Good morning, y’all.
Pour yourself a cup of ambition this morning.
Commandment #2 — Be Adaptable.
Let’s Get Supper on the Table 🍳
BLT — Say adios to a summer of fun with a sandwich that only makes sense when it’s hot outside. Fry up some bacon in the morning for breakfast, and then crush the lunch rush with an Americana classic BLT.
A few years ago, I was building a high rise office tower in downtown Nashville, TN.
It is one of my favorite projects to have been a part of, a building that has become part of the skyline of the city in a prime part of the downtown core.
Sitting catty-corner to our development was a series of small buildings housing retail and restaurants, one with a parking lot facing our project.
Lo and behold, with a mural of Dolly reading to a young child.
On my drive home, I would pass a small glass restoration company. With another Dolly mural on the side of the wall.
And for good measure, another one I would see most weekends driving to run errands.
Every part of the city has an artistic celebration of the singer from East Tennessee.
I would encourage anyone to just read through some tributes this weekend, as Dolly impacted the whole world of different people.
Nashville and Tennessee just particularly had a cultural resonance with the singer/songwriter/entertainer/philanthropist, but her music reminded people cross culturally of wherever they called home.
The hope would be that maybe we carry some of that spirit forward, an open armed acceptance of folks to our own pocket of America, or wherever you may be reading this.
Maybe opening up your kitchen table is a good place to start.
Dolly would.
Y’all be good.
The Good Stuff
My wife likes to joke that I’ve always got a podcast reference to suit the moment.
One day I’ll hit you with some Marketplace analysis on the Japanese currency. Maybe talk urban design after 99% Invisible. Or better yet, some sports semi-analysis after Pardon My Take.
A few years ago the host of the popular podcast Radiolab published a podcast series called Dolly Parton’s America.
It’s one of my favorites to date, and one I go back to about once a year. A thoughtful look at how she bridged a lot of cultural gaps in her own unique way.
I’ve embedded the YouTube page below, but you can find it on Apple easily.
Chef Skills
One of the main goals of Cast Iron Soul is to empower everyone to make great food, every day, all year round.
East Tennessee is home to Lodge Cast Iron, one of the main manufacturers of the product in the US. They have great recipes and cooking tutorials for anyone looking to expand skills.
A few years ago they did a Dolly Parton Series of tribute skillets. They’re a fun tribute collection to Dolly and the region.
I was given a 4.5″ guitar one as a gift, and my daughter and I will use it to make pancakes in the morning.
Let’s get supper on the table.
Community Table
We’d love to see what you’re cooking! Snap a photo of your cast iron creation and send it in to be featured.
Thanks so much for subscribing. I hope this brings a little joy to your inbox and kitchen table each week.
— Hendo
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