted root vegetables, cooked greens, creamy polenta, or any other dish that needs a bright pop of flavor and color.
Let us know how YOU use this recipe!
August 29, 2022
The Fairest of the Fair in Sevier County, TN?
If you enjoy county fairs, the Sevier County Fair will be one of your most favorite! In 2022 the Fair will run from August 30 through September 5. The fairgrounds are located at 754 Old Knoxville Highway in Sevierville. Admission is $6 and children younger than 10 are admitted free.
Attendees can watch the cattle, goat, and sheep shows or wander the exhibit hall. Folks from our community are submitting photography, floral arrangements, vegetables and fruits, and arts and crafts for judging. In the exhibit hall you will find a booth with Master Gardeners just waiting to answer your most pressing garden questions.
A popular exhibit from 2021 is back this year—the Butterfly Haven. This live butterfly habitat offers you the opportunity to walk through and see amazing butterflies and plants. Volunteers will be on hand to provide information on the importance of these pollinators. They will offer tips on how to attract butterflies to your own yard.
Fair Has Something for Everyone
Entertainment options include laser tag, a bird show, a bulls and broncs rodeo, and a variety show.
Competitive eaters can participate in eating contests of sausage, donuts, corn dogs, ice cream, watermelon, pizza, French fries, pickles, pies, funnel cakes, spaghetti, barbecue, hot dogs, and corn on the cob. Whew! Or, you could just sample all the delicious food available and decide who your pick would be for the best of the fair food competition.
Corn dogs, funnel cakes, sno-cones…yum!
Children will enjoy this year’s Farm Fest. Activities include sheep shearing, coopering, wool spinning, veggie tasting, digging potatoes, knife forging, apple pressing and corn shuck dolls. Kids who complete the activities will get free ice cream!
We are a competitive bunch here in Sevier County. Competitions this year include a dog fashion show, a lawn mower derby, a mullet contest, a look-alike lip synch contest, and a skillet toss. A crowd favorite is sure to be the Sevier County Fair’s Got Talent talent show!
A wide variety of live music will be available. Performances range from Rock ‘n Roll hits from the 50’s and 60’s, country, classic rock, gospel, and Motown hits.
We hope to see you there! For more information, please visit http://Www.seviercountyfair.org
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