Preparing a Great Lakes Dinner

As you travel to the Great Lakes region, you will encounter the cuisine of Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Minnesota. This is the part of the United States where Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza and the Limburger Cheese Sandwiches of Wisconsin come to life. If you are interested in bringing the taste of the Great Lakes to your dinner table, consider the following suggestions that represent this intriguing array of cooking selections:

Horseshoe Sandwich

When you visit Springfield, Illinois – the home of Abraham Lincoln greets you with open arms. During your stay, it would be a shame not to try the signature dish of the locale – Horseshoe Sandwiches. The sandwich begins with two to three slices of thick bread (toasted). There are then two different routes to consider. You can choose thick, fried ham steak or two commanding patties of hamburger. On top, a heap of French fries cover the meat. The sandwich is then drenched with a "secret" cheese sauce.

Cincinnati Chili

A taste of Ohio is found in the chili-loving city of Cincinnati that boasts nearly 200 places to eat chili. Chili from Cincinnati is cooked differently (concentrating on the meat) and the chili itself is of a thinner consistency. Various spices not normally associated with chili are included in this version, such as allspice, cinnamon, or cocoa. Additional ingredients may include Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and spaghetti. Sometimes, various toppings are placed on the chili, such as shredded cheese, chopped onions, or kidney beans.

Pastie

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is home to the pastie, which is an individual pie filled with meat and vegetables that are cooked as one. This dish is often considered a meal for more than one, as some pasties can weigh about two pounds or more. When it comes to identifying characteristics of this food item, it is the crimping techniques to pay attention to. The pasty is so popular in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that an entire day has been devoted to its creation – observed on May 24th. A Cornish pasty recipe may include diced potatoes, carrots, onion, ground pork, ground beef, and even diced rutabaga.