The Nashville Food Project’s Blog
Summer offers children a welcome break from school, but hunger does not follow the academic calendar. When classrooms close, many families lose access to the dependable meals their children receive during the school year. Sweet Peas helps keep nourishing food within reach until those familiar school-day routines return.
Thanks in part to the support of our longtime partner Jackson Financial, Inc., we were able to provide nourishing meals to children across Middle Tennessee throughout the summer.
Nourish 2026 was a powerful celebration of food, community, and connection. From a beautifully collaborative meal prepared by top chefs to stories that highlighted the heart of our mission, the evening brought people together around a shared table and a shared purpose—to nourish Nashville.
Together, their rhythm has been simple and steady. One experimenting. One anchoring. Both caring deeply about the meals that leave the kitchen.
Apple Spice Cake
The generous apple donations we receive are often turned into applesauce in this delicious spice cake. Lower cost and less waste!
Serves 50 – 60
10 cups all purpose flour 8 tsp baking soda 1 tbl salt 4 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp cardamon (or nutmeg) 2 cups oil 3 cups brown sugar 3 cups white sugar 1 cup honey 4 tsp vanilla 8 eggs 8 cups applesauce (chunky home made is best!)
Spray nonstick spray into three 9 X 12 size pans. Mix oil and sugar well. Add eggs, honey and vanilla and mix well. Mix with dry ingredients alternating with applesauce until all is incorporated. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. When cool, dust with powdered sugar.