As American As…

American Inventions

Rich, chocolaty, chewy fudge is an American invention, concocted in 1888 by Emelyn Hartridge, a student at Vassar College.  It spread to the other Seven Sisters colleges, and was so popular that professors denounced it as dangerous to female education.  Too much time melting chocolate in their dorm rooms and not enough time studying books!

What could be more American than coating a hot dog in batter and frying it?  No one can agree upon which state fair produced the classic corn dog, but there’s no doubt it was born here.

Pecan nuts are native to North America, and of course, bakers had to put them into pies.

Just after the turn of the century (the 1900s), S’mores started as a dainty snack known as the Marshmallow Marguerite.  Top a saltine cracker with a buttered marshmallow and toast in the oven, and there you have it. In 1913, someone finally thought to add chocolate, and the idea took off.  The name “S’mores” (or “Some More”) first showed up in a Girl Scout handbook in 1927.

Believe it or not, Ranch dressing was actually invented on a ranch – in California in 1954, to be exact.  The inventor, Steve Henson, was a plumber before he and his wife opened … wait for it … Hidden Valley Ranch.

Homemade Corn Dogs

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder 
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
2 (16 ounce) packages beef frankfurters
16 wooden skewers

In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, sugar and baking powder. Stir in eggs and milk. Preheat oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Insert wooden skewers into frankfurters. Roll frankfurters in batter until well coated. Fry 2 or 3 corn dogs at a time until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.