State History of the Vidalia Onion

Georgia farmers united in the mid-1980’s to seek both state and federal protection of the growing region and the Vidalia brand name. The following legislation was passed during this historical time:

1986 – Georgia’s state legislature gave the Vidalia onion legal status and defined the 20-county production area.

1989 – Vidalia onion producers established Federal Marketing Order No. 955 for the crop. This USDA program created the Vidalia Onion Committee and extended the definition of a Vidalia onion to the federal level.

1990 – The Vidalia onion was named Georgia’s Official State Vegetable. The name “Vidalia” had also been trademarked and is still owned by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Ingredients for Spicy Vidalia Onion Rings

• 1/2 cup White Lily Self-Rising Cornmeal Mix
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 3 large Vidalia Onions sliced into 1/4 inch rings
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 to 3 tablespoons butter, melted, or non-stick cooking spray
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions for Spicy Vidalia Onion Rings

Onion Rings - photo by Kate Ter Haar/Flickr CC2.0

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Grease baking sheet with spray.
3. Combine meal, pepper, paprika in a large zip lock plastic bag.
4. Dip Vidalia Onion slices in milk and place in the plastic bag with mixture. Seal and shake until well-coated.
5. Place in a single layer on the pan.
6. Drizzle with melted butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
7. Bake for 10 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and turn slices over with spatula. Return to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more or until browned and crisp.
9. Drain on paper towels.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Source: The Vidalia® Onion Committee

Tasty Onion Treats

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Photo by arnold | inuyaki

South Carolina was the first state to choose the peach as their official state fruit in 1984. Georgia became known as the Peach State, and they chose the peach as their official State Fruit in 1995. Alabama also decided to designate the peach as their official state fruit in 2006.

According to the Acts of Alabama 2006:

The peach belongs to the family Rosaceae, a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees distributed over most of the earth, and for plants of the genus Rosa, the true roses. The peach appears to have originated in China, where it was mentioned in literature several centuries before Christ. It was introduced into Persia before Christian times and was spread by the Romans throughout Europe. Several of its horticultural varieties were brought by the Spanish to North America, where it became naturalized as far north as Pennsylvania by the late 17th century. The numerous varieties of peaches under cultivation are generally distinguished as clingstone or freestone.

Thirty to forty varieties of peaches are grown commercially throughout Alabama. The harvest season begins in South Alabama in early May and is completed in North Alabama in early September.

Ingredients for a Quick Peach Cobbler

• 1 can (16 ounce) sliced peaches, packed in juice
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon softened margarine

Instructions for Quick Peach Cobbler

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Open the can of peaches. Pour the peaches and their juice into the casserole dish. Heat them on the stove-top until they bubble.
3. Slightly beat 1 egg.
4. In a mixing bowl, mix the egg, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and margarine.
5. Drop spoonfuls of this mixture on top of the hot, bubbling peaches.
6. Use pot holders to carefully remove the casserole dish from the stove.
7. Put the casserole dish in the oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes.
8. Serve warm with ice cream (optional)

Recipe adapted from:
Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network Program

Tasty Peach Cobbler Treats

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Photo courtesy of Tara Alton

This recipe gives you the basic cooking steps for making southern style grits, which were voted the official prepared food of Georgia in 2002.

Grits are bits of ground corn or hominy which constitute a uniquely indigenous Southern food first produced by Native Americans many centuries ago.  Corn is a preeminent Georgia crop grown throughout the state. Grits can be a pure and simple breakfast dish or can be incorporated into gourmet cooking through countless recipes.

– Georgia Secretary of State

Basic Grits – Georgia State Prepared Food

Cooking and Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 cup of whole-grain grits
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Add water, butter and salt to pot, and bring to a boil.
2. Gradually stir the grits into the boiling water, and bring back up to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 25-30 minutes.
4. The grits should be creamy when done. Stir occasionally to avoid a skin on top. Serve immediately.

Delicious Grits for You

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Pecans are both the state nut of Alabama, and the state tree of Texas.  These nuts are also an important agricultural product in many US states, the top five of which are: Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, according to the College of Agriculture, New Mexico State University.

These Swedish Nuts are a wonderful holiday snack food, and they make a perfect recipe for a classroom state report project.

Swedish Nuts

Ingredients

• 1 egg white, slightly beaten
• 2 cups pecan or walnut halves
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom

Directions

1. Heat oven to 300F°.
3. Grease 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray.
4. In medium bowl, mix egg white and pecan halves until pecans are coated and sticky.

In small bowl, mix sugar and cardamom; sprinkle over pecans. Stir until pecans are completely coated. Spread pecans in a single layer in pan.

Bake about 30 minutes or until toasted. Cool completely or serve slightly warm. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks.

New twist: Ground cinnamon can be substituted for the cardamom; both spices are perfect for the holidays.

More Delicious Treats

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