What's Cooking in America?

The United States of America…somehow the word ‘united' encapsulates within itself the essence of the nation. It is a melting pot of cultures, a country made up of immigrants who came in waves from other countries, drawn by the lure of the land of opportunity. Each of these immigrant groups brought the uniqueness of their home country with them and all these combined to produce the smorgasbord which is American Cooking and Recipes today.

Spanning 52 states, and 5 time zones, the country is vast. American Recipes are also many in number and can be region specific or occasion centric or even particular to an ethnic group. Thus there is Cajun cooking, Tex Mex food, Japanese sushi bars, Indian ‘balti' cuisine. There is corn on the cob and turkey with cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, roast goose with stuffing and flaming plum pudding for Christmas, Barbequed spareribs and hotdogs with coleslaw for July Fourth cookouts….the list of recipes that are quintessentially American is long and exhaustive.

American Recipes are largely region specific as well. However if one delves further into the origin of such recipes, one can see that it is largely dependent on the availability of fresh produce of that region. Thus Maine is synonymous with fresh lobsters that are often just steamed and dipped in melted butter. In fact the entire New England area consisting of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and a few other states is renowned for clam and fish chowders, chased with generous wedges of Boston cream pie. The New Orleans region is famous for its Creole cooking with fried catfish, fish gumbo, jambalaya and tart key lime pie for dessert. Again, produce and fish that is available in that particular region. The Mid West, the cattle producing belt of the United States is known for its hearty buffalo burgers and Barbequed ribs. And all the way down to the Florida Panhandle and beyond, fiery Tex Mex cuisine rules the roost and the taste buds with nachos, enchiladas, guacamole and salsa dips.

American Recipes produced in the kitchens of American homes are largely healthy and hearty meals. Though there is a tendency to include meat as part of the regular diet, American Recipes incorporate a large amount of vegetables and fruits as well. Salads are de rigueur and desserts are primarily fruit based. In fact most of the cooking is healthy and low fat. Yet the average American tends to veer towards obesity and obesity is one of the biggest health problems plaguing the nation today. On closer analysis we realize that this predilection towards unnatural weight gain is because of a dependence on pre cooked, pre packaged meals and fast food takeaways that are high on taste and convenience and low on nutrients and food value. Traditional cooking and American Recipes are gradually being relegated to the back seat. It is a matter of growing concern and dieticians across the country are vociferously advocating a return to the simple, healthy, homey food produced in the American kitchen using recipes that have been handed down from one generation to another. Ultimately the average American will need to return to his culinary roots, going back to the cooking and recipes that his grandmother used to make.