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| We decided to break from the norm. As all our faithful readers know, we like to tell you about small eateries in our area that are well worth your hard-earned money. However, this week we could not narrow it down to one eating spot. An entire nearby community drew our attention, and we want to share with you the many culinary wonders of Muddy Pond, TN. Folks from Monterey and surrounding towns have long been visiting Muddy Pond to buy the wonderful Sorghum, which is made this time of year. Believe us when we say that Muddy Pond has many more delicious treats to offer. Our first stop on our recent visit was the Muddy Pond General Store. They make some of the best sandwiches you will ever try. A wide selection of meats is available, including Bologna, Turkey, and Ham. The cheese selection is huge. A hungry person can sample at least 13 different cheeses, including Farmers Cheese, Colby, Garden Vegetable, Yogurt Cheese, Garlic & Herb, Smoked Cheddar, Bermuda Onion Cheddar, Baby Swiss, and Jalapeno Pepper. We decided on Turkey sandwiches, one with Garlic & Herb Cheese and the other with Garden Vegetable Cheese. They were excellent and as fresh as can be. Muddy Pond General Store is also a great place to find baking and canning supplies of all kinds. You can find Jams, Jellies, Spices, Candies, Nuts, Pickles, Homemade Fried Pies, and a very large selection of snacks. Our favorites include the Garlic Flavored Sesame Sticks and the Cajun Snack Mix. They have one of the largest sections of Sugar-Free snacks available in this area. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays. Visit them soon for loads of country charm, and don’t forget to go upstairs if you are looking for Crafts, Quilts, or Handmade Furniture. Our next stop was John Guenther’s Sorghum Mill. Not only was the production of Sorghum in full swing, but many freshly made baked goods were for sale. We recommend any and all of the following products: Lemon Bread, Sorghum Ginger Cookies, Sorghum Raisin Bars, Sorghum Oat Bread, Sourdough Bread, and the Orange Sorghum Pound Cake. As a matter of fact, anything you eat is better with Sorghum on it. Believe us! These goodies will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout the Sorghum making season. The next stop on our tour of Muddy Pond was a brand new Gift Shop & Eatery called The Country Porch. They specialize in Homemade Ice Cream and Fruit Smoothies. They also have a tasty lunch menu, which includes Smoked Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Taco Salads, White Chili, Grilled Chicken Strip Salads, and Sausage Dogs. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays. Last, but not least, we visited the Backen Haus. This homestyle bakery reminds us both very much of quaint little bakeries we visited in Germany. This is the place to come if you love baked goods. We recommend you sample the large selection of cookies, which includes Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Molasses Wheat, Peanut Butter, and Ginger Snap. If cakes and pies are more your thing, you will not be left out. You will find Coconut Cake, Carrot Cake, Poppyseed Cake, Orange Juice Cake, Shoo Fly Pie, Pecan Pie, and Cream Cheese Pie. The Backen Haus also makes some of the best Cinnamon Rolls and Homemade Donuts in the entire world. They offer a lunch menu that is very good as well. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Please go out and visit the many wonders of Muddy Pond. Your stomach will thank you for it. We have always admired the Mennonite people who inhabit Muddy Pond for their ability to create such good food. These people are famous for their work ethic, and it shows in the foods they prepare. When someone approaches every job as if they were working for Christ, that love and dedication is shown in the work they do. Send your questions and comments to us at eatingtennessee@yahoo.com or write to us at P. O. Box 3393, Cookeville, TN 38502-3393. We wish you health, wealth, and a good appetite. |
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