MAIN INGREDIENTS
Snickerdoodles are classic old-fashioned cookies that are rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and white sugar, consisting of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. They are characterized by their texture (soft or crispy), a cracked surface of the exterior, and a buttery, sweet flavor.
The cookies got their name from the German word Schneckennudeln, meaning cinnamon-dusted sweet rolls, and another theory suggest that the name stems from a series of tales from the 1900s that centered around a hero named Snickerdoodle.
MOST ICONIC Snickerdoodle
MAIN INGREDIENTS
The most popular food of the Southern cuisine, fried chicken is the theme of many arguments where everyone involved seems to have a favorite, be it what their mothers used to make, a cult roadside eatery, or a bygone restaurant. However, it is universally agreed that the meat must be moist, succulent, and tender, coated with a crunchy, golden-brown crust.
It all started during the colonization period, when Scottish immigrants settled in the South, bringing their fried chicken recipes along. The African slaves then introduced new seasonings and spices, and the dish quickly gained popularity. Typical seasonings include salt, pepper, and hot chiles, and the pieces of meat should be edible by hand so that the consumer can bite both the crust and the meat at the same time.
MOST ICONIC Fried Chicken
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Named as the official state bread of South Dakota in 2005, frybread is a flat dough that is fried or deep-fried in oil or lard. Originally, it is a Native American Navajo tradition, invented at a time when the Natives were in captivity and attempts were made to starve them out.
The government supplied them with lard, flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and powdered milk, which were often spoiled, so fry bread originated from those few foods provided during the four years of captivity. What ensured the Navajo's survival in the past is now consumed either on its own, or with numerous topping and accompaniments such as honey, jam, or beef.
MOST ICONIC Frybread
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Comforting and hearty, chicken pot pie is an American and Canadian savory pie that has a top crust made with flaky pastry and a filling of chicken and vegetables such as peas, potatoes, onions, and carrots. There is no set recipe, and other ingredients can be included.
As far as method goes, the pie can be prepared in the oven, on the stovetop, or in an iron pie over an open fire. Also, although it's traditionally considered that chicken pot pie only has a top crust, it's common to find double-crusted ones. Still, chicken pot pie is just one kind of pot pie, albeit the most famous one, and there are pot pies with beef, lamb, and turkey.
MOST ICONIC Chicken pot pie
First prepared by the Native American centuries ago, grits are tiny broken grains of corn that are boiled and served with other flavorings, usually as a breakfast dish, when they are accompanied by bacon, eggs, and toast on the side. The dish is popular throughout the Southern United States, and the name grits is derived from the Old English word grytt, meaning coarse meal.
While some may confuse grits with polenta, there are some important differences between the two - in the type of corn, the fineness of the grind, taste, and texture. This thick porridge is usually savory, not sweet, and it is an important part of a traditional dish called shrimp and grits, which is also popular in the Southern parts of the United States.
MOST ICONIC Grits
MAIN INGREDIENTS
A traditional campfire classic consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate placed between two graham crackers - that's s'more, its name derived from a contraction of the phrase "some more", because everyone who tasted it was instantly hooked.
The credit for the invention of this delicious nighttime snack goes to the Girl Scouts, who first published the recipe in their 1927 book called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. That same recipe was credited to a woman named Loretta Scott Crew.
MOST ICONIC S'more
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Fried chicken and waffles is an unlikely, but much loved pairing of sweet and salty flavors and soft and crunchy textures. The dish is thought to have originated with the African Americans in the South who rarely had a chance to eat chicken and waffles, so it was a meal that was eaten at special occasions on African American dining tables.
Some food historians claim that chicken and waffles evolved after the Civil War migration of Southern African Americans to the North. However, the modern version of the dish was first served in Harlem, New York as early as the 1930s, mostly in jazz nightclubs.
MOST ICONIC Chicken and Waffles
MAIN INGREDIENTS
A popular breakfast dish throughout the United States of America, especially in the Southern parts of the country, biscuits 'n' gravy consists of tender dough biscuits that are covered in a thick gravy, usually made from the drippings of pork sausages, flour, and milk.
Although the word biscuit usually refers to twice-baked bread, the American version of a biscuit is more reminiscent of a European scone. The dish originated in the South just after the Revolutionary War, before the United States was even a country.
MOST ICONIC Biscuits ’n’ Gravy
Hot chicken sandwich is Nashville’s signature dish, consisting of crispy fried, marinated chicken pieces served on a toasted white bun. Various cuts of chicken can be used: breasts, thighs, or wings, and once fried, the meat is covered in a cayenne pepper-based hot sauce that penetrates the crispy coating.
The heat is balanced by the addition of pickles, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise or a sour cream dressing enriched with various herbs. Known both for its heat and flavor, this spicy sandwich nowadays has an iconic reputation, and it is one of the most popular local treats.
MOST ICONIC Hot Chicken Sandwich
English muffin is a small, round, and flat bread that's made from a soft yeasted dough. Once shaped into rounds, either by hand or with crumpet rings, the English muffin is baked on a griddle. Before toasting, they are halved, and once toasted, they're buttered, then served for breakfast with sweet or savory toppings.
These muffins are an essential part of eggs Benedict. It's not recommended to use a knife to cut them in half – most cooks agree that they should be split with a fork and gently pulled apart in order to create a surface with small peaks and craters, which gives them a crunchy texture and provides many pockets for jam and butter.
MOST ICONIC English muffin
