Posted on 14th Jan 2011 @ 10:29 AM

Happy New Year and welcome to the winter of 2011! The New Year is always a time to look both forward and back. We look back at accomplishments and landmarks in our lives and we look ahead to new goals and challenges. I trust you are looking forward to this new year with great anticipation and joy. 

When winter rolls around, especially after the new year, we in the US tend to move indoors and hunker down for the duration. We make comfort food and play indoor games and do indoor activities. We are done with the hustle and bustle of the holidays and now enjoy quieter times with family and friends. We mimic the animals in hibernation and slow way down, at least in comparison to our normal hectic schedules. We see winter as a time to regroup and give ourselves permission to rest.

But… we do love to eat and that takes a certain amount of planning and preparation. I spoke of comfort foods and realized that since the US is such a melting pot of different cultures, we have a huge variety of regional food favorites. In fact a number of cooking shows have become American favorites, which has been a great surprise to me. We used to have only Julia Child and her eccentric but endearing French Chef cooking slots. Then we moved on to Martha Stewart who still remains an icon of all things to do with the home. But now there are Emeril, Rachael Ray and Paula Deen plus a whole host of other cooking gurus who lead us through preparation of their specialties. People tune in to cooking wars and other cooking competition reality shows. They may be eating fast food while they watch, but they watch nonetheless. It is an American phenomenon.

But there are still people who cook from scratch. We love those people and hope for invitations to their homes. Let’s take a little mini-tour of American regional favorites, remembering that there are a large number of ethnic influences on American cooking.

The Northeast

Here in the parts of the country first inhabited by Europeans we have some well-known dishes. Real maple syrup is made from the sap of the maple trees and is like brown gold. The bounty from the sea is well-used and the traditional clam bake is an experience not to be missed. Lobster, crab cakes, corn, New England clam chowder, all are time-honored favorites. Cranberries grow in bogs and are used in all kinds of breads and dessert recipes. Boston is famous for its baked beans. Boiled dinners of corned beef and vegetables are also enjoyed and have come to America via Ireland.

The Northwest

The Pacific Northwest of our country is heavily influenced by Native American culture. We eat from the abundance of the land just as the natives did. We use seafood, especially King Salmon for many of our entrée dishes. There is also a large assortment of other local seafood such as clams, oysters, crab, scallops and shrimp. We eat berries and other fruits that grow so abundantly in our area. The blackberry and many varieties of it including the yummy seedless marionberry are popular. We eat nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts and enjoy apples, pears and apricots in season. We may know how to make Indian fry bread or bannock, another native bread. And we can’t leave the discussion of favorites in the Northwest without talking about coffee. The coffee craze that has spread across the entire country began in Seattle and continues to be big business. You will find coffees in all blends and flavors, in all kinds of coffee shops, stalls and drive-throughs and a steaming cup in every hand on a cold, damp Northwest morning.

The Heartland

Smack dab in the middle of our country from the Dakotas and down, you’ll find the heartland of America. People here either used to work on farms or still do and they still eat that way. Big steaks, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed vegetables, homemade breads and rich desserts will grace the table. If they ask you in for coffee, be sure that there will appear an array of “bars” which means four kinds of cookies that were baked in a pan and cut into rectangles or squares and possibly the addition of little sandwiches on homemade buns. The heartland is a great place to visit, but if you live there, you’ll gain weight. Meals are made from scratch with real butter and cream. The Pioneer Woman has a wonderful website with some of America’s favorite recipes.

The Southwest and the Big State of Texas

In the Southwest there is the influence of Mexico in much of the cuisine. You’ll find spicy jalapenos and cilantro in many recipes. You’ll find tacos, enchiladas and burritos on the menu. Chili is a favorite and there are many recipes known as “tex-mex”. Beef is popular and in the Big State of Texas the barbecue of steaks, ribs and burgers is famous. You’ll find a hundred recipes for barbecue sauce from Uncle Dan or Cousin Ida. Corn, beans, tomatoes and other produce native to the hot American Southwest will grace these recipes.

The Southeast and the Deep South

In the South of our country there is the influence of African American Soul Food; collard greens, grits, red-eye gravy and chitterlings. There is Cajun French cooking with red beans and rice, jambalaya and beignets, and the big plantation recipes famous for using okra, corn bread with fried chicken and sweet iced tea alongside. For dessert you’d enjoy pecan or key lime pie. In Florida you may notice a Cuban influence on the offerings and again, there is an abundance of seafood available. 

Lest you think all we Americans do is eat, take note that we are big on winter sports. Families plan ski vacations and enjoy other winter outings such as sleigh rides. We ice skate, snowboard and ride down snowy hills on sleds and toboggans. We play indoor tennis, racquetball, soccer and many other indoor sports when the weather is too cold. For some of the best winter destinations check out this site. If you’re looking for destinations with horse-drawn sleigh rides on the docket you’ll enjoy this list. 

Winter is a great time to catch up on your reading. Whether it’s best-sellers or classics you enjoy, reading is one of the best ways to stay up to date, mentally challenged and adept at making conversation with others.

Enjoy your winter. Whatever activities you choose, and whatever foods you select, make this a time of friends, family and fun. Are you trying something new this year? Did you make a resolution? Maybe you’ll try out some of the American regional recipes listed above and let us know how they turn out. What are your family’s comfort food favorites? We’d love to hear of your experiences at www.askgranny.com.  

Goodbye for now,

Askgranny in the USA