Carter County Living ARTS H SHOPPING H LIVING H FEATURES H FOOD
FALL 2023
Evan Carter:
A Rising Star on and off the field
‘Made on Elk’
Wants you — literally — to make it on Elk
Dino’s Restaurant
Your Italian home away from home
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'Rldtjeft1ood Batt6ecue Still owned & operated by the Proffitt family since 1948
JUNE 2014, VOTED BEST BARBEQUE IN THE STATE OF � Results of Facebook contest by the State of Tennessee, Department of Economic Development.
Open Monday-Thursday 11am-7:30pm Friday & Saturday 11:00am-2:30pm and 4:30pm-8:30pm
.
_. ... ... .
Closed, Larry Proffitt says, "On The Lord's Day"
... to the mountains that we call home!
'Rldtj e""'ood Batzbecue 900 Elizabethton Hwy. (old 19E) • Bluff City, TN
423-538-7543 3
Carter County Living
The Heroes Among Us: Stories of Inspiration, Artistry, and Culinary Delights The Journey of Inclusion: Special Education in Our Community
As the season changes and the crisp air of fall envelopes us, the Fall edition of Carter County Living arrives with an array of stories that promise to warm your heart and ignite your passions. Among these tales of inspiration, artistry, and culinary excellence, one theme resonates – the emergence of heroes in the most unexpected places.
Our magazine delves into a compelling tale that could have been a simple narrative about the origins of the first organized classroom for local special needs children. Instead, it unfolds into a heartwarming story of love, commitment, and determination that brought the gift of special education to our community. Two remarkable Elizabethton sisters, Sally Shook Harris and Ellen Shook Hutchins, played pivotal roles in this journey. To them, it’s more than a story of inclusion; it’s a testament to the incredible way in which life’s grand design unfolds. Their unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to those in need is a lesson in love’s enduring power.
The Ballplayer’s Ascent: Evan Carter’s Journey to Stardom
In the realm of baseball, heroes are forged in the crucible of adversity. The Texas Rangers, navigating uncertain times, discovered their guiding light in the form of top prospect Evan Carter. As a young boy swinging a T-ball bat, Carter, like countless dreamers, aspired to walk in the footsteps of his baseball idols. Today, he is the embodiment of those dreams. Evan Carter’s impact on the Texas Rangers has been nothing short of sensational. His journey from a boy with a vision to a rising star is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. With each swing of his bat, he breathes life into the hearts of fans and instills hope in the most challenging of times. Carter’s story is a testament to the enduring power of dreams and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As he blazes a trail toward superstardom in the heart of Texas, we invite you to follow his remarkable journey, for Evan Carter’s ascent is not merely a baseball story; it’s a narrative of unwavering determination and the belief that heroes are not confined to tales of old but emerge in the present, shaping the future.
Dino’s Restaurant: A Culinary Legacy
In the heart of Elizabethton, a culinary legacy has been thriving since 1963. Dino Senesi Sr., with Italian roots and a deep love for food, set the stage for a restaurant that would become a beloved institution. Starting as a modest lunch counter diner, Dino’s Restaurant has evolved, dishing out its brand of homestyle cooking with an Italian twist. After over 30 years of dedicated service, Dino Senesi Sr. chose to pass the torch to Kent Williams, rekindling a connection to Elizabethton. Kent’s family, after weathering hurricane damages in Florida, breathed new life into Dino’s Restaurant. Now, it serves as a culinary haven, where saucy Italian delights await. The Fall edition of Carter County Living is a testament to the extraordinary stories that surround us, proving that heroes, whether on the baseball field, in the realm of art, or within the kitchen, can emerge when we least expect them. Each story is a reminder that our community is enriched by the dreams, dedication, and creativity of its people. We invite you to savor this issue, savor these stories, and perhaps discover your inner artist, championing the cause of inclusion, or even exploring the culinary delights that await in our own backyard. And if you know someone with a remarkable story to share, please reach out to me at delaney.scalf@elizabethton.com, for there are countless heroes among us, waiting to inspire and uplift. This Fall, let’s celebrate the heroes, both unsung and renowned, that shape our lives and our community.
The Artistic Haven: Ashlee Springer’s Made on Elk
In every community, there are those who possess the power to awaken the dormant artist within us. Ashlee Springer, the driving force behind Made on Elk, is one such creative luminary. Her new venture is a sanctuary where both budding artists and established creators come together to breathe life into clay and unleash their artistic expressions. Originating from Marietta, Georgia, Ashlee Springer’s vision is to offer diverse subscription levels, providing individuals with a space to nurture their creative instincts. In Made on Elk, inspiration knows no boundaries, and the artistic journey is as unique as the artists themselves. With each piece of clay sculpted, Ashlee Springer ignites the artist in all of us, reminding us that creativity has the power to transform lives.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Staff
FOOD
18 Why Carter County?
General Manager DELANEY SCALF delaney.scalf@elizabethton.com
Elizabethton Ford
19 Why I Love Carter County
Editorial Director ROZELLA HARDIN rozella.hardin@elizabethton.com Human Resources BRANDY TRIVETT brandy.trivett@elizabethton.com
28 Amaretti Cheesecake
6 Made on Elk
Customer Service KATHY SCALF kathy.scalf@elizabethton.com
Wants you literally to make it on Elk.
This creamy cheesecake can be a hit of any party.
10 Have You Been Spotted
Operations Manager SCOTT SCALF scott.scalf@elizabethton.com Marketing Consultant LINDA JENKINS linda jenkins@elizabethton.com Copy Editor JANIE MCKINNEY janie.mckinney@elizabethton.com
20 Evan Carter
Check out these photos from area events
A rising star on and off the field.
12 Upcoming Events Plan ahead for these favorite events.
FOOD
LIVING 29 Speedy Beef Stir-Fry with Chunky Vegetables
Composing ROBIN JOHNSON robin.johnson@elizabethton.com Star Correspondents ANGELA CUTRER IVAN SANDERS LYNN J. RICHARDSON Contributing Photographers LARRY N. SOUDERS KAYLEN CARTER
Stir up dinner quickly.
14 Love will find a way Two Elizabethton women tell the story of their family’s special legacy.
22 Dino’s Restaurant
30 Tortillas de Maiz Up your taco ante with homemade tortillas.
Your Italian home away from home for the last 60 years.
Carter County Livin ART S H SHO PPI NG
On the Cover
In the world of baseball, heroes emerge when the skies seem darkest, breathing life and hope into the hearts of fans. The Texas Rangers, amid uncertain times, found their beacon of light in the form of top prospect Evan Carter. As a young boy playing T-ball, Carter, like many, dreamed of emulating his baseball heroes. Fast forward to today, and he has become the player young boys aspire to be. “It is definitely a dream come true,” Carter acknowledges, reflecting on his remarkable journey. Evan Carter’s impact has been nothing short of remarkable. Having started in 16 games, he’s reached base in each one, fueling the Rangers’ offense, which averages 6.3 runs per game when he’s on the field. His individual stats are equally impressive: a .326 batting average, four homers, 10 RBIs, nine walks, three stolen bases, and 13 runs scored. He’s exceeded all expectations. 5
H
LIV ING H FEATUR
Evan Cart
ES H FOO D
FAL L 202 3
er:
A Rising Star on and of f the field
‘Made on
Elk’
Wants yo u— literally — to ma ke it on Elk
Dino’s Restaur
Your Italia ant n home away fro m home
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‘Made on Elk’ wants you – literally – to make it on Elk *STORY BY ANGELA CUTRER AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED*
A
shlee Springer has a real treat for you – she can help you release that inner artist you might not know exists. Her new business – Made on Elk – is a place where budding artists might sit next to established ones, all making clay come alive. “It’s going great and I’ve had a really warm welcome,” said owner Springer. “We have six wheels in the studios and it’s been nice to get people into working with clay.” Springer, who is from Marietta, Ga., wants to offer different levels of subscriptions so that people will have a place to go to let their creative juices flow. “My business model focused on being creative with clay,” Springer said. “And we’ve had several events already where people get together and make things. Those small6
group events allow them to bond as well as make something handmade.” But that doesn’t mean pottery is the only medium allowed. Since Made on Elk had its ribbon cutting March 31, the business has steadily grown into a haven for artists of kinds and all calibers. “And we’ve had two artist meetups so far,” Springer added. “There are a lot of artists in Elizabethton!” Springer’s artistic endeavors started when she was young and took her down several different paths. “I was originally interested in theater,” the former theater prop maker said. “I had been living in Nashville, and I loved it, but I was looking for a change. All I knew was that I wanted to be in the mountains.” That brought her to Elizabethton’s front door, where she said she’s still using her creative skills, but now in clay. “I love Elizabethton,” she added. “I’ve never lived in a place that would allow me to do something like this. I’m so excited to provide a place downtown where people can make art, display their art, find art or be with other artists.” Springer said she wants to encourage artists to think of new ways to use her studio. “There are different ways this studio can be used,” she said. “Artists and supporters can explore the learning opportunities we’ll have here and join us for events we plan. They can also feel free to suggest other types of meetings.”
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Toward holiday season, Springer plans to have a popup storefront open to artists and admirers in the region. “I want to be more than just a pottery studio,” she said. “I want to eventually showcase jewelry, wood carving and other mediums.”
way to get introduced to the studio and clay making process.” Participants will spend time on the wheel and with their handbuilding equipment, which is designed to get you started on the path to membership. Interested parties can also book one-on-one
“So, I’m not a store or a traditional business. I guess I’m a little bit of an educational opportunity.” Made on Elk’s fall class registrations are open for sessions of the “Crash Course,” which Springer explains “is a great
lessons. Contact Springer via email and visit her website or Facebook page for more information or to sign up for classes and events, including “Handmade Happy Hour” every Friday at the studio, which is located at 526 E. Elk (of course).
“I love Elizabethton. I’ve never lived in a place that would allow me to do something like this. I’m so excited to provide a place downtown where people can make art, display their art, find art or be with other artists.” —Ashlee Springer 8
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SPOTTED You’ve Been
Gov. Bill Lee
Courtney Bean
Logan Engle
Daniel Estes
Tennessee State Representative Tim Hicks
Frankie Bailey
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Photos by: Larry N. Souders
SPOTTED You’ve Been
Photos by: Larry N. Souders
First Sergeant Andy Wetzel (Ret.)
Bill Carter
Nikki Stout
Jim Maine
Vera Peters
Emily Dugger Rock
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Plan ahead with fun happenings across Carter County Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park October 12 Carter Mansion Guided Tour - 11 a.m. - Noon. Meet at: Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion, 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Price is $5 Ages 17 and under, $8 Seniors: ages 65 and up, $8 Veterans & Active Duty, $10 Adult. Register for the event. Join park interpretive staff for an exciting tour of Tennessee’s first frame house. Completed around 1780, this home retains 90% of the original building materials and played an integral role in the earliest community of frontier settlers here. You will learn about the construction and historic significance of the home itself and discover both the known facts and mysteries of the Carter family who built and lived in this beautiful and historic house. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. October 14 Gardening Seminar Series - 9 a.m. - Noon. Meet at: Visitor Center Gathering Place. The last installment for the year of our gardening seminar series will focus on winterizing your garden beds and preparing for spring. Join master gardener Ben Hunter to share his experiences and techniques for growing the garden of your dreams! Meet in the Visitor Center Gathering Room. Solar Eclipse in the Park - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Join us for the partial solar eclipse and view one of nature’s most spectacular wonders! Activities will include telescope viewing, making a pinhole solar projector, interpretive programs, and coloring sheets for all ages. Be Safe! Only use ISO certified solar viewing glasses to look at the sun. Eclipse viewing glasses are available in the park gift shop. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 11:00 ~ Event Opens 11:47 ~ Start of the Eclipse: Total Duration 2 hours 54 minutes. *Please use ISO certified solar viewing glasses or lenses to observe the sun during all phases of the eclipse! Special eclipse viewing glasses are available in the park gift shop. 12:30 ~ “Eclipses, A Natural and Cultural Phenomenon”: What is the difference between a total and an annular solar eclipse? How did early settlers and Native people regard eclipses? What is Sycamore Shoals State Park’s unique connection to the moon? Join Museum Curator Chad Bogart to find out and learn more about this rare celestial occurrence. 1:12 ~ Maximum Obscurity: Eclipse magnitude = 54%. *Please continue to use eye protection! 2:41 ~ End of the Eclipse 3:00 ~ Event Closing All activities are weather dependent. Programs are subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. October 15 Tea Time on the Frontier - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Meet at Fort Watauga.
Price is $5. Register for the event. Anyone fancy a cup of tea? Join Ranger Sarah Vogt inside the Talbot Cabin at Fort Watauga and learn about the origins of tea and its history in the early colonies and on the frontier. October 17 Carter Mansion Guided Tour - 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.. Meet at: Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion, 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Price is $5 Ages 17 and under, $8 Seniors: ages 65 and up, $8 Veterans & Active Duty, $10 Adult. Register for the event. Join park interpretive staff for an exciting tour of Tennessee’s first frame house. Completed around 1780, this home retains 90% of the original building materials and played an integral role in the earliest community of frontier settlers here. You will learn about the construction and historic significance of the home itself and discover both the known facts and mysteries of the Carter family who built and lived in this beautiful and historic house. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. October 20, 21 Death Comes to Sabine Hill - 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Meet at: Sabine Hill State Historic Site, 2328 West G Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Price is $14 and register for the event. Visit Sabine Hill State Historic Site for a unique after-hours candlelight tour of the historic Taylor House. Learn about 18th and early 19th century funeral customs, superstitions, mourning attire, funeral food, and much more. Pay your respects to the deceased at the wake and meet historically dressed interpreters throughout the house and grounds as they demonstrate the traditions and professions associated with death and mourning in Early America. Subject matter may be too sensitive for younger visitors. Parental discretion is advised. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Please note, only portable toilet facilities are available at this time. October 26 Carter Mansion Guided Tour - 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Meet at: Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion 1031 Broad Street Elizabethton, TN 37643. Price is $5 Ages 17 and under, $8 Seniors: ages 65 and up, $8 Veterans & Active Duty, $10 Adult. Register for the event. Join park interpretive staff for an exciting tour of Tennessee’s first frame house. Completed around 1780, this home retains 90% of the original building materials and played an integral role in the earliest community of frontier settlers here. You will learn about the construction and historic significance of the home itself and discover both the known facts and mysteries of the Carter family who built and lived in this beautiful and historic house. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Scary Stories at Fort Watauga - 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Meet at Fort Watauga. Strange things happen around All Hallows Eve, especially at an old fort by the river. But don’t be afraid, Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals isn’t haunted… Or Is It?!?! Join us for an evening of family friendly stories, songs, and tales that are sure to send a shiver down your spine and tickle your funny bone. Be sure to bring a chair and dress warmly to ward off the chill.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Plan ahead with fun happenings across Carter County Roan Mountain State Park
under, $5/adults. Register for the event. An Irish céilí (or cèilidh if you’re Scottish!) is a traditional social gathering that often includes traditional dance, music, storytelling and all kinds of good fun. In honor of our region’s Scots-Irish heritage we’ll be hosting a fall dance céilí at the Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center. Highlights include: Ceili Dances: No previous dance experience is required! These dances are meant for regular people and anyone who can walk comfortably can enjoy learning them. Traditional Music: The Roan Mountain Céilí Band will play a variety of dance tunes to accompany the dances, and a few other tunes in between (traditional Scottish and Irish musicians are welcome to join us, contact Ranger O’Day for details). Light Refreshments: Coffee and hot cocoa will be provided, as well as an assortment of holiday treats. Photo Booth: Attendees are encouraged to dress in festival holiday attire and take photos to celebrate and remember this special holiday event. Dress comfortably with good shoes and come well-hydrated! This is a ticketed event! Adults 18 and older $5 each, kids 17 and younger $2. Volunteers attend free (contact Ranger O’Day for volunteer opportunities).
October 14 Fall-O-Dendron Heritage Festival – 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Meet at the Park Amphitheater. Join Roan Mountain State Park and the Roan Mountain Citizens Club for the 3rd Annual Fall-O-Dendron Heritage Festival. This FREE outdoor festival celebrates traditional culture, food, art and music. Fall-O-Dendron Heritage Fiddle Showcase – 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Meet at the Park Amphitheater. Register for the event. Traditional fiddlers of all ages, heritage styles, and abilities are welcome to audition by video to compete in the Annual Fall-ODendron Heritage Fiddle Showcase at Roan Mountain State Park at Roan Mountain’s 3rd Annual Fall-O-Dendron Festival. Entrance fees are waived for this year’s friendly fiddle showcase and competition. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. For complete rules and to enter, visit: https://bit.ly/heritagefiddle-showcase For questions, please contact Marcianne O’Day at marcianne. oday@tn.gov or 423-491-1383. October 27 Fall Céilí at Roan Mountain State Park - 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Meet at the Conference Center. Price is $2/kids 17 and under, $5/ adults. Register for the event. An Irish céilí (or cèilidh if you’re Scottish!) is a traditional social gathering that often includes traditional dance, music, storytelling and all kinds of good fun. In honor of our region’s Scots-Irish heritage we’ll be hosting a fall dance céilí at the Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center. Highlights include: Ceili Dances: No previous dance experience is required! These dances are meant for regular people and anyone who can walk comfortable can enjoy learning them. Traditional Music: The Roan Mountain Céilí Band will play a variety of dance tunes to accompany the dances, and a few other tunes in between (traditional Scottish and Irish musicians are welcome to join us, contact Ranger O’Day for details). Light Refreshments: Coffee and treats provided. Dress comfortably with good shoes and come well-hydrated! Fun, festive attire recommended! This is a ticketed event! Adults 18 and older $5 each, kids 17 and younger $2. Volunteers attend free (contact Ranger O’Day for volunteer opportunities).
December 16 Christmas Craft Spectacular! 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Meet at Conference Center. Price is $5 age 4 and under, $10 age 5 and over. Register for the event. ‘Tis the season! Join Rangers O’Day, Hylen and Holland and our Interpretive staff for an afternoon of festive Christmas crafts, treats & holiday cheer! We’ll be making traditional and nature-themed ornaments, decorating cookies, and enjoying Christmas refreshments and music! Fee covers instruction, materials, and refreshments. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
December 16 Christmas Céilí at Roan Mountain State Park - 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Meet at the Conference Center. Price is $2/kids 17 and 13
Two Elizabethton women tell the story of their family’s special legacy — Love will find a way
T
At a family outing, sisters, Sally Shook Harris, left, and Ellen Shook Hutchins, right, enjoy the day with their brothers, George Vining, left, and Joe Shook, right.
*STORY BY LYNN J. RICHARDSON AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED*
his could have been a basic story, simply telling the events leading up to the first organized classroom for local special needs children. Instead, it is the story of how a family’s love, commitment and determination brought special education to the schools in our community. Two Elizabethton sisters, Sally Shook Harris and Ellen Shook Hutchins, were part of that journey and the way they look at it, it is also a story of the “incredible way God’s plan comes together.” In the late 1930s when J. Ogden Shook and Florence Lucille “Tommie” Shook met in Knoxville, they had no idea where life would take them. Tommie was in nursing school and Ogden was in engineering school at the University of Tennessee. They married and moved to Elizabethton in 1940, where Odgen worked at North American Rayon Corpora-
tion and Tommie worked as an RN at the Franklin Hospital. In 1943, the couple had their first child. Her name was Becky and tragically, only five years later, she died — the first child in Carter County to pass away in the polio epidemic. Their second daughter, Sally, was born in 1946, and their son, Joseph Ogden (Joe) Shook, was born July 5, 1949. Joe was a Down Syndrome child. “In those times, Down Syndrome children were often kept at home and were rarely seen in public,” Sally explained. But her parents did just the opposite, she said. They took Joe to church with the family from the time he was born. When the family went out, Joe was with them. “He was a precious, sweet, and loving child,” Sally recalls. “He had all the experiences that every other child had – eating out, 14
Dedicated teacher and family friend, Vera Johnson, holds Joe Shook out on the backyard playground outside the Shook’s West D Street home where the first special education classroom was located.
swimming, parties, vacations, church, playing with friends, etc. I never considered Joe any different because he wasn’t. We were a happy, active, normal family…and I’ve often said that Joe was the sweetest, most patient and loving member of our family.” In the spring of 1955, the normal time for Joe and other children his age to start school, Joe’s mother took him to register in Elizabethton City Schools for the fall. “She was told at registration there were no classes for ‘children like Joe’ and that he could not go to school,” Sally recalls. “I remember her being very upset and disappointed.” Her parents refused to take “no” for an answer. They contacted the Superintendent of Schools, Tommy Dugger, and asked that Joe be allowed to attend school. Dugger told the couple there was no program or classroom space for these students. However, Dugger did offer some hope. He said the school system would provide a teacher, but in order for that to happen, about 10-12 potential
students would have to be identified. That was a tall order, Sally said. “Remember these children – for the most part – were unknown because parents kept them in the privacy of their homes. But when the search for these special children began, they almost came out of the woodwork. The number of children needed to create a class were identified very quickly. Other parents wanted them in school, too.” After locating the required number of students, only one more roadblock remained – finding a classroom for them to meet. Ogden and Tommie had a plan for that too. In the summer of 1955, the couple brought a construction team into their West D Street split-level home. They had decided their drive-under garage, located at the front of the house, would be the perfect place for a room and bathroom suitable for a school classroom. The construction was completed quickly, and just in time for school to begin. And so that summer, SuperintenThe Shook family, relaxing in their West D Street home. Left to right are J. Ogden Shook, Joe Shook, Sally Shook (Harris) dent Dugger sent a teacher to George and Florence Lucille “Tommie” Shook. Peabody College in Nashville for
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special training and certification to teach these special children. Her name was Vera Johnson. “When Elizabethton City Schools started their 1955-56 school year, the first special education class started on West D Street, Elizabethton,” Sally said. “My father and some friends built special playground equipment and it was placed in the backyard so the children could enjoy physical education and recess just like the children in other schools. The equipment they built is still standing today – almost 65 years later.” During the time on West D Street, Mrs. Johnson and an aide taught and loved their students, Sally recalls. A high school stuCelebrating the Christmas holidays are parents, Ogden and Joye dent walked up each day from Shook, with children, left to right, Joe Shook, George Vining, Ellen Elizabethton High School, (the current T. A. Dugger Junior High Shook (Hutchins) and Sally Shook (Harris). School) to fix soup and sandwiches for lunch on a hotplate for the children. The special education class met in the classroom on West D Street for about four years, and then a new classroom was provided at Lynn Avenue Elementary School. “I wonder if Mr. Dugger ever realized what an impact his decision to listen to these parents would have on education in Elizabethton, Carter County, and possibly the entire region?” Sally added. And so, life went on for the Shook family in the usual way until 1959. That year Ogden lost his wife, and Sally and Joe – ages 13 and and 10 – lost their mother. He was now a widower with two young children, one of whom had special needs. And it is at this point that Ogden’s youngest child, Ellen Shook Hutchins, relates the rest of her family’s story: “At that time, in Lake The children in Vera Johnson’s classroom enjoyed recess in the Charles, Louisiana, my mother, backyard of the Shook home on West D Street on sturdy playJoye Vining, was a widow with ground equipment built by Ogden Shook. It is still standing today, a three-year-old son, George, 65 years later. 16
who also had Down Syndrome. One day in early 1960, she was outside hanging up her laundry and her neighbor came running out to her with a copy of Reader’s Digest. In the publication, there was an article about a pastor who was starting a mailin dating service. It apparently was a pretty intense application process – references from a pastor and business/community leaders were required. My mom’s neighbor insisted that mom request an application, and she helped her with the pages- long process.” As it turned out, Sally and George’s dad, Ogden, also subscribed to Reader’s Digest, and he, too, had requested an application. And so, in April of 1960, those two people were ‘matched’ because they both had sons with Down Syndrome. And so the courtship began. Ogden and Joye started corresponding by mail and eventually talked on the phone. That fall, Ogden invited Joye to come for a visit. “Mom drove the whole way here, stopping in Little Rock to drop George off with her parents,” Ellen said. “When she got to Elizabethton, I’m sure she was given the royal treatment. I feel certain they went to a Cyclones football game, and then they went to a UT football game on that Saturday.” On Sunday, Ogden proposed. “He was smart,” Ellen said. “He had Sally, who was now a high school freshman, do the proposal. Mom accepted immediately, went back to Louisiana to quit her job and sell her house. She returned on November 4, and they got married after church that Sunday, the 6th. “I will add here that their friends, Bob and Marjorie Nelle Cardwell, were also very instrumental in the community of
special education – and in my parent’s courtship,” Ellen noted. Four years later, in 1964, Ellen was born. By this time George was 8, Joe was 15, and Sally was 18. And even though the family dynamics had changed, Ellen said her mother, Joye, jumped right in supporting the kids with needs in the community. “They didn’t skip a beat,” she said of her parents. “I vividly recall being part of this group of young special people who were so actively involved in the community. I learned to bowl with them on Wednesday afternoons, and square danced with them on Monday nights. The activities my parents and so many others arranged for them was amazing.” Ellen also remembers the special education class moving from Lynn Avenue School to Harold McCormick when it was built, and she has fond memo-
ries of the city’s first special education teacher, Vera Johnson, who she described as “truly one of a kind.” “I know for sure she taught through at least 1970, possibly 1971,” Ellen said. “She really became like a member of our family, long after she retired from teaching. She often came to Joe and George’s birthday parties, up until she passed away in the 1990s.” In 1972, the Shook family once again had to deal with loss; Ogden Shook, who was a school board member at the time, passed away. “I was eight years old, and my mom was again a widow – this time with two sons and a young daughter to take care of,” Ellen said. Joye also served as an Elizabethton City School Board member (in the late 1970searly ’80s), and worked as a real estate broker. She passed away in 1991.
Both brothers are also gone now – Joe passed away in 2019, and George in 2022 – but the Shook family’s legacy of commitment and passion for special education continues on. Ellen has been a special education teacher for 34 years, with 24 of those years in Carter County. Her daughter, Courtney Erwin, is also in special education, in her second year of teaching at East Side Elementary in Elizabeth-
Care that goes
ton. “There is so much more to this story over the years,” Sally added. “My parents were so brave and passionate about providing for their child and for the special children in the area. They were soft-spoken, hard workers, and were willing to do their part and beyond. They were wonderful people – and very special parents. We are so proud of the heritage they gave us!”
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Why Carter County
Dawud Muhammad is pictured in front of Ford and CDJR of Elizabethton.
Ford of Elizabethton and CDJR of Elizabethton A short bio about the business Nation Automotive Group was founded by Dawud and Marie Muhammad four months after they united in marriage February 18, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Their first acquisition was Nissan of Hendersonville in Hendersonville, N.C., on March 1, 2021. After successfully making Nissan of Hendersonville one of the top Nissan stores in North Carolina by making a great impact on the community, and providing exemplary customer and employee service, they set their sights on East Tennessee. When the opportunity presented itself for them to purchase the two car dealerships previously known as Grindstaff Ford and Grindstaff CDJR, and then purchased by ZT Auto and renamed to Happy Valley Ford and Happy Valley CDJR, Dawud and Marie visited Carter County, and knew that Elizabethton would be the next community they would serve! No longer owned and or associated with Grindstaff or ZT Auto, Dawud and Marie’s Nation Automotive Group founded the All New Ford of Elizabethton and CDJR of Elizabethton in November 2022. We are very enthusiastic about the warm welcome that we have received from Elizabethton, Carter County, and the surrounding areas and we will strive to be a staple in the community that exemplify our Nation Automotive Group Core Values: Respect, Integrity, Continuous Improvement, Communication, Humility & Patience, Leadership, and Excellence through our service via Ford of Elizabethton and CDJR of Elizabethton. We look forward to celebrating our 1st Annual Founders’ Day Celebration November 2023 with the community and we will strive to be one of the most impactful CommunityCentric Businesses in Carter County! 1. What made you choose Carter County and Elizabethton for your services and business? Carter County and Elizabethton are in such a beautiful part of the country with some very nice and kindhearted people. What really sealed the deal for us was when my wife, my mother-in love, and my two sisters visited Elizabethton in September 2022 and got the chance to experience the Covered Bridge Days! We were pleasantly surprised to see how much genuine enjoyment, positive energy, contagious enthusiasm, and just good oldfashioned fun was being experienced! It inspired us to want to be a part of this community and to serve! Exciting times! 2. What is your purpose as a business? What do you do? When people ask me what I do, I usually tell them that I sell cars. I never try to appear as some “big shot,” or to act like I’m more important than I am because I’m emphatically convinced that without God, I wouldn’t be of much significance so all Glory Be to God! What I do is strive to lead and make a difference! Our purpose as a business is to manifest the vision and mission of Nation Automotive Group. Our vision is to be the most people-centric company in the automotive industry. Our mission expresses that people are the most valuable asset of any organization. Build the best people, effectively communicate the value of a genuine concern and respect for humanity, and to use business to inspire and improve the quality of life of our employees, customers, communities, and nation.
3. How long have you been in business? We opened Ford of Elizabethton and CDJR of Elizabethton November 7 and 8, 2022! We opened Nissan of Hendersonville, our first store on March 1, 2021. I started in the car business as a sales consultant at Team Toyota in February 2006 in Atlanta, Ga., after graduating from Morehouse College. I diligently worked myself up from sales consultant to an owner in 11 years. In 2017, I became part-owner of West Palm Beach Nissan. After 3-1/2 years of ownership there, I divested and my wife and I founded Nation Automotive Group. 4. How long have you, personally, been working in the industry? I’ve personally worked in the automotive Industry for approximately 17 years, but I started as a salesman when I was around six years old selling hats door to door in the apartment building that I lived in, in New Jersey where I was born. I sold women’s shoes during the summers through college. To me, selling is serving and ever since I can remember, I always loved it! 5. Are you part of a franchise or are you independent? Nation Automotive Group is an independently owned company as well as Ford of Elizabethton, CDJR of Elizabethton, and Nissan of Hendersonville. My wife and I own 100% of our businesses and Real Estate of our car dealerships, we aren’t backed by any private investors, or silent partners so that we can have full creative control of how we implement and define our core values and how we serve our communities, and run our businesses. We do have franchise agreements with Nissan, Ford, and Stellantis. We appreciate and cherish our relationships with the manufacturers! 6. What impact do you think your services/business will have on the Carter County community? My wife and I, Nation Automotive Group, and the Team at Ford of Elizabethton and CDJR of Elizabethton are excited to make an impressionable and substantially positive impact on Elizabethton, Carter County, and the surrounding areas! We have already created almost 70 jobs in less than a year in business! We are proud because we can serve so many families in the community through job creation! We believe that the youth is our future, so we take pride in employing young people and guiding them professionally and personally! Leadership is key! Times are tough and people work hard for their money, so when Ford of Elizabethton, CDJR of Elizabethton, or Nissan of Hendersonville has the HONOR of serving our customers, want we the people of Elizabethton, Carter County, and the surrounding areas to say “those are some good people, they took really good care of me!” With all due respect, we aren’t Grindstaff, and we aren’t ZT Auto, and we have no ties, no joint ownership, or affiliations with those companies. We are Nation Automotive Group; we are Carter County and Elizabethton’s People-Centric Business. You no longer must leave Elizabethton or Carter County to get a good deal, or good service, because the All-New Ford of Elizabethton and CDJR of Elizabethton is at your service and you are invited to celebrate with us November 2023 for our 1st Annual Founders’ Day Employee, Customer, and Community Appreciation Celebration!
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Why I Love Carter County Kim Birchfield: A Life of Service and Diverse Passions
At 63 years of age, Kim Birchfield has embraced a life rich in service and diverse experiences. He completed his high school education at EHS in 1978 and went on to pursue further learning at ETSU, Walters State, the University of North Florida, and the NW Traffic Institute, exemplifying his dedication to continuous self-improvement. With 35 years of service as a retired Police Officer and Police Chief, Kim has played a crucial role in maintaining public safety. His commitment extends beyond law enforcement, as he is a valued member and Vice Chairman of the Deacon Board at First Baptist Church Elizabethton, where his faith continues to guide him. Kim Birchfield’s community involvement is substantial. As a lifetime member of CCRS, a Mason, and a Shriner, he has consistently contributed to various organizations. He is a former member of the Elizabethton Board of Education and is currently serving his second four-year term on the Elizabethton City Council, dedicated to making a positive impact. Outside of his professional life and community service, Kim has explored a unique passion, spending 38 years as a professional wrestler. His commitment to this demanding sport underscores his determination and tenacity. Family holds a special place in Kim’s heart. He is married to Tammy Hardin Birchfield and is the proud father of a son, Lucas Birchfield, and a daughter, Jordan. He carries with him the memories of his late father, Robert Howard Birchfield, and his late mother, Mabel Ellis Birchfield, along with cherished moments with his late brother, Randall Birchfield, his late brother, Powell Ellis, his late sister, Sandra Birchfield, and his late sister, Judy Kuhn. He maintains a close bond with his living sister, Peggy Holly, as well as many nieces and nephews.
other places in the fact that we have a drug problem, just not anywhere close to the degree the big towns do. Heck, I had a drug problem from as long as I can remember growing up, “MY MOM DRUG ME TO CHURCH EVERY TIME THE DOORS WERE OPEN!“ - Pastor Todd Hallman 2. What is your favorite place to visit in Carter County? In the county, it would probably be Watauga Lake; what a beautiful clean lake GOD has blessed us with and in the City, it would definitely be first my church, but sporting events at EHS. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful school system, thanks to our awesome administrators, both current and past, along with excellent teachers and coaches who pour their life into our students. 3. Do you think living in Carter County has changed you in any way? Living in Carter County hasn’t changed me but instead, I say it has molded me into the person, son, brother, uncle, cousin, father and husband I am today.
1. What do you think makes Carter County unique by comparison to other places? The natural beauty of our lakes, mountains and beautiful landscape, along with something that people tell me all the time is the friendly down to earth people that live here. Hardworking, honest country folks. We are like
4. What is your favorite time of year? My favorite season of the year? That’s easy, FOOTBALL SEASON, lol. It would be summer by a long shot. I love warm weather, not so much past the 80’s though. I’m a sports fan and I love to go watch our area teams play if it’s not really hot or too cold! 5. If you were to meet someone planning a visit to the Carter County area for the first time, what places would you tell him or her not to miss? I would tell them to visit Roan Mountain State Park, Watauga Lake, The Blue Hole, The Carter Mansion, Sycamore Shoals State Park, Covered Bridge Park and awesome area restaurants. Heck, if it happens to be around lunch on Wednesday, they’ll find me along with about 25 of my best friends at Dino’s eating and having fun and fellowship. I’d also make sure they knew that we had the State Champion Betsy Band, the Back to Back State Champion Elizabethton Cyclone Football Team, a former State Champion Girls Basketball Team, along with being the Home of two former Cyclones, Texas Ranger Outfielder, the phenomenal Evan Carter, and the former All-Pro, NFL Man of the Year, and former Tennessee Vol, Jason Witten.
district? Perhaps it’s the people who make up our community? Whatever the Why Do reason, we want to know why you love it here. Tell us why you love Carter County and you could be featured in an upcoming edition of Carter County You Love Living. Just send us a message telling us why you love Carter County. You can at news@elizabethton.com or you can mail it to Carter County? reach us300by email N. Sycamore Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Is it the wonderful natural resources? How about the historic downtown
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Evan Carter and his wife Kaylen, along with Evan and Kaylen’s parents and her sister.
“Hard work and having fun playing goes a long way in baseball. Enjoy the little things and make lasting relationships.”
Evan and Kaylen Carter have had a whirlwind of life as a pro baseball player and spouse as Evan reached the parent club Texas Rangers in only two years as a professional.
—Evan Carter
Evan Carter’s shirt proclaiming ‘Jesus Won’ created a lot of buzz on social media.
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Evan Carter looks back after an at-bat during a recent game.
Evan Carter: A Rising Star on and off the field *STORY BY IVAN SANDERS AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY KAYLEN CARTER*
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n the world of baseball, heroes emerge when the skies seem darkest, breathing life and hope into the hearts of fans. The Texas Rangers, amid uncertain times, found their beacon of light in the form of top prospect Evan Carter. As a young boy playing T-ball, Carter, like many, dreamed of emulating his baseball heroes. Fast forward to today, and he has become the player young boys aspire to be. “It is definitely a dream come true,” Carter acknowledges, reflecting on his remarkable journey. Evan Carter’s impact has been nothing short of remarkable. Having started in 16 games, he’s reached base in each one, fueling the Rangers’ offense, which averages 6.3 runs per game when he’s on the field. His individual stats are equally impressive: a .326 batting average, four homers, 10 RBIs, nine walks, three stolen bases, and 13 runs scored. He’s exceeded all expectations. What makes Carter’s journey even more special is the presence of his loved ones. His wife, parents, and in-laws witnessed his major league debut, creating unforgettable memories. “It’s a blessing to have a support system like I have,” Carter shares, “and to have them there at the game to watch was amazing.” When the Rangers drafted Carter with the 50th pick two years ago, questions abounded. But, he’s proved his worth, swiftly rising through the ranks to join the big club in just two years. Surrounded by seasoned veterans, Carter is grateful for the chance to learn from them. “There is no pressure unless I tell myself there is. Baseball is fun! All you can do is help the team win each day.” Carter’s faith is evident in his life and his “Jesus Won” shirt. He acknowledges the role of faith in his journey, stating, “That’s the reason I am here; without Him, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to even play.” With wisdom beyond his years, Carter advises young players: “Hard work and having fun playing goes a long way in baseball. Enjoy the little things and make lasting relationships.” Evan Carter’s arrival in Arlington marked a turning point for the Rangers. They’re on the cusp of dethroning the Houston Astros as the division champs in the American League West. Carter’s contribution is undeniable, and it’s only the beginning of what seems to be a brilliant career, much like Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten’s. The sky’s the limit, and Carter is currently lighting up the Arlington skies with his explosive talent. Evan Carter’s emergence is a story worth following, as he blazes a trail toward superstardom in the heart of Texas. 21
Evan Carter holding down right field for the Texas Rangers.
The item that Dino’s Restaurant is best known for is their lasagna with meat sauce ladled over it, served piping hot, straight from the oven, with a side of garlic toast. It’s been on the menu for over 60 years now and there’s even a Carter County Historical Marker at the cash register denoting the fact that Dino’s served the very first lasagna in all of East Tennessee on June 20, 1963. If it’s been around that long, you know it’s got to be great!
Dino’s Restaurant made itself your Italian home away from home for last 60 years
D
*STORY BY ANGELA CUTRER AND PHOTOS BY LARRY N. SOUDERS*
ino Senesi Sr. was the son of Giusepe and Rose Mascolo Senesi. The family was Italian and they knew food. And so did Dino. Though Dino was raised in Pennsylvania, he moved to Elizabethton and started small in 1963. His new restaurant began as a small lunch counter diner, serving mostly sandwiches and “country cooking.” And that’s the short story of how Dino’s Restaurant at 420 E. Elk Ave. in Elizabethton began serving up its own brand of homestyle food.
But we haven’t told you about the saucy slant based on Italian delicacies waiting in the wings. Locals agreed that Dino’s Restaurant did what it did with style, flavor and permanence. The fact the home the style originated from wasn’t their own didn’t seem to matter to the many satisfied customers through the years. Thus it was quite daring when the beloved original owner decided to add a little spice to the mix to try out his favorite Italian dishes mostly unknown in east Tennessee. This decision quickly found a serious problem: Dino wasn’t able
One thing most everyone in Elizabethton/Carter County will tell you is that Dino’s Restaurant is a fine Italian eatery. Their spaghetti, served with garlic toast, is among the best in the area.
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to find the same pantry staples used back in Italy, so he had to adapt. Those adaptations are what made Dino’s a favorite for locals forever more. For some – those who dined at Dino’s Restaurant with many an authentic Italian meal under their belts – it was perhaps a massively confusing experience. “Dino had to use what he could find,” said David Williams, who now manages the enduring restaurant. “So that’s why there is hamburger meat in a dish instead of something more typically used in Italy for that dish, like Italian sausage. Or using cottage cheese rather than ricotta. It was simply what Dino could find to recreate the dish as best he could. And people loved it.” Those small discrepancies charmed East Tennessee diners. Perhaps some of them knew that the dish wasn’t a faithful recreation, but it sure tasted good and that’s what kept them coming back. After more than 30 years of service, Dino decided to retire. He ended up selling the restaurant to David Williams’ father, Kent, in 1995. This decision brought Kent and his family back to Elizabethton after living – and suffering hurricane damages – in Florida with their own restaurant business. “Dino knew my dad and that my dad would be serious about keeping the menu as Dino had intended,” David said. “Dad grew up in Elizabethton and ate at Dino’s a lot. He knew Dino and had spent a lot of time with him. Dino wanted to retire and sell to someone who would not change everything.” And that promise has been kept. “Our menu is the one Dino used and over the years, we’ve only added a few things,” David said. “For example, we have prime rib on Friday and Saturdays, when a lot of regulars like to come in.” David said many families come in, “probably because some want to look at the American menu and the others might want to look at the Italian
The menu at Dino’s Restaurant in downtown Elizabethton is varied and includes this favorite, Johnny’s “Red Hot” Chicken Breast with a side of fried okra and mac-n-cheese.
menu. This way, everyone can get what he or she wants.” That’s why the favorites are mixed: David said spaghetti and lasagna are the best sellers, but hamburger steak dinners are a close second. The business remained a family affair: Mom Gayle ran the cash register, and brother Mark still works there. David’s dad still comes in one day a week – doing prep on Saturday mornings. David’s brother John, who has ownership of the restaurant, has been busy in recent months preparing for the opening of a new business, Duck
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Donuts, up in Bristol. “It’s always been a family affair,” David said. He himself has been back in town for a year now after living away for some years. He said he’s been glad to take over Dino’s so his brother can focus on his new business. “It’s hopping,” he said with a chuckle. “We are very busy and the business is doing great.” Dino J. Senesi Sr. died Sept. 25, 2012, at the age of 80. A native of Scranton, Pa., he had made his home in Elizabethton for the last 50 years of his life. Dino was not just a businessman: Dino was a stellar citizen. He was very involved, devoted and supportive of the Elizabethton Boys & Girls Club and the Elizabethton Twins Baseball Team. His dedication spurred the naming of the Annual Dino Senesi Golf Classic, which began nearly 30 years ago to raise funds to benefit the more than 500 members of the Boys & Girls Club in Elizabethton. Dino was steady throughout his life and worked hard to make his restaurant viable, so it’s safe to say that one shouldn’t expect Dino’s Restaurant to change much either. The Williams family has owned the business for almost the same amount of years Dino did, so if there were going to be changes, surely it would have happened before now. “The things that were [Dino’s], we do them exactly as he did it,” David explained. “We’ve added a few things, like seafood. And I think we are the only ones around anywhere nearby that still has liver and onions on the menu. And that’s beef liver, not chicken!” One steady customer drives once a week from Gate City, Va., for that liver and onions plate. David said he thought maybe the restaurant is now the oldest one in town. “But there are a lot of great places to eat here,” he added. “We want every restaurant to do well. When one closes, all it does is take away another choice. There is enough for everyone.” He relates how awkward it is when he himself is eating elsewhere and some steady Dino’s customer will try to sneak out so David doesn’t see. “I eat other places, too!” he laughed. “It’s OK! No one wants to eat the same thing all the time.” Time waits for no one, but Dino Senesi’s spirit remains. The restaurant supports local schools and events as often as they can. It’s important to them to help locals, especially kids. It’s another way to honor Dino and his life of service. And who knows; maybe a kid who eats at Dino’s now might one day open his or her own restaurant in the area. How fitting that would be – in honor of Dino, as well as the Williams family and all the diners who have passed through their doors.
The country fried steak is a Dino’s Restaurant lunchtime special staple served with a side of mashed potatoes and extra gravy.
Dino’s Restaurant opens every day at 11 a.m. and serves a variety of luncheon specials each day. People, like (clockwise from left), Casey Blevins, Scott Odom, Mandy Bost and Shane East, quickly fill the tables in dining rooms each morning at lunchtime to enjoy a wonderful meal at a great price.
A plaque on the wall, above Jeff Birchfield’s head, commemorates the fact that Dino’s Restaurant was the very first place in East Tennessee to serve lasagna. It remains on the menu to this very day and is among the very best in the area. Dino’s server Abigayle Agan is all smiles from Birchfield’s comments about his lunch as she makes change for his meal.
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Every Wednesday morning, the “Legends of Carter County” gather at Dino’s Restaurant in downtown Elizabethton, and share lunch and stories of old while catching up on what’s going on in their lives. Though the lineup of the group may change each week, they are always there on Wednesdays. Pictured are (clockwise from left) Johnson City Press sportswriter Jeff Birchfield, Gary Stockton, Malcolm Kress, Charles “CY” Peters, Jarfly Dugger, Jerry White, Rocky Davenport, Kim Birchfield and Deacon Bowers.
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This creamy cheesecake can be the hit of any party METRO - Delicious desserts certainly are the cornerstones of the holiday season. This is a time of year to indulge a little more, with cookies in break rooms at places of employment and cakes on the tables at family gatherings. Decadent and mouth-watering, cheesecake is a dessert table staple. Everyone has a favorite cheesecake variety, and bakeries fill their display cases with plain or fruit-topped cheesecake offerings. Although making a cheesecake is a labor of love, the results often are well worth the effort. This recipe for “Amaretti Cheesecake” from “Cooking Light: Dinner’s Ready” (Oxmoor House) by The Cooking Light Editors utilizes a slow cooker to help make this cheesecake perfection.
Amaretti Cheesecake Serves 10
Crust: 2⁄3 cup amaretti cookie crumbs (about 16 cookies) 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 tablespoon sugar Cooking spray Filling: 2 (8-ounce) blocks fat-free cream cheese, softened and divided 1 (8-ounce) block 1⁄3-less-fat cream cheese, softened 2⁄3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 2 large eggs 3⁄4 teaspoon almond extract Raspberries, optional 1. To prepare crust, combine the first three ingredients, tossing with a fork until moist and
Metro Photo
Amaretti Cheesecake
crumbly. Gently press mixture into the bottom of a 7-inch springform pan coating with cooking spray. 2. To prepare filling, beat 1 block fat-free cream cheese and 1⁄3-less-fat cream cheese with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add remaining 1 block fat-free cream cheese; beat until blended. Add 2⁄3 cup sugar and flour; beat well. Add eggs, one at
a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in almond extract. Pour batter over crust in pan. 3. Pour 1 cup hot water into bottom of a 5-quart slow cooker. Place a rack in slow cooker (rack should be taller than water level). Place pan on rack. Place several layers of paper towels over slow cooker insert. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or until center of
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cheesecake barely moves when pan is touched. Remove lid from slow cooker; turn off heat, and run a knife around outside edge. Let cheesecake stand in slow cooker 1 hour. remove cheesecake from slow cooker. Cool to room temperature in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 6 hours. Cut into wedges. Garnish with raspberries, if desired.
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Speedy Beef Stir-Fry with Chunky Vegetables
Stir up dinner quickly METRO - The lazy days of summer have started to fade away, and individuals and families will once again be beholden to more rigid schedules packed with activities. When time is of the essence, finding opportunity to cook delicious meals at home can seem challenging. But there are plenty of recipes that whip up in no time and won’t disappoint hungry families. This recipe for “Speedy Beef Stir-Fry with Chunky Vegetables” from “300 StirFry Recipes” (Robert Rose) by Nancie McDermott is one such meal. It evokes the tastes of a favorite Asian restaurant without the need to order takeout. Speedy Beef Stir-Fry with Chunky Vegetables Serves 4 1 tablespoon dry sherry or Shaoxing rice wine 1 tablespoon water 1⁄2 teaspoon soy sauce, optional 2 teaspoons cornstarch 8 ounces lean boneless beef, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons chicken stock 2 teaspoons soy sauce
1⁄2 teaspoon granulated sugar 1⁄2 teaspoon salt or to taste 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons chopped garlic 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh gingerroot 11⁄2 cups baby corn 1⁄2 cup sliced water chestnuts 1⁄2 cup frozen tiny peas 1. In a bowl, combine sherry, water, dark soy sauce, if using, and cornstarch and stir well into a smooth paste. Add beef and stir to coat well. Set aside for 10 minutes. 2. In a small bowl, combine chicken stock, soy sauce, sugar and salt and stir well. 3. Heat a wok or a large deep skillet over high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat pan. Add garlic and ginger and toss well until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add beef mixture and spread into a single layer. Cook, undisturbed, until edges change color, about 1 minute. Toss well. 4. Add chicken stock mixture, baby corn and water chestnuts. Cook, tossing occasionally, until beef is cooked through., about 2 minutes more. Add peas and cook, tossing once for 1 minute more. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve hot or warm.
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