RECIPES | Two delicious dishes you can make that are fit for a king (size)

TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

Born to parents Gladys and Vernon Presley in 1935 Elvis grew up in Mississippi, it was his Southern upbringing that instilled the love of the Southern food his mother and grandmother made, the comfort food he loved and hankered after. Think meat loaf and creamed potato (mash), fried chicken, mac n cheese, cornbread and greens — although vegetables weren't his favourite.

Life was tough and money was tight and at  times the family relied on handouts from neighbours and it is said in desperate times they ate squirrel. When it came to food Presley was a creature of habit and unlike his musical talents his tastes remained constant so much so he would become obsessed with certain types of food, eating it every day until he become bored with it. One of his great favourites was his mother’s meat loaf served with mash, which at times it is said he ate it daily for four to six months.

ELVIS'S MEAT LOAF

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

1kg ground beef (beef mince)

250ml (1 cup) finely chopped onion

250ml (1 cup) peppers — a mix of green, red and yellow

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 packet of graham crackers, crushed (or use 1 packet of cream crackers, crushed)

½ x 400g can chopped tomatoes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tomato sauce:

½  x 400g can chopped tomatoes

125ml (½ cup) tomato sauce

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients for the meat loaf in a large bowl. Season generously and shape into a loaf on a greased baking tray.
2. Bake in a preheated oven of 180°C for 45 minutes.
3. Combine the chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce. Remove the meat loaf from
   the oven and pour over the tomato sauce. Return to the oven and bake for a further 15 minutes.
4. Serve sliced with some sauce and mash on the side.

- Recipe: Elvis Kitchen

CHOC CHIP COOKIES

Makes 12 large or 24 smaller cookies

Ingredients:

250g butter or baking margarine

150ml white sugar

150ml brown sugar

2 extra large eggs

5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence

280g (2 ⅓ cups) cake wheat flour

Pinch of salt

5ml (1 tsp) baking powder

5ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda

125ml (½ cup) oats

250g milk chocolate, roughly chopped or use chocolate chips

Method:

1. Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well. Beat in the vanilla essence.
2. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and add to the creamed mixture.
3. Add the oats and chocolate and mix well.
4. Place balls of dough onto greased baking tray and flatten slightly.
5. Bake at 180°C for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown. Place on cooling rack to cool.