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America’s Favorite Foods
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Did you ever notice how certain dishes always seem to be on restaurant menus? We often find ourselves ordering dishes like burgers, fried chicken, barbecued anything, macaroni and cheese or apple pie because they are our real American classic favorites. This month, we will take you on a whirlwind food journey, exploring the history and humorous little stories about some of America’s favorite foods. We will also chat with award-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin, who will relate some legends and myths behind some Chinese American dishes that might surprise you too. So, stay tuned for a real adventure.
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Hot Dogs Become an American Classic
Classic Chicago Hot Dog
Welcome to a hot dog “dragged through the garden”.
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About the Recipe: The soft steamed bun cuddles the juicy all beef hot dog, coated with shocking green relish, crunchy onions, sliced garden-fresh tomato wedges, and drizzled with mild yellow mustard. A crisp garlic flavored dill pickle spear and several spirited pickled sport peppers add a finishing tongue-tingling taste along with a sprinkle of celery salt.
See – How Hot dogs Become an American Classic
Enjoy the Story – The Secret Marketers Roll Out the “Dog”
See More – Classic Chicago Hot Dog
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Apple Pie Becomes an American Classic
Chef Bill Yosses Secret Crust Apple Pie
Welcome to: a Presidential dessert treat served at the White House.
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About the Recipe: The pie crust uses traditional ingredients, but the chef often chills the dough.to absorb moisture. The generous apple filling is delicious, especially if you use a mixture of apple varieties, but not Red Delicious apples. The pie takes time to make since the buttery crust needs to be chilled often and is very tender, needs to be prebaked, and the filling is precooked before baking. If you like pie challenges, give this pie a try. The reward is delicious.
See How Apple Pie Becomes an American Classic
Enjoy the Story It’s “As American as Apple Pie”
See More – Chef Bill Yosses Secret Crust Apple Pie
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Pizza Becomes an American Classic
American Styled Pizza – Thin or Deep Dish
Welcome to a different pizza in appearance, aroma, and taste.
About the Recipes: Classic Italian pizzas, created in Naples, are known for their thin crusts, simple ingredients, like a small amount of tomato sauce, cheese, and are baked in wood-fired ovens. If any meat is added, it would be ham or prosciutto. At times, they are topped with only olive oil and some cheese. Usually, their pizzas are light and crispy.
American pizza is completely different, adding more tomato sauce, lots of cheese, and are loaded with a variety of meat or other add-in veggies. Many times, the crust is thick or stuffed, which results in a denser pizza. America’s pizza is like its culture, a melting pot of flavors, sizes, and textures.
How Pizza Became an American Classic.
Enjoy the Story – Score with A Real “Home Run” Recipe
See More – American Styled Pizza – Thin or Deep Dish
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Grace Lin
Author and Illustrator
Award-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin provides a visual and storytelling feast as she gives insight on the history, legends, and myths behind your favorite American Chinese dishes. Filled with captivating tales
accompanied by rich full-color illustrations.
Photo Courtesy of Grace Lin
Do you know the stories behind delectable Chinese American dishes—like the
fun connection between scallion pancakes and pizza? Or how dumplings
cured a village’s frostbitten ears? Or how wonton soup tells the creation of
the world?
Photo Courtesy of Grace Lin
CHINESE MENU: The Histories, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin! From fried dumplings to fortune cookies, this beautifully illustrated book examines the tales and rich histories behind your favorite Chinese American food.
Separated into courses like a Chinese menu, these tales—based
in real history and folklore—are filled with squabbling dragons, magical fruits, and hungry monks. This book will bring you to far-off times and marvelous places, all while making your mouth water. And, along the way,
you might just discover a deeper understanding of the resilience and triumph behind this food, and what makes it undeniably American.
The book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine bookstores nationwide.
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Fried Chicken Becomes an American Classic
Authentic Fried Chicken
Welcome to a comfort dish that’s on every party menu.
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About the Recipe: The cut-up chicken pieces are drenched in buttermilk; then coated with a seasoning flour mixture. Letting them rest is important until they acquire a paste-like consistency. Cook in heated oil until browned, tender, and then crisp. If desired, remove the skin from the chicken pieces before coating them.
Hints: In this recipe, the chicken pieces are drenched in buttermilk to tenderize the meat. They can be coated in a flour batter seasoned with salt, black pepper, paprika and sometimes chili, garlic, or onion powder. Many times, they are served with buttered biscuits, Southern potato salad, or mashed potatoes with cream gravy on the side.
How Fried Chicken Becomes an American Classic
Enjoy the Story – A Chicken Hero with a Secret
See More – Authentic Fried Chicken
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Biscuits Become an American Classic
James Beard’s Cream Biscuits
Welcome to; Biscuits from “Beard on Bread” 1973 Cookbook
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About the Recipe: So easy; so simple! You will even stop buying the biscuits in a tube when you taste how delicious they are. They are crisp yet soft and full of butter flavor. Yummy!
How Biscuits Become an American Classic
Enjoy the Story: _“Why Can’t I Make Fluffy Soft Biscuits?”
See More – James Beard’s Cream Biscuits
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Burgers Become an American Classic
Double Decker Bob’s Big Boy Cheeseburger
Welcome to: America’s first double decker burger with chili pickle sauce.
About the Recipe: This inspired recipe recreates the first double decker burger sold in the U.S. It layers 3 slices of bun, mayonnaise, lettuce, cheese, 2 thin burgers, and yummy special sauce. The Big Mac wasn’t marketed until three decades later. The recipe is easy to make and really tastes delicious. Close your eyes; put on some rock music, and enjoy the fun of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
How Burgers and Cheeseburgers Become an American Classic:
Enjoy the Story _Burgers Can Change One’s Life
See More – Double Decker Bob’s Big Boy Cheeseburger
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Mac & Cheese Become an American Classic
Creamy Mac & Cheese
Welcome to a dish that’s a popular “comfort food” for dinner or celebrations.
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About the Recipe: Everyone loves Mac & Cheese filled with tender pasta covered with creamy cheese sauce. The real secret to making the best Mac & Cheese in home kitchens is using a wonderful blend of different cheeses. It becomes this steamy hot, delectable, and creamy melting cheese that enrobes curved macaroni pasta and appeals to everyone, young and old.
How Mac & Cheese Become an American Classic
Enjoy the Story –Who Really Introduced Us to Mac ‘n Cheese?
See More – Creamy Mac & Cheese
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Steak Sandwiches Become an American Classic
Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteak
Welcome to a party sandwich with creamy melted cheese.
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About the Recipe: This recipe is easy to make since most of the ingredients can be prepared ahead of time. We love the option that we could use plant-based protein as well as ground beef as the main ingredient. The melting provolone cheese smothers the bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and blends with the creamy ground plant-based or lean beef. Serving them on crusty toasted buns helps to create the party perfect, Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
How Steak Sandwiches Became an American Classic
Enjoy the Story – A City Where Opportunity Knocks
See More – Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteak
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Barbecue Becomes an American Classic
Mouthwatering Baby Back Ribs
Welcome to Ed Mitchell’s winning ribs are moist and fall-off-the-bone delicious.
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About the Recipe: These ribs are so tasty that they defeated Bobby Flay’s ribs on the Food Network television show, Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Step-by-step directions guide you to smoke the racks for two hours, then steam them with vinegar sauce for a few minutes, dry them out again with more rub and smoke, resulting in moist, tender, flavorful ribs.
How Barbecue Becomes an American Classic
Enjoy the Story – Eye-Opening Smoke
See More – Mouthwatering Baby Back Ribs
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Chocolate Chip Cookies Become an American Classic
Triple Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies
Welcome to: A winning “bakeoff” chocolate chip cookie with Presidential style.
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About the Recipe: First Lady Michelle Obama won the Family Circle sponsored contest in 2012. It contains three kinds of chips, white, mint, and milk chocolate, as well as chopped walnuts. American natural butter in this updated recipe creates a crunchy texture and melt-in-your-mouth richness. It’s our All-American favorite cookie with a touch of inspiration.
How Chocolate Chip Cookies Become an American Classic:
Enjoy the Story – Powerful Splurge Recipe
See More – Triple Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies
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Pumpkin Pie Becomes an American Classic
Streusel Topped Pumpkin Pie
Welcome to Delightful pumpkin pie with a spicy Dutch streusel topping.
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About the Recipe: Pumpkin pie is a classic recipe that is served for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving. This year, add a holiday touch with a lightly spiced streusel. Enjoy the spirit of the season and one of America’s favorite classic holiday pies.
How Pumpkin Pie Becomes an American Classic
Enjoy the Story – The Wisdom of Little Pumpkins
See More – Streusel Topped Pumpkin Pie
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