Pass the Breadbasket please!

Ten Facts about Indiana

1. Indiana is a part of the “breadbasket of America.”
Sometimes called the “breadbasket of America” the Midwest serves as a center for grain production, mainly wheat, corn, and soybeans. It is a region of the country which includes the states of: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and INDIANA. The Midwest is called the breadbasket because of its richness of soil and its climate. Aren’t we glad that Indiana is a part of the “breadbasket of America”?!

2. Most of the present Indiana population is of English, Scottish, Irish, or German descent.
Irish people mainly ate stew, wheaten soda bread and would drink beer. A common dish is Irish stew. The English people would eat bread and cheese, roasted and stewed meats, and fish. They would drink wine, beer, or cider. A common English dish is pot roast. The Scottish mainly ate game, dairy, fish, fruit, and would drink beer, ale, or whisky. A common Scottish dish is Roast Beef. The Germans would eat pork, beef, poultry, fish, vegetables, and would drink beer, or ale. A common German dish is breakfast cereal.

3. Indiana is known for its corn production.
Indiana ranks fourth in the production of corn. Most corn is used for animal feed, though some is used for ethanol. Call me an animal, but when I hear the word ‘corn’ I think of cornbread. I LOVE cornbread and my family likes to eat it with a BIG pot of homemade soup!

4. Indiana is known for its soybean production.
Indiana is the third largest soybean producing state in the US. Almost a third of the Hoosier soybean crop is exported onto the world market. Tofu is made with soybeans, but it sounds nasty so I haven’t tried it nor will I ever try it.
5. Indiana is known for its pork production.
There are 3000 pork producer families in Indiana, down 87%, from 24,000 farms in 1980. The vast majority of all pork operations are still owned and operated by farm families passed down from generations. 13,000 Hoosiers have a job because of the State’s pork industry. I don’t know about you but I love pork sandwiches!
6. Brain sandwiches are traditional in old-fashioned Indiana restaurants.
A fried-brain sandwich is a sandwich with sliced calves’ brains on sliced bread. Increased incidents of mad cow disease will likely further diminish the appeal of this interesting dish. So if you would like to become a mad cow, have some. I haven’t ever tried it nor do I think I will ever try it.
7. Pizza is the favorite food of the people of Indiana.
Pizza is a word that makes so many people’s mouth water. There are a lot of different kinds of pizza. There are deep dish pizzas, thin crust pizzas, vegetarian pizzas, white pizza, deep fried, etc. I would have to say that I myself don’t really like any of these. I like my Mom’s homemade pizza, that is what makes MY mouth water.

8. Beef and Noodles is a homespun Hoosier dish
Beef and Noodles is a classic dish that can be dressed up for company or served more simply by using hamburger or leftover beef. It is traditionally made with stew beef. I like a more stroganof-style dish than a more beef flavored dish.
9. Sugar Cream Pie is a popular dish seen almost exclusively in Indiana
Sugar Cream Pie or also called Indiana Farm pie is a single-crust pie with a filling, made from flour, butter, salt, vanilla, and cream. This mixture makes a caramel like filling. The ideal sugar cream pie is supposed to be like Santa Claus because it shakes like a bowl full of jelly.
10. Persimmon pudding is also a favorite Indiana dessert very difficult to find outside of the Hoosier State.

Persimmon pudding

A persimmon is a fruit that is round or oval in shape and is generally an orange-yellow color. Persimmon pudding is generally either steamed or cooked in an oven with a bowl of water to keep it moist. It is served with ice cream, whipped cream, apple sauce, or brandy butter. It is said to be best served warm though some people eat it cold as well. I have never tasted it.