The track hoes,  bulldozers, and dump trucks have been quietly and efficiently doing their work in leveling demolishing destroying developing the Fairgrounds property.

This shot is from what used to be the north parking lot of the Mid-South Coliseum, looking north.  Missing (with the exception of 2 of the old buildings) are all the buildings, livestock barns, Fair Offices, roads, parking lots, and the arena building where I saw Roy Rogers when I was a child; everything but the Kroc Center property is just a big field of dust.  I guess one day we will look up and the Coliseum will be gone too.  Ah, progress!

Coliseum's fenced lots now house city vehicles amidst the fairgrounds "construction"

On a more positive note, the old President’s Island one room school house has been preserved and moved to what seems to be a safe place at the edge of the construction area.

Fairgrounds update is a post from: Joe Spake's Weblog

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1. Memphis Roller Derby returns to the Fairgrounds for a while
2. Mid-South Coliseum

Regardless of our ages, we Memphians have had Elvis in our presence as long as we can remember.  I know folks with Elvis tattoos who weren’t even born in 1977, the year Elvis died.  Let’s face it, the boy from Tupelo will  live on forever in the hearts and minds of millions (maybe billions).  And that brings me to the annual August pilgrimage event Elvis Week,  or as many locals refer to it – Elvis Death Week.

Well, Jimmy Buffett does a fair job here, but if you want to see REAL fake Elvi (what is the plural of Elvis?), there will be hundreds around Graceland during Elvis week – a mind-boggling array of  sideburns, glasses and jeweled jumpsuits.  And Elvis “tribute artist” competitions. But mostly, its the pilgrims, fans from all over the world, converging to worship the king  and absorb the Elvis essence from August 10-16.

I think Gillian Welch captures some of the Elvis essence in this song.   Wikipedia features 6 pages of entries for the search “songs about Elvis”.   I will will be posting more about Elvis week.  See you there.

Getting geared up for Elvis Week is a post from: Joe Spake's Weblog

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We have all had some super omelettes and some pretty bad ones (diners tend to overcook them).  I have been making omelettes for a long time. The dish beats scrambled eggs, and gives an elegant touch to breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner.  Omelettes are quick and easy, once you get the hang of quick cooking, which is the key to success.

Here’s how to make a basic omelette.  I get great results following these steps:

1. Crack your eggs, beat them, and let them get to room temperature.  I usually add salt and pepper, and optionally a dash of hot sauce for each egg and a couple of shakes of  Fines Herbes to taste.
2. Get your stuffings ready:   grate the cheese.  If you like some onion and bell pepper, and maybe some mushrooms, give them a light saute, and set aside close to the cooking area.
3. Get your pan hot.  I use a 10″ Calphalon saute pan, which works well for 3 and 5 egg omelettes.  Use the biggest burner and turn it up high.
4. Now you have to move fast.  Put a hunk of butter in the pan.  It should quickly sizzle and melt.  Tilt the pan to spread and pour in the eggs.  This is where most cooks fail.  Stir the eggs with a fork.  Keep them moving until they start to set, not fully cooked like scrambled eggs, but  with just a little liquid egg left.  IMPORTANT:  the eggs will finish cooking themselves.  Be careful. This is where overcooking happens.
5. Quickly remove from heat and add ingredients.
6. Fold the omelette with a wide spatula.  You will be flipping it out of the pan, so what is the top now will be the bottom and it doesn’t have to be pretty.
7. Slide the folded omelette onto a plate, letting it flip over so the “good” side is up.
8. Top with a sprinkle of paprika or fresh herbs, and you are ready to eat.

Here is my method :

photo credit: Marshall Astor – Food Pornographer

Cooking with Joe – Omelette basics is a post from: Joe Spake's Weblog

No related posts.

I reviewed andposted about my friend, Christina-Marie Wright’s book,  Everything I Need to Know About Motherhood I learned from Animal House,   before it was released.

Christina-Marie sent me an extra inscribed copy of the book to give away, so if you would like it, just leave a comment below telling me why you want or need it.

Mrs. Wright is one of the funniest, most endearing people I know.  At this point the book is available through Christina-Marie’s blog, The Gonzo Mama, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To get a free copy

Just comment below and tell me why would would like this free copy.  Best comment wins the book.  Simple enough?

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• My favorite mommy blogger publishes her first book (joespakeblog.com)

Giving away the Gonzo Mama’s book is a post from: Joe Spake's Weblog

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I have owned a few George  Foreman Grills; they come in all shapes and sizes.  They are good for quick grilling lots of things:  burgers, grilled cheese, grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, sliced eggplant and other veggies, T-bone steaks, onions, and the list goes on and on.   When you don’t want to fire up the gas or charcoal grill the George Foreman is a great stand-in.  If you have space for another kitchen appliance, forget that toaster oven and check out a George F.  One caveat.  The grills with non-removable cooking surfaces are hard to clean.  Be sure to get the removable surfaces.

If you are a bacon lover, but hate the mess; if you are a bacon lover and need your bacon fix RIGHT NOW, you need a microwave bacon cooker.

I have some more cooking ideas for you coming up soon.

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• Bacon Scented Candles – The Alluring Aroma Of “Meat Candy” (bacontoday.com)

Cooking with Joe – a couple of my favorite kitchen tools is a post from: Joe Spake's Weblog

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1. Food Blog? Does the world need another one?