Memories

& Recipes

Cindy Garrick

I was talking with one of my tax clients recently about a Scyrene resident being close friends with Elvis Presley. (That article will be coming soon.)

It's amazing, but this particular client, Robert Reid, just happened to serve in the military with Elvis. In fact he was one of 15,000 men who left Ft. Hood, Texas in September of 1958 with Elvis. There were three trains and no one knew which one Elvis was on, but they had a six hour layover in Memphis. There were people lined up on both sides of the trains. I'll bet that was the first time Mr. Reid was a bit afraid of a mob! Just think, Elvis was mobbed like that everywhere he went. So much company and yet so alone. He remembered when stationed in the 1st MTB in Friedburg, Germany with Elvis, he and the other men in their unit were told to clip (not cut) the grass with the knives from their mess kits. Elvis called his contact and had a lawn mower sent into the compound at his expense. Mr. Reid had been in the unit for quite awhile and had been waiting for the company clerk job to open up. There had been a freeze on the position, but he would be the next in line for the coveted job. Finally he received notice that the job would open up and immediately put in for the position. However, it had only been opened so Elvis could have the job. He also said that Elvis was very nice to all the enlisted men and their families.

Mr. Reid admired the fact that Elvis took the time to sign autographs for everyone who asked him.

There was one time in Germany when Elvis had taken the company jeep sightseeing. The jeep broke down and Elvis paid the Germans to fix it. The Germans then called Mr. Reid to come retrieve the U.S. jeep. Holy Cow, I didn't realize that so many people in our area had met the king! We all know from reports that Elvis loved sweets. Mrs. Reid has submitted one of her recipes for our files and I've included some sweet recipes from other readers.

Holy Cow Cake

Bake a chocolate cake mix in a 9x13 pan, according to directions. Do not remove the cake from the pan.

Immediately punch holes in cake with a straw being careful not to forget the edges. Pour the following ingredients one at the time over the cake.

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 jar chocolate fudge sauce

1 jar caramel sauce

When cooled, cover with Cool Whip and refrigerate overnight before serving.

Store in the refrigerator.

Paige Monaghan's refrigerator cheesecake

9x13 pan

1 stick butter

1 pkg. Graham crackers

4 packages cream cheese (8 oz.)

1 pint sour cream

16 oz. Dream Whip

1 1/2 c. white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

Crush Graham crackers finely. Melt butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs. Press into bottom of pan. Put in refrigerator. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth; add sour cream, Dream Whip and vanilla. Beat well. Remove pan from fridge and pour cream cheese mixture on top of crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours before serving.

Mackinac Fudge

4 c. sugar

1 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. butter

1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

12 oz. chocolate stars candy

12 oz. chocolate chips

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate

1 c. chopped nuts

Mix sugar, milk and vanilla in a saucepan. Add butter and bring mixture to a boil. Let boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add marshmallows.

Add chocolate a little at a time, stirring thoroughly after each addition.

Add nuts and pour into a 9x13 pan. Chill.

Jennifer Skipper saved this recipe from one of her visits up north and says it is really good and easy to make.

Cindy Garrick owns and operates Garrick's Store in Scyrene. Contact her with your favorite memories of food and related recipes. Her e-mail is cindg@myexcel.com.