State of Virginia Dinner
Ham and red-eye gravy Grits Collard greens Sweet tea General Robert E. Lee Cake Virginia is famous for her country hams. Country hams are quite salty and may be hardwood smoked then aged anywhere from several months to a couple of years. Red-eye gravy is made from the drippings of pan-fried country ham and black coffee. One legend surround the name is that President Andrew Jackson requested ham with gravy as red as the eyes of his cook, which were bloodshot from a long night of drinking. To make ham and red-eye gravy, simply pan-fry slices of country ham in a skillet. Remove the ham. Deglaze the pan with about 1/2 a cup of strong coffee. Scrap all the bits and pieces from the bottom of the pan. Boil until it has been reduced to about half it's original volume. Season with black pepper. Grits is a corn-based porridge very popular in the southern United States. Corn is a crop native to America. Native Americans ate a mush made of softened corn and offered bowls of the boil...