|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 17:20:19 GMT
I am a foodie. I also love to travel. I'm not going to get to travel everywhere I want to go due to health concerns and money. So, I decided that once a month I'm going to make a typical dinner, with appetizer and dessert from one state, until I get through them all. I'm hoping my kids will like this too. So I'm starting with Alabama. I've looked up a few things, and I've come across bbq and shrimp and grits, that kind of thing, but I think those are typical of the whole region. Does anyone know any foods that are unique to Alabama? Any ideas you have that can make these dinners fun? I'll be looking for fun facts about each state to share during the dinner. This is meant to be light hearted and a fun way to "visit" each state, that we probably won't ever get to.
|
|
miyooper2b
Full Member
Posts: 329
Location: Central Indiana
Jun 27, 2014 15:38:05 GMT
|
Post by miyooper2b on Sept 11, 2015 17:23:17 GMT
I can't help with food ideas for Alabama but I wanted to say this is a cute idea. And a good way to mix up that meal routine, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 17:29:39 GMT
I can't help with food ideas for Alabama but I wanted to say this is a cute idea. And a good way to mix up that meal routine, too. Thanks! I think it will be fun! |
|
|
|
Post by Sparki on Sept 11, 2015 17:41:03 GMT
I'm from AL and I grew up eating cornbread and collard greens. Also fried chicken, blackeyed peas, and fried okra. Buttermilk biscuits. Look up a recipe for Lane Cake or Montgomery Pie. Those are pretty representative of AL dessert. Or buttermilk pie. Serve your meal with a tall glass of sweet tea. Crumble up cornbread into a glass of buttermilk (not for me) or regular milk, and eat with a spoon.
|
|
janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,174 
Location: Alabama
|
Post by janeinbama on Sept 11, 2015 17:47:23 GMT
Biscuits and gravy would be easy and good. Red Velvet Cake for a dessert (I use Paula Deen's recipe with 1 1/2 times the cream cheese frosting. I don't eat Collard Greens, but love cornbread with peas and/or butterbeans.
Sour Cream Cornbread
1 cup Self Rising Cornmeal
2 eggs beaten
1 cup Sour Cream
1 small can cream corn
1/8 cup (aprx) oil
Preheat oven and 8” – 10“cast iron skillet with oil to 375. Mix all other ingredients together, add oil and pour into skillet. Bake 30-40 minutes until brown.
What a great idea!
|
|
lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,151
|
Post by lindas on Sept 11, 2015 17:50:16 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. |
|
valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
|
Post by valleyview on Sept 11, 2015 17:52:44 GMT
Barbecued chicken in white sauce. Chicken salad. Sister Schubert rolls (freezer in grocery stores). Pecan pie or peach pie. Biscuits with honey.
|
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Sept 11, 2015 17:56:16 GMT
Barbecued chicken in white sauce. Chicken salad. Sister Schubert rolls (freezer in grocery stores). Pecan pie or peach pie. Biscuits with honey. I worship the ground that Sister Schubert walks on. *all hail Sister Schubert* (I mostly love the yeast rolls in the tins, but the cinnamon rolls in the tin come in a close second.) |
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 17:56:44 GMT
Mmmm! Those foods sound so good! I have never had collard greens, but it seems anyone from the south I know raves about them. White BBQ sauce...sounds interesting! Keep the ideas coming!  |
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Sept 11, 2015 17:59:58 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. Did you read the whole list? It's hilarious, but it might be tough to build a meal around some of those! |
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 18:00:45 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. Thanks for that link! I looked for something similar and came up empty! That will help tremendously! |
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 18:07:59 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. Did you read the whole list? It's hilarious, but it might be tough to build a meal around some of those! HAHA! It IS hilarious! |
|
valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
|
Post by valleyview on Sept 11, 2015 18:09:09 GMT
Can't believe that I forgot fried green tomatoes! Yum!
|
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 18:17:11 GMT
Can't believe that I forgot fried green tomatoes! Yum! I've never had those either! Do you have a recipe by chance that you love? I have tomatoes growing out back. |
|
schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
|
Post by schizo319 on Sept 11, 2015 18:20:57 GMT
Definitely chicken with white sauce. It was invented on my home town (Decatur). Shrimp and grits is more "Cajun" to me. Collards and FGT are more "southern" than Alabama specific.
|
|
lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,151
|
Post by lindas on Sept 11, 2015 18:21:25 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. Did you read the whole list? It's hilarious, but it might be tough to build a meal around some of those! I confess I didn't read them all but looks like I'm going to have to now.  |
|
valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
|
Post by valleyview on Sept 11, 2015 18:24:43 GMT
Can't believe that I forgot fried green tomatoes! Yum! I've never had those either! Do you have a recipe by chance that you love? I have tomatoes growing out back. I slice them, dredge in flour, dip in egg, then dredge in cornmeal seasoned with salt and lemon pepper. Fry in hot oil on both sides. I never measur the oil, just eyeball it. Sorry! But, it's not a deep-fry. |
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 11, 2015 18:52:34 GMT
valleyview Thanks, sounds easy! I think I'll do fried green tomatoes for an appetizer, white bbq chicken, and banana pudding for dessert. My kids love biscuits and honey so I'll do that. Now to come up with a side dish for the chicken.
|
|
akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
Posts: 4,546
Location: North Dakota
Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
|
Post by akathy on Sept 11, 2015 18:57:19 GMT
PM me when you get to North Dakota and I can hook you up. I'm participating in a cookbook of ND recipes |
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Sept 11, 2015 19:54:50 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. Thanks for that link! I looked for something similar and came up empty! That will help tremendously! When you get to Michigan let us know, and we will give you some better ideas. Pasties are generally a northern MI/UP thing. (Not that I don't eat them upon occasion, but they are definitely not the first thing one thinks of when they think about Michigan foods) |
|
|
|
Post by farmdpea on Sept 11, 2015 21:38:36 GMT
What a fun idea! eta: the white sauce is a north Alabama thing. My people  Would be more likely to give you ribs and white bread or fried catfish and coleslaw. Then a big fat piece of caramel cake (swoon!). The sweet tea is a must, like Sparki said. You're looking to score a record on your blood glucose meter...that's how you know you got Alabama right! |
|
|
|
Post by meridon on Sept 12, 2015 1:07:20 GMT
Um, yeah....born and raised and currently living in AL and have never even heard of BBQ chicken in a white sauce, much less eaten it! White sauce IS NOT BBQ sauce in my world.  That said, Alabama Public Television is airing a documentary currently called "Q" about all the different kinds found across the state. Not sure if you want to go in the direction of foods specific to AL or brands...might be able to find brands, like the aforementioned Sister Schubert's, which are heaven! Maybe you could google "foods made in" for each state and expand your options that way. I either heard or read something about Lane cake recently and it turns out that it might have actually originated in south GA, not in Monroeville. Fried Green tomatoes is good---paying homage to Fannie Flag there. Honestly, I'm kind of stumped for something uniquely "Alabama" that isn't just sort of generally Southern, unless I start thinking of things from specific stores or restaurants that are local. Tomatoes, peanuts, peaches and of course, Gulf shrimp are all foods grown/caught here. |
|
|
|
Post by peano on Sept 12, 2015 2:09:02 GMT
Chicken fried steak is Wyoming!!?? That list is nuts.
|
|
|
|
Post by SunnySmile on Sept 12, 2015 6:35:42 GMT
Um, yeah....born and raised and currently living in AL and have never even heard of BBQ chicken in a white sauce, much less eaten it! White sauce IS NOT BBQ sauce in my world. That said, Alabama Public Television is airing a documentary currently called "Q" about all the different kinds found across the state. Not sure if you want to go in the direction of foods specific to AL or brands...might be able to find brands, like the aforementioned Sister Schubert's, which are heaven! Maybe you could google "foods made in" for each state and expand your options that way. I either heard or read something about Lane cake recently and it turns out that it might have actually originated in south GA, not in Monroeville. Fried Green tomatoes is good---paying homage to Fannie Flag there. Honestly, I'm kind of stumped for something uniquely "Alabama" that isn't just sort of generally Southern, unless I start thinking of things from specific stores or restaurants that are local. Tomatoes, peanuts, peaches and of course, Gulf shrimp are all foods grown/caught here. That's interesting about the white bbq sauce. When I googled Alabama foods, that one did come up. I'm not looking for specific brands on anything, just unique to the state. I'll keep digging. |
|
|
|
Post by AussieMeg on Sept 12, 2015 8:01:30 GMT
What a great idea, it sounds like a lot of fun!! I wouldn't be able to do it with Australian states, because we pretty much eat the same thing everywhere, despite the size of the country. If y'all didn't have such different brands of food I might like to give your idea a try. It's hard to get a lot of American ingredients unless you go to a store that specialises in American foods. There is one called USA Foods that is about 45 minutes from me. It's awesome! |
|
|
|
Post by gillyp on Sept 12, 2015 10:32:20 GMT
What a brilliant idea and educational for the kids too. Will you tell us each month what you cook and what you thought of it please? |
|
|
|
Post by Sparki on Sept 12, 2015 18:44:56 GMT
I grew up in LA (that's Lower Alabama) and have never heard of white sauce for chicken before. However, I'm making pear preserves today. |
|
SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350
Location: Dallas Texas
Member is Online
|
Post by SabrinaP on Sept 12, 2015 19:06:43 GMT
I love your idea!
|
|
msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
|
Post by msliz on Sept 12, 2015 19:33:26 GMT
I decided that once a month I'm going to make a typical dinner, with appetizer and dessert from one state, until I get through them all.
Once a month? Or how about once a week? I don't think I can wait that long...
I have a few things to say about that idiotic list and its entry for my state. That jerkwad of a writer has obviously never been to Connecticut or he would be raving about our bay scallops (instead of assigning us some kind of garbage no one here would ever touch.)
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Sept 12, 2015 21:08:54 GMT
That sounds like a lot of fun. This might help you get started link. It lists one food item that is top for each state. You can then build the rest of the meal around it. I want to call bull hockey on the colorado one. I've never heard of cowboy cookies, but we absolutely have rocky Mountain oysters, so you can't give those to Montana or wherever it was |
|
Would be more likely to give you ribs and white bread or fried catfish and coleslaw. Then a big fat piece of caramel cake (swoon!). The sweet tea is a must, like Sparki said. You're looking to score a record on your blood glucose meter...that's how you know you got Alabama right!
That said, Alabama Public Television is airing a documentary currently called "Q" about all the different kinds found across the state. 
