It was an age like no other. From the Creole townhouses of New Orleans to the grand mansions of Virginia, every southern belle knew the way to a man's heart was through his stomach. Any young woman who did not possess a closely-guarded arsenal of secret recipes was at a distinct disadvantage.

In the polite society of ante-bellum Tennessee, one young woman was renowned for both her beauty and her culinary ability. Though only seventeen, she had perfected recipes that had been in her family for generations. Tea cakes were one of her most sought-after specialties.

The Civil War changed everything. Chronic food shortages meant crucial ingredients were rarely available, and the young lady packed away her recipes. Until her brother, a confederate major, returned home with a certain young captain in tow.

It was love at first sight. The captain's birthday arrived, and the moonstruck belle longed to bake him a cake, but did not have enough ingredients. She decided to make a small batch of her tea cakes instead.

Today, over 100 years later, we still follow her recipe to make Tennessee T-Cakes!!!