BIG DAY FOR ATLANTA'S BRAVES

HALL OF FAME TAILGATING

The Legend-Bobby Cox

By Doc Lawrence

ATLANTA. This was the weekend the city and much of the South, took time to honor three baseball legends, all members of the Atlanta Braves World Series Championship team in 1995. Greg Maddux and Tome Glavine, pitchers who dominated the major leagues during a string of championship seasons and the great manager, Bobby Cox, entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. On this hot July afternoon, fans at Turner Field were treated to a double header: the induction ceremony via the enormous JumboTron, followed by the game with San Diego.

This was an eventful week in Atlanta. The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta was commemorated, one which my great-grandfather Private Bryant Hulsey of the Lookout Artillery CSA, fought. Baseball was popularized during the Civil War, and there was a documented game played after the war’s ends less than a mile from Turner Field.

Tom Glavine

Tailgating was born during the Civil War and it has expanded as a culinary cultural phenomenon in Dixie. The grills, tabletops, vans and trucks all around the parking lots were surrounded by hickory smoke, stimulating aromas and lots of laughter.

Our threesome enjoys hero status in Atlanta. Memories of the Braves baseball supremacy during their roster days are fresh, almost sacred. Even honoring them vicariously was thrilling.

Down South, we celebrate baseball and the Braves with the chop, the chant and the tailgating ritual. This very special Hall of Fame weekend at Turner Field was perfect for two of Chef Lara Lyn Carter’s signature dishes, baked beans and grilled pork sliders. Glavine grew up in Massachusetts near Boston where baked beans are a staple. And few baseball men know good pork better than Bobby Cox. We even have a craft cocktail for Greg Maddux.

It’s time to eat and here are recipes for a Hall of Fame weekend:

Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Baked Beans
1 lb. dry kidney beans
1 sweet onion quartered
4 quarts of water divided

Greg Maddux

Soak beans in 2 quarts of water overnight. Drain beans and discard the water. In a large pot, cook beans and onion in 2 quarts of water over medium-high heat for 45 minutes. Remove beans from heat, cover and allow beans to rest for 30 minutes.
Sauce
1/2 cup sorghum
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground clove
3 tbsp. Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sorghum, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, ginger, clove, and whiskey. Stir constantly until all of the ingredients have blended well and the sugar has dissolved. Pour beans with the water in a Dutch oven and pour sauce over beans and stir well. Cover beans and bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours.

Pork Sliders with Mustard Sauce
2 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Mix ingredients by hand until combined. Form into 16 mini burgers. Grill over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes on each side or until done. Serve sliders with sliced Vidalia onion and mustard sauce (recipe follows) on Kings Hawaiian Rolls.

A cocktail choice is made from Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey:

Dockeroo’s Fabulous Old Fashioned

Dockeroo Old Fashioned

Two jiggers, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
I maraschino cherry
½ jigger organic cane juice
Orange peel
4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Serve over chunk ice in an old fashioned glass.
Gently muddle orange, cherry, cane juice and bitters in an old fashioned glass. Stir in some Jack Daniel’s and ice until it dilutes. Keep adding whiskey and chunk ice. Garnish with orange peel. Toast the Atlanta Braves and do the tomahawk chop!

Chef Lara Lyn Carter

“SOUTHERN THYMES SHARED” UPDATE-Chef Lara Lyn Carter will be a special guest at the annual “Grape Stomp” at Still Pond Winery in Arlington, Georgia this Saturday, August 2.  Come on over and meet her and she’ll sign her beautiful cookbook which you will treasure. The book is now on sale at Still Pond and just became available at Stone Mountain, Georgia’s nationally acclaimed Art Station Theatre.