Regional Foods (Dandridge: living, bars, bill)

[Pam& Bill]

A week or so ago a neighbor brought us a Chess Pie. YUMMY!!! First time I ever had it or heard of it. Since we moved to Tn. we have also tried and fell in love with Red Velvet cake. I had heard of Red Velvet cake from Southern Living magazine, but had never tried it till we moved here.
My question is this.... I'm guessing Red Velvet cake is a southern dessert and Chess Pie is a regional dessert. What other regional desserts/dishes are your favorites?
I'm a convert to BBQ too. How could I not be after eating at Smokies in Dandridge?
Pam

[bbkaren]

mmmm chess pie.

I have a killer, simple recipe if you're interested.

It's on this page:
http://www.lcni5.com/pages/specialse...ofroane/15.pdf

Offered in the "Taste of Roane" local cookbook (among tons of other awesome dishes!) by our friend, none other than Bess Derryberry (relative of some sort to, yes, Ann and Jerry)

[jabogitlu]

I had no idea that Chess Pie was regional. Omg, it's fantastic!

[Pam& Bill]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

I had no idea that Chess Pie was regional. Omg, it's fantastic!

I'm only going by what my neighbor told me about Chess Pie being regional.

Thanks for the link to the recipe, I have one the neighbor enclosed with the pie.
So anyone with any other regional dishes they'd like to share?
Pam

[gemkeeper]

That is really a good idea to put the recipe in with the food gift! I like that, Pam.

Wonderful desserts, Chess Pie and Red Velvet Cake.

We always had them in the NE, too, so I am not so sure about the regional thing.

[Kitties of Domination]

Hmmm...deserts that I THINK are southern/regional (besides pecan pie):

1. Ambrosia: fruit salad w/ coconut, pecans, and cherries
2. Icebox pie: Lime sherbet on rice krispie and chocolate crust
3. Pralines: sugar, pecans, I think, ask my mom
4. Snow creme: Sugar, vanilla extract, fresh snow (not so common anymore)
5. Biscuits w/ chocolate gravy: This one I have only found in a small area of
mtns along TN/Alabama border, gravy is butter?, cocoa, and
sugar?? I can get the recipe from my mom
6. Sweet potato pie
7. TN apple stack cake

Other things to try:
1. Boiled peanuts
2. Fried green tomatoes
3. Blackberries and biscuits
4. Sweet potato casserole
5. Pickled okra
6. Chow chow
7. Pinto beans and cornbread
8. Fried squirrel (yes, its good)

Things to avoid:
1. Souse
2. Chit'lins
3. Scrambled hog brains
4. Pickled pigs feet
5. Cracklins

[jabogitlu]

LOL! I actually like cracklins, but not chitlins. Brains and eggs are good, but not hog brains! And cow tongues. Mmmm, the meat makes some mean burritos, but before you cook it, it's GROSS looking!

We have chocolate gravy up this way, too, out in the country. And blackberry dumplings, which are really quite amazing.

[bbkaren]

How about the deep fried pickle I had? Isn't that some sort of southern specialty?

And how about chicken fried bacon?

[jabogitlu]

Deep frield mars bars I have heard of, but not pickles. Gross.

[Pam& Bill]

Deep fried pickles? cows tongue? Oh gross! Believe it or not my mother who has never been able to claim being a fine cook, made Cows tongue for Sunday dinner once. I happened to look under the pot that she had over the tongue and couldn't get over the stains of grass on the tongue. Haven't eaten it since.
I've also eaten Squirrel before but in Spaghetti sauce... tastes like chicken! LOL What is Chow Chow?
And what are Blackberry Dumplings served with????
Bill is southern born and raised so I have tried fried Okra and he makes an awesome fried chicken. I have learned to make Pecan pie too. I haven't quite gotten used to Tomatos on an egg sandwich though.....
Thanks for all the suggestions....
Oh just in case anyone is wondering if Bill is southern born and raised how come he never had Red Velvet cake till we moved to Tn.? That's because he was raised in New Orlearns ( Nor'Lins) and someone recently said to me there is New Orleans and Florida and the rest of the south. LOL
Pam