Southern Hospitality - Miss Mary Bobo's Town Square Chess Squares

Southern Cooking Miss Mary Bobo's Town Square Chess Squares
This is a dessert we ate at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House in Lynchburg, Tennessee, while filming at the Jack Daniel's distillery. You can find this recipe in the Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Cookbook. This recipe is a take on a pecan blondie.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Butter
2 Cups Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
4 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
Heat oven to 350ºF
Grease a 9x13 inch Baking pan
Cream butter and sugars in a large bowl until fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla, beating until smooth.
Blend in the dry ingredients, and then the pecans.
Pour into the greased pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until just set.
Cool & serve.
Here's the teaser for the series we shot at Jack Daniel's in 2008: • Jack Daniel's Distille...
Here's Julie making the recipe in 2008: • Jack Daniel's Chess Sq...
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[@lesliemoiseauthor]

The hostess facilitating conversation around the table sounds absolutely lovely.

[@nancylindsay4255]

Like a geisha?

[@patrickstone3958]

Lynchburg is my hometown, and I recently moved back here after being away for 10 years after college. Despite growing up here, I have never been a tourist in my own town and visited Miss Mary Bobo's. However, we always make the Jack Daniel’s Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie out of the 1988 Jack Daniel’s Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook also by Lynne Tolley of Miss Mary Bobo’s. Glad you enjoyed your time here!

[@lilsisasu]

That is so cool! I live in North Carolina, but I’ve been to Miss Mary’s many times. My dad has made the boarding house meatloaf many times. We’re having her chicken and pastry for supper tonight.

[@christinasteyer8980]

Can I just say that you two are some of the most pleasant people. You're so sweet to each other and the love you share is obvious. It's lovely getting to take a break from my day to day and pop over as it were. Thank you for posting.

[@garmo98]

I remember Bubba, the tour guide at the distillery, telling that you could always count on a full work force on payday. All employees who were present got 2 fifths of Jack Daniels with their paycheck.

[@lesliemoiseauthor]

WOW

[@mrmoshpotato]

Haha! Awesome.

[@Julies-in-a-mood]

That’s what I call an effective incentive!

[@gmart225]

I would love to have Glen do a primer on cake batters: Butter, Angel, Genoise, Biscuit, Chiffon, etc.

[@emilybilbow4990]

That would make a good series… I’d like that too… cakes are very intimidating to me…

[@beingkitschroeder2507]

I can't be trusted when I'm home alone with a cake...@@emilybilbow4990

[@applesushi]

I went to Miss Mary Bobo’s in 1991 and I still remember it fondly! What an experience for a teenager freshly arrived in the US.

[@HealthyDisrespectforAuthority]

A little over 40 years ago, when I was in college, one of my friends was from Mississippi. She grew up on a pecan (and other stuff) farm/orchard. Pecans produce every other year and in the off years, they'd make pecan pie without the nuts and that's what she called chess pie. It was delicious.

[@beingkitschroeder2507]

I grew up on Chess pie (I'm from Tennessee) and I make it for every holiday. My husband never heard of it, he's from Cleveland. It's similar to pecan pie, without the nuts, but not the same.

[@Er-sv5tn]

There is something incredibly gracious about the American South and its food... pecans in everything.😊

[@asdisskagen6487]

The Mary Bobo's restaurant still serves food in the same manner as you experienced when you visited. The menu indicates that the establishment has pivoted to a more seasonal menu, updating its offerings to coincide with what's fresh and local. The dessert menu is a selection of pies: Chess, Fudge, Pecan, Oatmeal, or Buttermilk, served with our Jack Daniel's Whipped Cream. It's a good thing you preserved such a lovely recipe as it doesn't look as though it's on offer anymore.

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

This looks and sounds delightful. Thanks for bringing it back for us newcomers. 😉

[@reginaoverton944]

I live about 2 hours from Lynchburg. I’ve taken the Jack Daniel’s tour and eaten at Miss Mary Bobo’s. In fact l have gone to Lynchburg just to eat at the restaurant without the tour! Thanks for making this recipe!

[@jake2011rt]

They were still making that cake in 2012 when I was last there. I grew up just 15 mins away in Tullahoma, so I was pretty jazzed to see a Middle Tennessee classic on here.

[@chuckcartwright1328]

“Mhm.” The real seal of approval.

[@southerncooker6475]

I live near Lynchburg and Miss Mary Bobos is the best! This was exciting to see! Thank you for sharing! Be well and stay safe! Merry Christmas from Tennessee!

[@cherylrosbak4092]

The communal eating and great conversation is why I always recommend people sit at the bar if a restaurant has no open tables and they offer it to you. Even if there's no one else to talk to you can watch the bartender work.

[@justmutantjed]

3:30 - Oh man, that sounds like it'd be a dynamite add-in for the recipe. I might have missed a subject shift, but if Miss Mary Bobo's is anywhere near the J.D. distillery, I recall being told (perhaps incorrectly) that whole situation is actually in a dry county, oddly enough. They can distill the whiskey, but they might not be able to serve it. Lovely video, Glen. Had a rough day, and your chill vibes were just what I needed tonight!

[@donnaclayton8644]

I have that cook book. Love the recipes.

[@franciet99]

There was a wonderful restaurant in Hempstead, TX that had communal dining. Great food, great atmosphere!

[@SusanA1056]

The Via rail (Train) has a similar seating on the trains. The dining car staff will seat you at a table with strangers and it is a lovely way to meet people from all over the world.

[@lindak8664]

I love the way you shamelessly lick the utensils 😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Merry Christmas you guys! Looking forward to another year of yummy videos 🎅🏼🎄🎁

[@groermaik]

The Glen dance even before the squares were even baked. Dang.

[@beingkitschroeder2507]

Looking forward to this one!

[@jacobbarber5169]

I love dining out with “randos.” Met a lovely Luxembourgish couple at a bier hall in Munich and ended up just hanging out and going to a Christmas market with them and sharing mugs of Glühwein in the snow. Same trip to Munich I was sitting alone in a restaurant that ran out of tables, so the waitstaff asked if I minded another single diner joining me. He spoke German to the waitstaff so I assumed he was German, but he ended up being from the American South and had owned/operated an antique cartography shop specializing in original maps of the Louisiana Territory, pre-purchase by the US. People look at me like I’m crazy when I tell those stories, but half the fun is the friends you meet along the way.

[@stotter1]

Made this, came out delightful and delicious - Thank you Glen!

[@fefelarue2948]

For some years, my mother would go there for her birthday. Her name is Mary and she lives near there.

[@WinchesterWoodWorks]

We need more cooking videos with Julie 😀

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

Thank you so much for your wonderful content this year. All the best to thee and thine from me and mine in Australia.

[@davidgrandboisjr557]

OK, so this is a definite keeper. Only thing I changed (because I was out of vanilla), I used apple brandy. The house smelled incredible. Thank you Glen. David Grandbois from Milwaukee.

[@patriciaward9362]

Back in the mid to late 1990s my husband, my son and I we’re coming back from Alabama and saw a sign for Jack Daniels distillery. Seeing how that was my whiskey of choice since I was 21 I told him we would not miss this tour even though it was a half hour off our route. It was so much fun that day and I’ll never forget it. I do remember hearing about Miss Mary Bobo’s place but we did not visit it. If I ever return to Lynchburg, Tennessee, I will make sure and stop there. It sounds wonderful!😊

[@gccheatham]

I baked this cake after I watched the video, and it is delicious.

[@BeatlesandWebkinz]

You convinced me to get myself that beater blade for Christmas.. I absolutely cannot wait to use it!

[@ArthurGostick]

Where do you get this blade?

[@agmin2098]

@@ArthurGostickGlen told about it in a earlier video..many people knew was it was..I don’t remember but hopefully someone will answer your question.

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

It's called 'Beater Blade' from New Metro Design

[@asdisskagen6487]

I bought the KitchenAid scraper blade from the New Metro Design a few months ago after seeing Glen have such great success with it. I can confirm that the blade works WONDERFULLY. It completely scrapes down the sides and is better than any other scraper blade (including KitchenAid's) that I've ever used.

[@ktkat1949]

I bought one after I saw Glen using it. I think I got it on Amazon and it was 25.00 Cdn. It works fantasicly much better than the one that came with my machine.

[@traceefarrington7022]

I haven’t even seen the video yet and I already know I gotta make this!!

[@wayneyeo186]

Some time ago we went to a restaurant that was crazy busy. We had waited in line for some time. During which, we struck up a conversation with a couple also waiting. Our turn came to be seated, and it was to a 4 seated table. It seemed such a waste to have two empty seats, so we invited the couple to sit with us, which they did. This rando situation, turned into a lovely dinner, in large part, because of the company !

[@stellaz2595]

I make a similar cake (the ingredients are almost identical), except that it is flavored with coffee and has white chocolate chunks added.

[@ledzepgirlnmful]

Merry Christmas ! Glen, I hope You and Julie have a Most wonderful day !! 🎄😘

[@rebeccaturner5503]

Lets hear it for the "chocolate tipping point"!!! Do you have any idea how much I enjoy you licking the spoon...beaters ...or bowl? Thank you

[@TamarLitvot]

My favorite is when I make carrot cake (once/year for my husband's birthday). I love cream cheese frosting so licking the beaters is a wonderful treat.

[@Sidecutter]

I love it. Glen Redux

[@AuntyProton]

The reason they didn't put whiskey in was because that county in Tennessee is a "dry" county -- no alcohol in the whole county. Yes, even though the Jack Daniels distillery is there! They make some great lemonade though.

[@TamarLitvot]

Looks absolutely delicious! But if you like the other one (without the fat) just as much (in a different way), I think I'll try that first. Wanted to thank you for the Cajun-ish Shrimp Chowder recipe. Made it a couple of days ago and it was fantastic -- and that's even though I didn't use bacon (I used butter and a little olive oil) and used fat-free milk -- though I added about 1/2-2/3 cup half&half.

[@windlessoriginals1150]

Thank you

[@AnnAmbler]

Unfortunately the video link to Julie making it in 2008 won’t play as it’s private, but the teaser was nice to see!

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

Fixed

[@charinajohansson3890]

Your dentist must love you! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kellybryson7754]

I want some maple icing on it.

[@kittymurrah7400]

Chess cake is covered in powdered sugar. Makes it better.

[@kellybryson7754]

Happy Christmas to you and Julie.

[@tw1tchw1lliams26]

You are very interesting to listen to, would be nice to chat with you from your neighbor in Hamilton

[@boozeontherocks]

That really does look good.

[@groermaik]

Wow. That old video even LOOKED old. Julie didn't look old, though.

[@michaelv3340]

My grandmother's maiden name was Bobo. They lived in northwest Alabama in the Bobo community, so I wonder if they were related, somehow.

[@TheFlyingGerbil]

From glancing at the writing/photo combo in the thumbnail to quickly before clicking to watch I thought this was going to be a savoury cheese item. I wonder if there is such a thing?

[@chaeburger]

The reason the food in Lynchburg didn't have any Jack Daniels whiskey in it is because Moore County, the county in Tennessee where Lynchburg sit, is a dry county. Meaning you can't actually purchase any alcohol within the borders of Moore County outside of a couple of commemorative bottles at the distillery. Tennessee's relationship with alcohol is...interesting. The liquors laws are extremely convoluted and make for an interesting research rabbit hole. Living with the laws is complicated to say the least.

[@anthonydolio8118]

Can you figure out a way to get any maple syrup in that? Maple and pecans?!!

[@Yxvandoolu]

The old teaser video was fun to watch. The other is still Private, so cannot see it.

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

fixed

[@sonyavs455]

This looks wonderful! Looking at the recipe, it looks like it could be halved. Would that work? I think I would like to make it but I don’t want to make so much.

[@Mel-su9sf]

You can use 1 1/2 cups sugar with about the same results. Of course, then you can roll the cut poices in powdered sugar to serve them!😂

[@douglasfur3808]

Half a pound of butter, a pound of brown sugar and a handful of eggs...how could you go wrong? It's almost like cheating.

[@beingkitschroeder2507]

"it's jess pie..."

[@lisacraze1]

From the look at the edges, I wonder if it was baked too long? Also…would a little bourbon in the cake add something nice? Or is it unnecessary?

[@lesliemoiseauthor]

I'll be right over. Save some for me.

[@jcwoods2311]

If I remember correctly Lynchburg, TN is a dry county.

[@TamarLitvot]

Looked it up and yep, Moore County (where Lynchburg TN is located) is a dry county.

[@TNJenni42]

Yes, you can taste at the distillery but you can not buy liquor in Moore County where Lynchburg is.

[@jcwoods2311]

@@TamarLitvot that would mean no business in that county could sell liquor in any form then? Even if it's a component in a recipe I'd imagine. I wonder if they allow pure vanilla flavoring then, most is about 70-90 proof. 70 proof is the minimum allowed by the FDA.

[@beingkitschroeder2507]

Didn't see the link you were speaking of.

[@earthgrumble7156]

I have wonder if you live across the street from Glen if you get leftovers...it might be worth a move.

[@emielabalahin465]

Delicious! Just out of curiosity: is there such a thing as a savory bar recipe?

[@patrickdurham8393]

Didn't see it on the most recent menu but I doubt they've shellved it.

[@nancyleitner6396]

How do we get one if the mixing paddle that you have?

[@sshirleyks]

Julie, you sure haven’t changed much in 15 years! What’s your secret?

[@SledDog5678]

🤔Candied Pecans work in it?

[@coloringanddoodling9751]

!ALGOGRITHM!

[@sandorski56]

Choosing is losing.

[@michaelzachmann6990]

At first I thought it said cheese not chess

[@vaclavzeleny5717]

Could you find some good gluten free cake? I have a friend who has gluten intolerance and I want to bake something for her. :)

[@sennest]

😂!! 😎👍👍🙏🙏

[@internationaltrooper9505]

Made these but was disappointed when they came out of the oven. Followed the recipe exactly and baked for 27 minutes. They looked underbaked significantly though so ended up putting it back in the oven an additional 20 minutes. I think the bake time needs to be increased quite a bit. Even with my longer bake time it looks drastically different from glens when he cuts into it. His looks way more cakey/dry whereas the recipe I followed and made turned out very wet. It’s not bad but just different from what I expected from a blondie like recipe. Perhaps more flour as well… not sure

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

Every oven is different - but it shouldn't have been that different. Maybe you made a mistake somewhere along the way? Happens to me all the time.

[@internationaltrooper9505]

Thanks for responding! Love your videos btw! The only thing I can think of is I miscounted on the flour and could have been off a 1/3 cup but I really don’t think so. I’m perplexed. Maybe my oven heating element is going out :( they turned out edible, lol more like a very chewy/soft/wet brownie but again was expecting a bit dryer result from how the video looked. I’ll try it again in a week or so after we finish off this batch and see if the results change. Again thanks for the amazing videos, stories, recipes, etc. !!

[@kellyrichards936]

Just a shot in the dark, knowing some of your history working with chefs and video up there in Canada do you remember a tv chef last name Zorko or work immigration had changed spelling I’m guessing about 15 to 20 years ago I know he passed just researching family history only know what I hear from family rumor mill here in the states, on a side not love your old cookbook episodes