fifty states

To celebrate Independence Day this year my children and I decided to honor our nation throughout the year by having a "state" dinner each Monday night. We draw the name of a state randomly from a jar then have a meal featuring foods and traditional dishes from that state. It has been great fun researching the states, their foods and history (so much of the food culture is tied up in the history). We are amazed at the diversity of our great nation from the Mexican influence of the southwest (we had chile rellenos and refried beans for New Mexico) to prairie fair (we had rabbit stew and cornbread for Oklahoma but not to worry, the neighborhood rabbits are alive and well, we got our rabbit from a meat market). Tonight we celebrate Michigan, birthplace of the coney dog! Pass along suggestions/recipes from your state; we'd love to hear from you!