Pawpaws: America’s Forgotten Fruit
The pawpaw is the largest edible tree fruit native to North America and indigenous to the temperate woodlands of the eastern United States.
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Weiner On a Stick, Battered, Deep Fried: A DOG-gone Great Idea
Probably the most perfect rendition of street food ever created in this nation is the humble corn dog. After all, what could be more convenient to someone taking a stroll than a wiener impaled on a stick, dipped into a thick batter, and deep fried? The origin for this all-American fast food dates back to […]
Mac and Cheese: America’s Favorite Comfort Food
The first known recipe for a macaroni and cheese casserole was recorded as far back as thirteenth century Italy. In the medieval cookbook Liber de Coquina, the anonymous author describes layering sheets of lasagne with powdered spices and cheese (likely parmesan) of choice. This recipe (called de lasanis), while certainly not the same as the […]
Gumbo: The Official Cuisine of Louisiana
Gumbo is generally thought to derive its name from the word kingomb, meaning okra in the West African dialect of Bantu . . .
Frito Pie: Born, Bred and Loved in Texas
During the 1930s, in his search for a tastier tortilla that wouldn’t get stale so quickly, Charles Elmer Doolin (better known as C. E.) recalled a chip made by Gustavo Olguin, a Mexican native for whom he worked a short time as a fry cook. Gustavo’s fritos (meaning "little fried things") were made from masa […]
America’s Favorite Sandwich: The Hamburger
Exactly when and by whom the hamburger was invented seems to depend on who is telling the story. Well known historian Frank Tolbert attributed the honors to Fletcher Davis of Henderson County, Texas. It seems “Old Dave,” as he was known to most folks, owned a lunch counter in Athens where he served grilled beef […]
Spam: America’s Favorite Luncheon Meat
Geo. A. Hormel & Co, a meatpacker of fresh pork products, was founded in 1891 in an abandoned creamery on the banks of Red Cedar River northeast of Austin, Minnesota. Pork sales flourished during the late 1890s, and the company quickly expanded its manufacturing facilities and established a distribution center in Duluth and sales offices […]
Nothing Says Texas Like Chicken Fried Steak
No matter what you call it – pan fried steak, country fried steak, chicken fried steak or CFS – the fact is Texans love it! So much so, that restaurants in that great state serve more than 800,000 chicken fried steaks each and every day, according to the Texas Restaurant Association. And while many "outsiders" […]
Whoop it up for Whoopie Pies
Traditional whoopie pies consist of two soft, slightly dry devils food mini cakes, generously filled with creamy white filling. The filling not only serves to keep this delectable treat moist, but adds a certain gooeyness to the eating experience that’s half the fun. While the origin of this delicious cream-filled confection can be indisputably traced […]
American as Apple Pie?
We’ve all heard the expression "American as apple pie" hundreds of times. But in truth, just how American is apple pie? What you may not be aware of is both apple pie and the fruit whose name it bears are actually of European descent, coming to this country by way of early colonial English settlers. […]
Maple Syrup: The Original American Sweetener
Like with so many foods invented in this country, the question of when and how maple syrup was first discovered is surrounded by legends and folklore. Probably the most popular of these stories is that an Iroquois Chef named Woksis threw his tomahawk at a tree releasing a clear sap that his wife used for […]
