dinner
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
20 | HOME FEAT U RE Belle Meade homeowners turn to M. Steffens Interiors when designing their new home to achieve an older, classic ambiance.
52 | EN T ERT AI N I N G Fall is finally here; let's celebrate with dinner in the greenhouse!
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
OCTOBER 2 02 0
home & design 20 HOME FEATURE Creating a Classic
44 IN THE GARDEN Evergreens
52 ENTERTAINING Dinner in the Greenhouse
food & travel 36 EXPERIENCE THIS
Pickwick Lodge
64 IN THE KITCHEN Oven-Roasted Meatballs
for you
32 WEDDING Mr. & Mrs. Braeden Torian
68 HEALTHY YOU
Nutritional Essentials
74 ON A GOOD NOTE
Memphis Animal Services
in every issue
14 PUBLISHER'S NOTE
10 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
73 SOURCES
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OCTOBER 2020 • VOL. 19 NO. 7 PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MARGARET MONGER | mmonger@athomemms.com
MANAGING EDITOR AUBREY ANN MONGER | aamonger@athomemms.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER GINNI JONES | gjones@athomemms.com
COPY EDITOR TERRI GLAZER
IMAGING COLOR MANAGEMENT CHARLES REYNOLDS | cr@colorretouching.com
ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HILARY FRANKEL | hafrankel@comcast.net
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE GAIL HARRELL | gharrell@athomemms.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CHRIS PUGH | chrisapugh@gmail.com
REGIONAL MARKETING JANA FITE HERBISON | jfherbison@gmail.com
BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TRIP MONGER | tmonger@athomemms.com
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION HARRIET W. DEATON | hdeaton@athomemms.com
HOW TO REACH US 320 SOUTH WALNUT BEND, SUITE 11 CORDOVA, TN 38018 | 901.684.4155 ATHOMEMMS.COM At Home Memphis & Mid South doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. To inquire about freelance opportunities, send a letter, resume and three writing samples to—Editor, At Home Memphis & Mid South: 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018. SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 901.684.4155 or subscribe at athomemms. com. Annual subscription rate: $19.95. Single copy price: $4.99. At Home Memphis & Mid South is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes or omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Trip Monger; At Home Memphis & Mid South,
@athomemagazine
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PUBLISHER'S
Note
W
ell, here we are in October. We’re watching football, enjoying cooler temperatures and drinking pumpkin spice lattes—through our masks! Yes, what we all thought back in March would be a couple of weeks of changing our routines has now become our new (ab)normal. We’ve had socially distanced Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and now Halloween is fast approaching. But, truly, there is no holiday better suited for a pandemic than this; masks have been part of the celebration since day one! Granted, though, trick or treating may have a different look and feel this year. As we head into October I’ve been wondering...Will people give out rolls of toilet paper and individually wrapped hand sanitizer wipes instead of candy this year? Will trick or treaters be required to wear baseball gloves and stand back while homeowners practice their fastballs using fun-size Snickers? Maybe we could all put candy-filled vending machines on our front porches? However it plays out, Halloween will surely look different, as almost everything has in 2020, but if we stay adaptable and creative, we can still enjoy this fun holiday that’s been a highlight of fall for generations. Adaptability and creativity were key in the design of the beautiful home in our cover feature for October. Don’t miss the gorgeous photography and the look at how a team of pros created a new house that blends perfectly into an established neighborhood. Ditto for fall break. Whether the culprit is travel restrictions or Hurricane Sally, travel plans have had to change for many. While a trip to New York or the beach may be out, you can still enjoy a “staycation” closer to home. An overnight in the just-renovated lodge at Pickwick Landing State Park could be your jumping off point. Read all about it in our Experience This article. Rest assured we’ll keep on searching out the best the Mid South has to offer to inspire you to keep adapting until Covid-19 is only a memory and we don’t have to adapt any more. Happy fall, y’all!
Margaret Monger, PUBLISHER PHOTO BY STEVE ROBERTS 14 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
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H O M E F E AT U R E
creating a
CLASSIC
INTERIOR DESIGN M. STEFFENS INTERIORS | STORY TERRI GLAZER | PHOTOGRAPHY ROSS GROUP CREATIVE 20 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
H O M E F E AT U R E
When a couple sold their house in Germantown in 2016 they weren’t planning to build. In fact, the wish list for their new home was quite the opposite. The two neighborhoods they had their eyes on were both long established.
T
hey purchased a house in Belle Meade, an East Memphis area known for its stately older homes on tree-lined streets, with the intention of remodeling it. As plans progressed, however, they realized a redo wouldn’t be feasible. The only option that made sense was to start from scratch. Disappointed but undeterred, the pair brought in experts to create a new-construction home with an older, classic ambiance. “I wanted it to feel like a home that belonged here and had been a part of the neighborhood for some time. In terms of interior features and finishes, we wanted pieces that would be timeless and lasting,” the homeowner recalls. Missy Steffens, owner of M. Steffens Interiors, was on board from the beginning, along with architect Doug Enoch. “That was a great thing, to be able to have the architect and designer sit down with us at the same table when we were walking through how we wanted the house to feel.” The finished product, built by Walker Uhlhorn and Uhlhorn Brothers Construction, is an updated classic designed in a courtyard style to maximize views of the parklike backyard. The peaceful vista includes large trees, lush green spaces created by landscape designer Harry Schuh, and the home’s original pool, with a fresh structural and cosmetic facelift.
In keeping with the owners’ desire to respect and fit in to the neighborhood, Enoch set the structure as far back from the street as possible. In addition to the goal of not overbuilding the lot, the owners again emphasized the desire for the house to feel as if it had been on the street for years. “So many homes in the neighborhood have grown and expanded over the years with tasteful additions. Doug provided a design that gave the far left and right wings a different treatment which subtly felt as if they had been additions to the original house,” says the homeowner. The exterior’s green and white color scheme is the end result of a collaboration between Steffens and the homeowner. “We thought we wanted antique brick, and that’s what we did the chimney and the outdoor space in. Missy and I spent hours driving around town looking at houses, and we think we landed on the right look.” Adds Steffens, “The green creates that cozy, cottagey look, but it blends in well and makes you focus more on the rest of the home.” As for the white painted brick that covers most of the house, the designer says that also had to be precisely the right shade. “We wanted it to be white, but really soft.”
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H O M E F E AT U R E
M
oving to the interior plans, the clients asked the architect to keep in mind their family’s casual lifestyle. “We wanted a lot of open space that would be nice but comfortable,” says the homeowner. The parents to a blended family of three older children knew they would be empty nesters before long, so they envisioned their new house as one that would meet their needs long-term. Enoch came through with a floor plan that has all the kids’ bedrooms upstairs; the downstairs and outdoor area are a custom fit for the couple. “We love being outside so the pool and the outdoor area and the porch...especially in fall and spring, that’s where we are,” says the homeowner. “We have my husband’s den and then our bedroom and bathroom downstairs. We really enjoy it in the evenings. He likes to stay up and watch sports and I like to go to bed, so we tried to make it space that we could enjoy, just the two of us.” From the first step into the bright, welcoming entryway, it’s clear that green is an overarching theme in the home’s design, evidenced in the showcased views of the verdant outdoor space. The rear of the foyer was originally intended to be an art wall, but, at the homeowners’ request, Enoch inserted an oversized floor-to-ceiling window that floods the area with light and shows off the beauty of the backyard. The wall of windows continues in the open combined family room and dining area, and although the couple is thrilled with the expansive views they enjoy, they admit it took a bit of getting used to when they moved in. “We felt like we lived in a fishbowl for a while,” she says with a laugh, “but I think we’ve adjusted. It’s funny how much I love the openness now.” Even the family pet is a fan of the large windows. Otis the boxer “posts up” daily at the front window and watches the world go by from his favorite vantage point. The family room’s furnishings reflect Steffens’ signature design style. “I love something old in each room. But I like to keep things fresh, so we also introduce current materials. I like to try to mix, and different textures are always interesting,” she explains. The room features comfortable seating for the whole family, but is missing an item often included in a home’s main gathering area—a TV. The omission was a request from the homeowner, and one she says garnered plenty of questions. “Everybody asked me when we did that, ‘Are you sure you don’t want a TV?’” She couldn’t be happier with the result, though. “What I’ve really enjoyed about it is when our kids are over for dinner we all end up sitting in here after we’ve eaten and we actually talk. We have conversations and we share things about the week. Maybe we turn music on. We laugh. So I have loved not having a TV in here.” Over the mantel Steffens placed an original piece by Oxford, MS, artist Carlyle Wolfe Lee, who paints en plein air then finishes her works with a stencil layering process. The homeowner says she loves the way its green hues bring the outside in. “The view through all the windows, and the beautiful green siding...it just enhances!”
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H O M E F E AT U R E
The open kitchen’s simple design reflects casual elegance. Classic white cabinets in a symmetrical layout are topped with Carrera marble in a honed finish for a softer look. Steffens repeated the same marble on the full-height backsplash behind the range in the name of design simplicity. She likes the idea of having only a few different materials in a kitchen, and the large island opposite the range has a walnut countertop. The island anchors the space as well as
“I wanted a big island because we entertain a good bit. We have friends over and this is where everybody ends up,” says the homeowner. Behind the range wall lies giving guests a gathering spot.
the scullery, a feature that the family loves having and uses constantly. From the abundance of
storage space in its cabinets to the extra dishwasher and sink to the pair of refrigerator drawers, everything about it gets high marks from the homeowner.
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H O M E F E AT U R E
N
ear the rear entrance, a pantry and utility closet disappear into a shiplap wall, giving convenient room for even more storage as well as small appliances like a coffee maker and a microwave. Steffens calls the area the clients’ “grownup mudroom.” In place of lockers or cubbies needed for a family with young children, she designed the spot to hold a treasured bench and a painting by local artist Beth Edwards that the homeowner says is her favorite one in the house. “As much as I love the outdoors, when Missy sent me this piece of art I knew it was the one.”
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athed in stunning floral wallpaper from British designer Neisha Crosland, the powder room is a showstopper. Steffens is pleased with the way the paper fits into the home’s overall design. “I love the movement in it and the range of greens that flow through the house. The deep, deep greens of the leaves and the bright white background. This just really worked with the whole house. The house flows through different saturations of green—some are more blue green and some are more yellow green.” The room’s only window is high on the wall, so Steffens didn’t have to cover it to allow for privacy. She did, however, have to come up with a way to fill the space between the vanity and the window. A tall backsplash and wall faucets provide the perfect balance, and do so with loads of panache.
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H O M E F E AT U R E
“If this room had white trim or even white mullions on the windows it wouldn’t quite have the same sophistication. But it’s a commitment and it can be scary for people.”
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he saturation of green color reaches a peak in the office, where the walls and all the trim sport the same deep, lush shade. Steffens says going all in when using a bold color creates a refined look. An antique brick fireplace not only gives the room a cozy feel, it also gets regular use in all but the hottest months of the year. “My husband loves a fire, so sometimes when I get home from work he will have one burning in here and in the fireplace on the porch,” says the homeowner. If the office is a man cave, albeit a sophisticated one, the master suite has a decidedly feminine flair. The bedroom is simple and roomy, but not grandiose. The homeowner instructed Steffens to design the space with minimal furniture and no television.
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H O M E F E AT U R E
S
he says, “I wanted it to be a place where we can rest.” The sanctuary feel comes from a custom upholstered Hickory Chair bed with simple bedding and an original Catherine Erb work of art. All Erb’s creations have a different moodiness to them, says Steffens, who chose the depiction of sky and clouds for its serene nature. The artwork is dreamy, but the homeowner says the view out the large window opposite the bed is the most picturesque scene in the room. “I love that I can see our home out this window, especially at night when the porch is all lit up out back with a fire in the fireplace. Doug said more people should be able to see their home from inside their home and we agree.” The elegant master bath gets an ethereal feel from natural light spilling in through a window above the large soaking tub and from the soaring vaulted ceiling. A full wall of built-in cabinets and drawers eliminates the need for a lot of furniture and keeps the space clean and simple.
“Simple is calming to me,” says the homeowner. “Running a business can be stressful, and to come home and have things simple and pretty and comfortable... it makes a big difference in your life.”
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ven though it has been over two years since they moved in, the homeowner admits that the house is still a bit of a work in progress. Steffens has no problem with the extended nature of the project. She says, “That never bothers me because once you’re in a space you can really think through how the family lives and provide an even a stronger design. It takes more time in some ways but at the end, the product’s always fantastic.”
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H O M E F E AT U R E
“We’re still working on layering those last items. I didn’t want to rush out and buy things just to fill the house. I want it to take time and have meaning. To nest over years," adds the homeower.
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WEDDING
Sterling Elizabeth Crenshaw & Braeden Torian M AY 3 0 , 2 0 2 0 | M I C H I G A N C I T Y, M S
Parents of the Bride: Ginger & Ransom Crenshaw | Parents of the Groom: Julie & Scott Torian
VENUE: HOME OF BRIDE'S PARENTS - OAK HILL IN MICHIGAN CITY, MISSISSIPPI | EVENT PLANNER: JAY WALKER FLORIST: TWIGS-N-THINGS | PHOTOGRAPHER: JESSICA RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY | VIDEOGRAPHER: AMBER RIDGE PRODUCTIONS ENTERTAINMENT: SIMPLY STRINGS | BAKER: TOMMIE LYNN TAPP | INVITATIONS: RSVP STATIONERS CATERER: ME & MY TEA ROOM | WEDDING DRESS: BALLEW BRIDAL| RINGS: DAVID KELLEY JEWELERS MAKEUP: ASHLEY MCELVEEN | HAIR: MAGGIE FIELDS
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WEDDING
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EXPERIENCE THIS
Pickwick Lodge
peek inside the new STORY PHOTOS
36 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
BETH PIPPIN TOUR HARDIN COUNTY
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EXPERIENCE THIS
C
ombining the perfect location with plenty of things to do, Pickwick Landing State Park offers a great family getaway. This 1,416-acre state park is located at Pickwick Dam in Hardin County, Tennessee, centered around its showpiece— Pickwick Lake. Book your stay today and be among the first to experience the newly renovated lodge, literally steps away from the lake. The Lodge at Pickwick has just undergone a full interior renovation, a multimillion-dollar investment from the state. This resort lodge offers a fresh, new look in all 119 guest rooms, a welcoming transformed lobby, gift shop, restaurant and bar, plus over 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space. It is now open for guests to enjoy dining and family getaways, events and business conferences. The renovations make the lodge more sustainable. Lighting was converted to LEDs and in the restaurant, the new kitchen equipment is energy efficient. The new setup eliminated the buffet to decrease food waste, transitioning to menu and family-style dinners.
Civil War Relief Sculpture 38 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
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he renovation design concept modernized the interior finishes while keeping the natural outdoors motif showcasing the lodge’s amazing view of the lake. “We took everything down to the bare floors and put it back brand new,” beams Park Manager Andy Wright. The main lobby area, updated with new furniture, has a comfortable feel. The front desk is now more open to greet guests and the gift shop is conveniently located adjacent to the front desk. The centerpiece of the renovation project was the complete modernization of every guest room in the lodge. Wright shares, “We stripped them all down. I mean repainted, new wall covering, carpeting and all the furniture was replaced. All the bedding, from the mattresses to the frames, everything is new. The wall murals in each room come from pictures taken in the park. It’s an interesting aspect, that you get to look at an old photo and try to figure out where it was taken.” Wright adds that he and his Pickwick Landing staff are committed to accommodating guests, whether they seek a relaxing experience or a fun-filled visit including outdoor activities such as golfing, swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing and taking part in ranger-led programs. The park has a full-service marina, 48 campsites in the main campground, 33 primitive campsites across the lake, and 17 cabins. Six picnic shelters can be reserved, the largest of which holds 300 people. Near the lodge are lakeside picnic tables, playground areas and hiking trails. Along with the facelift to the lodge, the renovation effort updated park restrooms and added to the aviary complex. New in the coming months will be the addition of a dog park, a larger courtesy dock at the main boat ramp, and seasonal holiday activities for all ages. The annual Christmas in the Park and Holiday Mart is scheduled for Dec. 11-12 with all the lights, fun and shopping guests have come to expect.
Call the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 731.925.8181 for more information or follow Tour Hardin County and Pickwick Landing State Park on social media. October 2020 • athomemms.com | 39
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DESIGN
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IN THE GARDEN
D
uring the pandemic there has been a huge interest in gardening and outdoor living spaces, as people are spending more time at home. Fall is here and the deciduous plants are beginning to shed their leaves, which creates a more open feeling in gardens. Leaf drop eliminates the privacy that the summer green provides. It pulls back a veil, allowing us to see undesirable views or allowing others to see into our spaces. This is the time of year when evergreen plants come to the gardening forefront. They work well to create garden rooms or as hedging screens to block undesirable views and create privacy. The saying “good fences make good neighbors” also rings true of these living fences or hedges. Many properties have unappealing vistas—the neighbor’s compost pile, the chain-link enclosure for the pit bull next door or the old car on blocks that has been there for years. While this may be more prevalent in rural areas than in town, city dwellers find evergreen hedges useful for creating a sense of enclosure and privacy, which is increasingly important with the current trend of smaller lots for homes. Chances are, we all could use some amount of evergreen screening. I’m often asked for suggestions of plants that are appropriate for use in garden hedges. I recommend plants that are easy to grow and dependable. Nothing is worse than having a hedge that looks great with the exception of one or two plants that have not succeeded, leaving holes in the hedge that are almost impossible to fill with exact matches when replanting. Many of my favorite evergreens can be maintained at any height, but with proper selection of a variety bred to grow to the desired height and width, upkeep can be less time consuming. The right plant in the right place needs less trimming. 44 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
IN THE GARDEN
evergreens nature's privacy screens STORY DALE SKAGGS
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IENX PTEHREI EGNACRED TE H NI S
hollies Hollies are often thought of as great hedging plants for the Mid South, and for good reason. They are fast-growing, easy-care evergreens. There are a large number of hybrids to choose from with over 400 species and thousands of selected cultivars worldwide, many of which make good hedges. The scientific name for all true hollies is Ilex (pronounced eye-leks). Many of them tend to be good, lowmaintenance evergreen plants. One of my favorites for screening is the Lusterleaf Holly, Ilex latifolia, with evergreen leaves over eight inches long. Lusterleaf holly can grow in sun or shade and can get wide and tall over time. Some spectacular examples of the Lusterleaf can be found at the Memphis Botanic Garden. These were planted by the late Mid South plantsman John Pierce. The Chinese Holly, Ilex cornuta, is another easy-to-grow evergreen plant for this region. The name cornuta, meaning “horned,” refers to the five to seven spines found on the leaves of the species. Those spines make this plant great for home security, but not great for gardeners. There are over 73 cultivars of this plant, and some of the less sinister selections are also some of the more common, easy-care ones. The common cultivars ‘Burfordii’ and ‘Needlepoint’ have only a single spine at the tip of the leaf. A hybrid cross between the English Holly, I. aquifolium, and the Chinese Holly, I. cornuta, has given us one of the most common hybrid hollies for hedging in the Mid South, the ‘Nellie R. Stevens’, which has attractive, dark green leaves and plentiful, dependable red berries. Many new hybrids and cultivars of evergreen hollies are available in the nursery trade today. At the Dixon, we have been impressed with the foliage and berries on ‘Liberty’, ‘Mary Nell’, and ‘Emily Bruner’. In general, these hollies are not picky in terms of soils and do well in Memphis clay. Toughness is a big part of their appeal. For more information on this great group of plants with year-round interest, consult the American Holly Society at www.hollysocam.org. 46 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
tea olives In addition to hollies, Tea Olives (Osmanthus sp.) make great screens and these can be found around the entrance to the museum at the Dixon. The Tea Olive Osmanthus fragrans is barely cold hardy for us in Memphis, although with our milder winters we rarely have a problem. The cultivars ‘San Jose’ and ‘Fruitlandii’ tend to be a little hardier if you live in the slightly cooler outlying areas. Some forms of the Osmanthus have leaves resembling a spined holly, hence the common name HollyLeaved Osmanthus. They are much better in cold weather and work well for us. We have a columnar form called Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Fastigiata’ that is very nice. They all have the added benefit of fragrant white flowers in the fall, but the fragrance is not as strong on the HollyLeaved form.
cypress If you have hot sun and good drainage, the blue green color of the Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) makes it a good, fast-growing choice for the Mid South. This plant will grow to almost 20 feet high and thrive on very little water or care.
arborvitae The Arborvitae is a coniferous evergreen which keeps a narrow form without lots of pruning and is very attractive. All of these attributes make it a seemingly good choice, but in my experience, it is not a long-lived plant. It is one of those that will succumb to our heavy clay soils and hot nights just about the time it has made an effective screen. It is one of the common plants that I get asked to diagnose. The form is hard to beat, and if you are tempted to use it the best one for us is the Emerald Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald’) because it has slightly better heat tolerance. Good drainage is important for any of these plants.
EXPERIENCE THIS
cedar For larger screens I often see Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) used. It has an attractive conical shape, but keep in mind that it is a timber tree in Japan and can grow quite large. If you need height but want to plant this species as a screen, you’ll need to underplant when it gets larger to keep your screen. Smaller cultivars are available, as well.
magnolia At the Dixon a large hedge of Southern Magnolia lines the edge of our parking lot, providing a screen for our neighbors to the west. Magnolias take up a great deal of space, but work well for this purpose. The new smaller cultivars like ‘Little Gem’ are probably better suited for most residential lots.
cleyera If you need a lower screen it is hard to beat the Japanese Cleyera (Ternstroemia gymnanthera). It thrives in the Mid South and has a shiny leaf and red or copper new growth. Cleyera grows to about eight feet in height.
photinia The Red Tip Photinia, also known as red tips, was once the most popular hedge for this area, but, as it goes with many plants that are overplanted, photinia has become scarce due to disease. Because the pathogen was so ubiquitous, it was allowed to spread rapidly. A coniferous evergreen with the same problem is the Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii). Both of these plants were popular with nurseries because they grow rapidly, making them market-ready quickly. In recent years as diseases have spread they have fallen out of favor.
Evergreen hedges are useful to create privacy and screen undesirable views, and if you do a little research in selecting the right plant for your location it will save you time and headaches in the future. Fall is a great time to plant evergreen hedges.
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in the
dinner T E X T & E V E N T D E S I G N G I N N I J O N E S | P H OTO G R A P H Y A N N A B E L L A C H A R L E S P H OTO G R A P H Y
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green house
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E N T E R TA I N I N G
the table
T H E A V E N U E | Headquartered in Houston, TX & online, this store is always my first stop! Lyndsey Zorich, the owner, has curated the most unique and special products that take any tablescape or outfit to the next level.
T H E D E TA I L S | STONE SCALLOP DINNER PLATE THE AVENUE | TERRACOTTA LINEN NAPKINS THE AVENUE | TINTED ROSE TUMBLER THE AVENUE | PANALITO RUNNER THE AVENUE | GINGHAM DELFINA DRESS THE AVENUE | SAGE SPLATTER SALAD PLATE & BOWL THE AVENUE | VINTAGE RUG ELLE WOVEN | CALLIGRAPHY MARY ELIZABETH LETTERING
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Fall is here & what better way to celebrate than enjoying the crisp, cool air with dinner al fresco!
Since gathering in small groups has become the new norm, we decided to embrace the cooler temperatures and head outdoors for a small, intimate dinner party for four! This fall, I am loving all the earth tones. When I saw these stunning sage green splatter plates at The Avenue, I knew they would be the star of the table. Paired with terrcotta linen napkins, dark rose tumblers and a pale green textured runner, the colors blended together beautifully. October 2020 • athomemms.com | 55
E N T E R TA I N I N G
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the menu
a p p e t i z e r | sweet potato rounds two ways
1 ) herbed goat cheese, pear, walnut, thyme 2) arugula, fig, goat cheese, pomegranate, basalmic
a p p e t i z e r | autumn cheese board s t a r t e r | roasted butternut squash soup e n t r e e | cider-brined pork lion in a mustard glaze fresh herb polenta with parsnip chips & maple butter d e s s e r t | apple crumble & homemade ice cream c o c k t a i l | eastside rickey
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E N T E R TA I N I N G
the greens
J U N E W R E N F L O W E R S | There's no better pair to call than this mother-daughter duo that's making Memphis beautiful with all things green! These fabulous ladies do it all-help you grow your seasonal garden, container gardening around your home and more. Check out their happy hour plant speak series on Instagram (@junewrenflowers) for all their tips & tricks!
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the house My family is blessed to have been surrounded by amazing friends, or as we like to call them, "our chosen family." The Kakaleses are just that & we have shared countless memories in their greenhouse. Whether it's Cinco de Mayo, celebrating a birthday or friend's recent engagement, or just a wednesday happy hour, I have cherished every memory made with our "chosen" family in this charming greenhouse.
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the cocktail The Eastside Rickey was found at the Wonderbird Spirits Distillery in Taylor, MS. Featuring their world-class gin, just add lime, cucumber & mint-it's a crisp & refresing beverage we will be sipping on all year round! Not only is Wonderbird's gin award winning, but it's fermented from Mississippi Delta rice-straight from grain to glass.
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IN THE KITCHEN
Oven-Roasted Meatballs RECIPE & PHOTO JIM NORTON
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If you love Italian food you will definitely be a fan of these delicious meatballs. They are moist, tender and popping with flavor! Make your own marinara sauce to go with them or purchase two jars of your favorite brand from the grocery. INGREDIENTS
1 lb. ground sirloin 1 lb. mild pork sausage IF YOU LOVE ITALIAN FOOD YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE A FAN 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs OF THESE DELICIOUS MEATBALLS. THEY ARE MOIST, TENDER 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere AND POPPING WITH FLAVOR! MAKE YOUR OWN MARINARA 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan 2 Tbsp. minced garlic SAUCE TO GO WITH THEM OR PURCHASE TWO JARS OF YOUR ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley FAVORITE BRAND FROM THE GROCERY. 2 eggs, lightly beaten ¾ cup red wine (I prefer a Cabernet Sauvignon) ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400˚. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Add beef and pork to a large mixing bowl and lightly break up the meat using your hands. Add the breadcrumbs, cheeses, garlic, parsley, two tsp. of salt, and 1 tsp. of ground black pepper. Blend lightly. Add the lightly beaten eggs, wine, and ½ cup water. Using your hands once again, combine the ingredients. Using a large spoon, scoop portions of the mixture and roll in the palm of your hand to create a ball. I like to make my meatballs about the size of a golf ball. Place the meatballs approximately one inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Lightly brush each ball with olive oil. Bake for 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and set aside to rest for about five minutes. (The meatballs are extremely tender when first coming out of the oven and if you don’t allow them to rest a few minutes they may fall apart.) While the meatballs are resting, heat marinara sauce in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the meatballs one at a time and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. To serve with spaghetti, prepare noodles as directed on the box. For family-style serving add the cooked spaghetti to a large serving dish. Carefully cover with meatballs and sauce. Add a couple of basil leaves to garnish. Enjoy!
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H E A LT H Y Y O U
TEXT MICHELLE JOHNS
M
acronutrients and micronutrients are essential to a healthy diet. Often, we assume we are receiving enough micronutrients through our consumption of macronutrients, but science is revealing otherwise. I find it interesting that while the average lifespan is increasing, quality of life in the elderly population continues to decrease with challenges due to memory loss, bone loss, decreased mobility and lack of energy, to name a few. Research is revealing many age-related challenges can be attributed to a lack of dietary nutrients. The increased popularity of fast food and frozen dinners, along with changes in the way whole foods are grown, harvested and distributed, plays a significant role in bioavailability of nutrients food contains. Most food loses nutritional value as it is cooked (tomatoes would be an exception as lycopene is made available through the process of cooking). “Fresh” fruits and vegetables are often picked before they are fully developed and ripened, hence they never achieve the full nutritional potential only made possible through complete development in soil, fresh air and sunlight. Fish and meats are now farm raised for fast production. This means instead of feeding on nutrients natural to their environment, they are supplementally fed grains and corn to speed up their development in order to get them on the shelf for retail sale. As consumers we are left in a conundrum of discerning how best to meet our nutritional needs. I certainly ask myself questions such as: “Am I getting the vitamins and minerals I need on a daily basis?” “Which vitamins and minerals do I need on a daily basis and in what amounts?” “Which supplement brands are the best?” “Can I get what I need through the foods I eat?” “How much food do I need to eat to get what I need?” and “Which foods help me achieve daily nutritional needs and goals?” As exhausting as the questions seem, I don’t let them overwhelm me. My approach is gentle, but I am diligent and consistent in my quest to understand one of my most important relationships in life—the one I have with food. The key is to eat as much whole food, locally grown and raised, as possible. I also buy a lot of organic frozen fruits and vegetables. Frozen fruits and vegetables are usually better than buying “fresh” produce shipped from far away. Frozen produce is often allowed to fully develop on the vine, then frozen soon after harvest, thus retaining much of its nutritional value. I try to buy wild-caught fresh fish on the days it arrives at the market. I know the days fish is delivered to my local grocery store, so I shop on those mornings. I buy meat and eggs sourced from farms that raise animals in a responsible manner and allow them to eat what is natural to their diet. Additionally, I take supplements to ensure my dietary needs are met. I am always researching brands to determine which 68 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • October 2020
ones are best. Currently, Life Extensions, Garden of Life and Dr. Mercola are my go-to brands. I am not affiliated with any of the aforementioned brands and I recognize there are many other reputable sources, but I have not had experience with others, nor have I identified others I am willing to share. It’s important to eat a diet complete with proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The body’s cells need each of these macronutrients for energy and to support bone, muscle and skin density. However, it is also important to ensure you are getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals, as they help the body metabolize nutrients. You could get carbs, fat and protein from a burger and fries at a fast-food restaurant, but you would be missing out on much-needed vitamins and minerals you could be getting from a meal of salmon and steamed vegetables. Below are some key micronutrients your body needs for optimal energy and health:
VITAMINS Thiamin (B1) – Converts carbohydrates to energy and helps muscles including the heart muscle function. Food sources include eggs, nuts and beef. Riboflavin (B2) – Helps foods release energy. Food sources include eggs, beef, green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and asparagus. Nicotinic Acid (B3) – Is converted into NAD and NADP, which aid cell oxidation. Found in beef, poultry, fish, nuts and beans. Pyridoxine (B6) – Is a cofactor used by almost 100 enzymatic reactions to aid with protein and amino acid metabolism. Found in food sources such as poultry, fish, organ meats, potatoes, spinach and eggs. Vitamin B12 – Vitamin B12 – Necessary for the metabolism of fats and carbs and for combining proteins and aids with folic acid metabolism. Food sources include eggs, poultry, meat and fish. Biotin – Contributes to the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids and utilization of B vitamins. Food sources include seeds, nuts, eggs, fish, meat, sweet potatoes, spinach and broccoli. Pantothenic Acid – plays a significant role in the Krebs cycle which converts food into energy. Food sources include beef, poultry, seafood, organ meats, eggs, avocados, potatoes, broccoli, brown rice (whole grain), whole-grain oats, sunflower seeds, peanuts and chickpeas. *Though all the B vitamins may seem similar it is important to diversify your food sources. Each B vitamin plays a unique role in energy production in the body’s cells.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – Crucial for the creation of carnitine, which transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria (the area of the cell linked to energy), catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Directs the transport and uptake of iron and aids in the synthesis of cortisol. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant! Found in food sources such as citrus fruits, kiwi, red and green peppers, broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe, potatoes and tomatoes. Folic Acid – Essential for metabolic pathways involved in cell growth, replication and survival of cells. Found in food sources such as asparagus, brussels sprouts and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and mustard greens, oranges, nuts, black-eyed peas and kidney beans.
MINERALS Calcium – Essential to muscles and nerve development. Activates fatty acid oxidation, glucose-stimulated insulin, and is a mitochondrial carrier of ATP (energy). Food sources are kale, broccoli, cabbage, sardines, salmon and dairy products. Magnesium – Essential to muscle and nerve action, active in over 300 enzyme reactions involving food metabolization. Food sources include spinach, nuts, seeds and beans.
TRACE MINERALS Copper – Involved in iron metabolism. Found in food sources such as nuts (cashews), seeds (sesame and sunflower), chocolate, potatoes, mushrooms, avocados, chickpeas and tofu. Chromium – Increases the power of insulin action and promotes glucose uptake by the cells. Food sources include green beans, potatoes, broccoli, bananas, apples, beef and poultry. Iron – Essential to oxygen transport, storing oxygen in muscles and releasing it during muscle contraction. Directs the transfer of electrons in the respiratory chain and necessary for red blood cell formation and function. Food sources include lean meats, poultry, white beans, lentils, spinach, kidney beans and peas. Manganese – Involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and glucogenesis. Food sources include whole grains, nuts (hazelnuts), pecans, beans, lentils, kale, spinach, pineapple, blueberries and black pepper. Zinc – Highly touted in the fight against COVID! It is an essential player in over 100 enzymes for energy metabolism. Food sources include red meat, beans and nuts.
Bring a Manatee Home for the Holidays Adopt-A-Manatee
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1-800-432-JOIN (5646) savethemanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte
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H O ME F EAT U R E Special Thanks M. Steffens Interiors msteffensinteriors.com Ross Group Creative rossgroupcreative.com
ENTERTAINING
Special Thanks Ginni Jones ginnijones1@gmail.com Annabella Charles Photography annabellacharles.com June Wren Flowers michelle@junewrenflowers.com The Avenue onlyontheavenue.com Elle Woven facebook.com/ellewoven
EXPERIENCE THIS
Special Thanks Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau tourhardincounty.org
IN THE GARDEN Special Thanks Dixon Gallery & Gardens dixon.org
IN THE KITCHEN Special Thanks Jim Norton thenortonrecipe.com
HEALTHY YOU
Special Thanks Michelle Johns mjohns@transformingwellness.com
ON A GOOD NOTE
Special Thanks Memphis Animal Services memphistn.gov/animal-services October 2020 • athomemms.com | 73
ON A GOOD NOTE
TEXT & PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAS
A
t Memphis Animal Services, the City of Memphis’s animal care and control shelter, staff saw a huge spike in dogs going to foster homes this spring when COVID-19 hit. The pandemic affected every aspect of their operations, and they needed to quickly empty the shelter in order to keep everyone safe. The community stepped up in a huge way, and pets went out the door to foster homes by the dozen! Now that everyone is busy trying to figure out their long-term “new normal” in the age of COVID, offers to foster have decreased, but MAS still has pets that need help. Washing your hands and wearing a mask can help keep you safe from Coronavirus, but they won’t protect you from the fostering bug—that’s one bug MAS wants you to catch. Here are the top three reasons why: •
Fostering can help you ease into adopting a pet permanently
If you’re considering adopting, fostering is a really smart first step. It can acclimate you to the patterns and you may discover that your foster pet is “the
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one.” In that case, you can usually adopt your new friend. If not, that’s great, too; you help your foster in a huge way by teaching them how to live in a home, increasing their chances of being adopted by someone else. •
It helps animals
Fostering saves lives! If just 292 more people had fostered dogs last year, our city would have euthanized ZERO pets for space. Fostering is just that important. •
It teaches you (and kids) selflessness
“Some things are worth getting your heart broken for.” This quote from filmmaker Kevin Smith really sums up how powerful fostering is. Will you feel sad when your foster pet gets adopted? Yes, definitely. But some things are more important than our feelings. Saving a pet’s life through fostering might cause you some short-term sadness, but it’ll all be worth it when you know you’re the reason your foster has a second chance. To learn about fostering for Memphis Animal Services, go to www.memphisanimalservices.com.
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