Join us on an educational adventure through each state in the USA! Each post in this series focuses on one state, and includes a regional recipe from that state. This is a fun way to get your kids involved in cooking, as well as learn a bit about United States geography! The post also includes a link to the featured state’s website, where you can learn more about the state. We also include free forms that you can download and print to use along the journey. Geography has never been so delicious!
Make sure to check back each week for the next post!
RECIPE:
Did you know that Tennessee is well known for raising hogs and cattle? Tennessee hams, called “country hams”, are quite different from Virginia’s hams. This is because Tennessee hogs are fed corn and other grains instead of peanuts. Ham with red-eye gravy is a traditional Tennessee dish. The gravy is called red-eye gravy because it includes pieces of fried ham that look like red eyes!
This recipe makes a fun dish that kids are sure to enjoy!
TENNESSEE Ham and Red-Eye Gravy
What You Will Need:
- 1-pound Ham Steak (1/4″ thick)
- Butter or Margarine
- 1/2 cup Strong Black Coffee
- Black Pepper (to taste)
- Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 cup firmly packed Brown Sugar
- Large Skillet
What You Do:
- Melt margarine or butter in a large skillet, then fry the ham steak in the skillet. Cook on one side for about 8 minutes over medium-high heat. Turn ham over and fry for another 8 minutes. Remove ham from skillet and set aside while preparing gravy.
- Stir sugar into pan drippings and heat until sugar dissolves. Stir constantly. NOTE: If your ham is too dry to have any pan juices after frying, add 1/2 cup of hot water to the pan before adding sugar.
- Add coffee and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits of ham. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Season gravy with pepper and Worcestershire sauce to taste.
- Pour gravy over ham and serve with biscuits.
STATE INFORMATION LINK:
Tennessee State Information – Click this link to learn more about Tennessee attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!
FREE STATE PRINTABLES:
US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.
Tennessee Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!
United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
- The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)
- US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.
- Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.
- DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.
- The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.
- Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.
- State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!
- GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.
Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!
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