MidwestThe “breadbasket” of the nation

States of the Midwest• North Dakota• South Dakota• Nebraska• Kansas• Oklahoma• Minnesota• Iowa

• Missouri• Wisconsin• Illinois• Michigan• Indiana• Ohio

About the Land• Rich soil• Good climate• Advanced farming techniques

Exported crops (WORLDWIDE)

CornWheat

Soy

Livestock/DairyLarge quantities produced:• Beef• Pork• Lamb• PoultryRecognized for dairy production:• Wisconsin• Minnesota

– Alton Brown - Mac & Cheese (4 mins)

Other News Worthy States• Kansas

– Leading producer of wheat in the United States

• Iowa– Leading producer of soybeans and corn

in the United States– Beef is also an important export of Iowa

• Best Burger in Iowa (3 mins)

County/State FairsPopular items judged:• Cakes• Pies• Homemade breads• Cookies• Jams• Jellies

Popular Festivals• Cities and towns hold festivals based

on harvests of the following products– Apples– Pumpkins– Strawberries– Other fruits and vegetables

Let’s All ShareBuffet-Dinners created to satisfy

hunger of farmers during harvest time

Potluck-Shared meal; each family brings

a dish to share

Foods of the MidwestBroiled steakRoast beefBaked/hash brown potatoesCorn on the cobColeslawTomatoes (from garden)Home baked rollsApple pie - made easy (4 mins) Brownies

A Midwest breakfast• Hot cereal• Pancakes• Bacon• Eggs• Toast• Coffee

A Few Midwest Tidbits• Cooking is hearty and uncomplicated

• “Comfort foods”

• History of the potluck…• These meals get their name from a tradition

of hospitality in which a prepared meal would be shared with an unexpected guest.

• Since the cook did not know the guest was coming, the guest would have to take “the luck of the pot”