Alabama Cuisine
Alabama has its share of hunters, so dishes such as dove breast coated in pancake batter and deep-fried, as well as venison chops baked with celery and onion, make for popular meals. But Alabamans also enjoy more traditional main course fare. Ham is a popular main course, especially for entertaining. A brown sugar glaze is a must, and the addition of apple or peach juice is standard. Ham is also a common breakfast, usually served with eggs and biscuits. Chicken is another favorite, usually made with an Alabama twist. Chicken pie is a favorite everyday supper, but in Alabama, the sauce is often mostly mayonnaise rather than the usual milk and flour bechamel. Chicken simmered in a mixture of cola and ketchup, known as cola-fried, is a quick dinner for some Alabamans, though chicken dredged in seasoned flour and deep fried or baked with plenty of butter is more common. Chicken noodle casserole with bell pepper, celery, onion, mushrooms, and olives in a cream sauce is also popular. A cracker-crumb topping is obligatory, and the sauce is generally made with processed cheese. Mixed meat stews that contain chicken, beef, and pork, sometimes called camp stews, are regular cold-weather fare. Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and onion are the dominant ingredients in the sauce. Alabama has only a very short coastline, but seafood still figures into the local diet, especially shrimp, which are often baked into a creamy, onion-flavored casserole. Fried shrimp cakes made with onion and bell pepper are also popular. Catfish is a major favorite in the state. Its two most common preparations are stewed with potatoes in a ketchup-Worcestershire sauce and seasoned with a bay leaf, or coated with seasoned cornmeal and fried. Cheese makes for popular party and picnic appetizers, especially old-fashioned cheese balls rolled in chopped pecans. Onion and bell pepper are standard add-ins, but in Alabama, drained and crushed pineapple is also a favorite addition. Ham and cheese dip—cheddar, sour cream, and cream cheese baked with ham bits and sprinkled with green onion—is another favorite at gatherings. Red or green tomatoes are a favorite side, whether fresh in salads, coated with cornmeal and fried, or baked in a casserole with cheese. Other vegetables, including potatoes, squash, shoe peg corn, and string beans, often feature in a casserole with a milk or cream and cheese sauce. Sweet potatoes topped with sugar and corn casseroles similar to very moist cornbread are also popular. Biscuits can be served at every meal and sometimes for snacks. It's common for them to contain both yeast and baking powder for leavening. Both buttermilk and fresh milk biscuits are common. Gelatin-based salads, known in Alabama as congealed salads, are common. The most popular is strawberry or apricot gelatin with pineapple and cream cheese mixed in. Some Alabama cooks substitute nondairy whipped topping, buttermilk, or a combination of the two for the cream cheese. Additional add-ins, especially pecans or sliced bananas, are also sometimes used. Coleslaw usually includes other vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, and celery, and often gets a hot cider vinegar and brown sugar dressing. Pecans feature in many Alabama desserts. Corn syrup custard pecan pie is a well-known favorite, as in most southern states, but in Alabama, pecan-pie flavor also turns up in cookies, muffins, and cakes. Baked apples or canned fruit are also dressed with brown sugar and pecans for wintertime desserts. Shredded coconut appears in many sweets, even those that are not primarily coconut-flavored. In summer, fruit cobblers, sweetened cooked fruit under a biscuit dough topping, are popular. Given the summer heat, many home cooks rely on cake or pudding mixes dressed up with cream cheese, pecans, or fresh or canned fruit for a quick "homemade" treat. In winter, sweet potato cobbler is common, as is coconut custard pie. The state has a sweet tooth, so snacks are often just as sweet as desserts. The notable exception is boiled salted peanuts, popular just as the peanuts are ready to harvest. Alabama has its own cocktail, the Alabama Slammer, a potent sweet mixture of Southern Comfort, amaretto, sloe gin, grenadine, and orange juice. For a non-alcoholic option, very sweet iced tea is commonly served throughout the day. -World Trade Press
	Baked Ham Pudding with Raspberries Chicken Casserole Bean Salad