Southern Recipes

Southern Recipes

The South is known for its hospitality when it comes to food. Different regions and cultures have their own Southern recipes, reflecting the traditions of Native Americans and ideas brought from Africa, France and the Caribbean. It all makes for a tasty melting pot of dishes. It's not always the healthiest of cuisine but there are plenty fish and vegetable elements for people concerned with healthy living.

Many Southern households wake up to the aroma of Country Ham with Red -Eye Gravy served for breakfast. This is usually cooked along with grits, biscuits and eggs. Dinner may be chicken and rice, cooked in the Spanish way, with hot pepper sauce, paprika and saffron. Texas has its own dishes, with Tex-Mex recipes that are well known across the world. San Antonio Chill is one example, a meal based on beef or pork and cooked with dried chili peppers, cumin and oregano. They know how to make a good cake in Texas too. The Texas Sheet Cake is made with sour cream and cocoa with a chopped pecan frosting.

African American cookery, otherwise known as soul food, often uses peanuts, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes and okra in Southern recipes. Peanut butter gives a tangy flavor to Chicken and Groundnut Stew. Jambalaya is another favorite, made with shrimp or ham and rice, bacon and bell peppers. There are variations, made from chicken or seafood.

Jambalaya also crops up in Cajun and Louisiana dishes but the most well known dish from these parts is the classic Gumbo, a Louisiana stew or soup. There are several versions, passed down from Indian, French, Spanish or African influenced Southern recipes. The basis for the dish is the roux and it usually contains okra. There are recipes for crawfish, some methods using thick cream and dry sherry. Alligator is another delicacy; cooked in a delicious lemon and white wine sauce.

In Kentucky, the locals like to sit out on the porch at the end of a hard day and relax with a glass of Mint Julep. This tradition calls for mint leaves, sugar, ice, water and bourbon. Kentucky bourbon can also be found in Bourbon and Chocolate Pecan Pie. Another treat for a sweet tooth is Jam Cake, made with blackberry jam, spices and raisins topped with a cream cheese frosting. Vegetables are not forgotten here and this state is fond of asparagus in its Southern recipes. They like to grill it, after marinating it in dill, lemon, and garlic.

La Jolla De Mismaloya

The Pacific Coast of Mexico is a popular tourist spot with beautiful beaches, mountains and tropical jungle. La Jolla de Mismaloya (The Bay of Mismaloya) is a small resort just south of Puerto Vallarta. There is much to see and do in the area. Many visitors go in the winter to avoid the crowds and intense heat. The usual winter temperature is a pleasant 70oF - 80oF. It's best to avoid the rainy season of June to October and the hurricane season runs from late September to early November. Accommodation is first class with many fine hotel complexes in the area, and there are friendly restaurants serving Mexican and Italian food. Some specialize in the locally caught seafood.

Sports enthusiasts love the region; there are excellent golf courses, tennis courts and horseback riding facilities. The winter is a good time to go surfing and to see orca and humpback whales. There are guided tours arranged for mountain bikes, off road tours or the coastline can be explored by chartering a yacht. Sportfishing is another popular activity and it's a favorite spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. There are lava tubes and caves to enjoy and the opportunity to see eels, sea turtles and manta rays. The more adventurous can go bungee jumping.

The Los Arcos Maritime Nature Reserve is one of the best attractions in La Jolla de Mismaloya. It's an underwater protected marine environment, where visitors can go diving or see the sea life from a glass-bottomed boat. Nearby Puerto Vallarta is well worth a visit. The annual boat show there takes place in November and there are boating regattas in the winter. Also in November, is the Gourmet Festival. This is a real treat for food lovers with cookery classes and tequila and wine tasting.

Another reason for the popularity of the resort dates back to 1963 when a famous movie was shot in La Jolla de Mismaloya. This was the drama, Night of the Iguana, directed by John Huston. The area came to international attention as the world's press flocked to snap the stars and tourists tried to get a glimpse of the Hollywood glitterati. If they were lucky, they got to see Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr. Sometimes Elizabeth Taylor, who was married to Burton, would visit the set. The old sets now serve as restaurants and tourist attractions.

It's easy to keep busy here but it's also tempting to find a bit of beach, soak up the sun and sip a Tequila sunrise. The atmosphere is very laid back in La Jolla de Mismaloya and just listening to the ocean may be enough activity for some.