Did you catch the NY Times article before Thanksgiving featuring a special recipe from every state? Asakiyume says she made the wild rice recipe and the persimmon pudding, “both of which were fabulous.”
Since my husband and I lived in Minnesota for a few years in the 1990s, I had to check out that state’s recipe. If you listen to Garrison Keillor’s radio show A Prairie Home Companion, you know that food in the “hot dish” capital of the world is often a little … different. (“That’s different!” as the book How to Talk Minnesotan teaches us to say when we’re feeling skeptical.)
Anyway, the Minnesota Thanksgiving dish is grape salad. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be delicious, but some of the other state recipes look positively luscious.
Here is the grape salad recipe. It gave me a chuckle.
- 2 pounds seedless grapes, removed from stems and rinsed, about 6 cups
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup toasted pecans (optional)
- Heat broiler. Put grapes in a large mixing bowl. Add sour cream and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula, making sure all grapes are well coated.
- Transfer mixture to a 2-quart ceramic soufflé dish or other baking dish. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over top. Place dish under broiler as far from heat source as possible and broil until sugar is caramelized and crispy, about 5 minutes (be vigilant or you’ll risk a burnt black topping). Rotate dish as necessary for even browning. Chill for at least one hour. May be prepared up to 24 hours ahead. Just before serving, sprinkle with toasted pecans, if using.
More state recipes here. Save the collection for a special occasion — or next Thanksgiving.
Photo: David Tanis/NY Times
More here.
Photo: David Tanis/NY Times
Funny–I saw another post on this food map, back around Thanksgiving, and the author focused on this same odd recipe! I was just glad that the New York recipe was the totally appropriate apple pie.
Apple pie is always good, and there are so many interesting variations. I use a recipe from my dilapidated *Joy of Cooking* when I make apple pie. It’s a little more work than grape salad, but God Bless Minnesota “different.”
I use the apple pie recipe from Joy of Cooking too!
I **did** see this–I love it. I’ve been working my way through the various recipes. I made the wild-rice one (Wisconsin) for Thanksgiving.
And, I think you said, the persimmon one. I don’t recall what state, though.
I think that one was for Indiana. Maybe tonight I’ll try the Massachusetts one!
Better have fresh clams!
Yeah, it was too cold to walk to the supermarket, so I made something else instead…. maybe tonight!