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SOUTHERN CULTURE  

Are you planning on a trip to Southern Illinois? Then you just may want to have some fun while you're visiting. Southern Illinois offers a variety of annual festivals. While planning your trip be sure to schedule in some trips to our annual festivals.

Vegetables prepared in the South are unlike anything you will eat in other parts of the country. With these tips, you should be able to prepare vegetables that taste like they were prepared in one of the best Southern kitchens.

Southern cooking is some of the most well known food in the world. It keeps tourist coming back season after season and has made many a hard working Southern cook famous.

Parades, entertainment, fairs and good food are just a taste of the diversity of summer events here in Southern Illinois. Are you ready to brave the scorching summer heat to enjoy some of the many summer events in Southern Illinois?

Southern Illinois used to gain national attention for riots and property damage on Halloween. Here's how the region cleaned up and replaced the drunken brawl with Halloween fun.

You can combine a road trip in Southern Illinois with a little Christmas or birthday shopping and come back with a nice experience to show for the day as well as a unique gift to stash away for the appropriate occasion.

Southern cooking involves more than just combining ingredients. Southern cooking involves love, fresh ingredients, and even a little bacon grease. Here are just a few tips to get you started.

How different Southern cuisine is to that of the rest of the U.S.

These three restaurants - the Penguin, Dish, and Lupie's - provide the best Charlotte has to offer in the way of traditional southern cooking with a new twist, and all for not too much money.

Although southern food places an emphasis on lots of vegetable dishes, they're not usually very healthy because they include lots of saturated fats. Here are a few ways to enjoy the sunny taste of southern cooking with a lighter touch.

What makes a Southern kitchen? What tools does every Southern cook need?

One thing that Charles Southern Style Kitchen is known for is their fried chicken. If you are a health nut just give it up for a moment and try this perfectly crispy fried chicken!

Do you know someone who simply loves to prepare Southern meals? The type of cook who enjoys spending their day in the kitchen, cooking meals low and slow so they turn out flavorful and delicious? Then these are the perfect Christmas presents to add to your shopping list.

Southern folks have always had a hankering for mighty good food. We were raised with second helpings, gravy on everything, and the thought that a plate left with food on it was a slight against the cook.

More than a dozen countries worldwide are represented by the women of Las Damas Latinas, who share a common language and something of a common culture. Together, they share their memories of the countries where they were born and a love of life.

Southern recipes are some of my favorite in the world. I love cooking, which probably stems from being from the South. Here are some of my favorite Southern recipes made into videos.

A humorous look into meal creation in the Southern United States of America

The tiny community of Elizabethtown, illinois, boasts one of the state's oldest landmarks, The Rose Hotel, and a spectacular view of the Ohio River. It's worth the trip off the beaten path.

There are some foods that are strictly seasonal, but fried chicken isn't one of them. If you love fried chicken as much as I do, you will prize this recipe as well.

Did you ever want to make some of the best Southern candies, all from the comfort of your home? Here's some easy recipes to try on your own.

If you like to cook Southern favorites at home, then you are probably familiar with the name of Miss Edna Lewis. Miss Lewis used her cooking talents to become "one of the best cooks in America"! Read about her interesting life today!

I've come to realize that if you can at least learn and appreciate how important fresh ingredients are to any Italian meal then I suppose a cooking tour has its merits.

If you've never visited the Southern states, you are bound to see some things that look out of place. Here are some tips to help first-timers cope with the "culture" shock of traveling down South.

Southern cooking is delicious -- and unhealthy. This article talks about types of Southern cooking, and how to make more healthy versions of your favorite Southern dishes.

Mount Vernon is sometimes considered the northern gateway to all things Southern Illinois. At the crossroads of Interstate 64 and Insterstate 57 and just a few miles south of Interstate 70, the community hopes to draw people southward.

The singing group calling itself the Five Bawdy Wenches have incorporated the Southern Illinois Ren Faire into its own entity and redesigned the fair for more fun.

Kansas defeated Southern Illinois 61-58 on Thursday night to advance to the Elite Eight.

An abandoned duffel bag disrupted classes in two buildings at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale on Wednesday while police investigated the threat.

Nationally-known metal-worker and sculptor John Medwedeff found the charm and quiet comfort of Murphysboro, Illinois, made it the perfect place to locate his forge.

The child advocacy center in Mount Vernon, Illinois, serve a third of this big state and tries to teach children when they should call on adult for help.

The city of Marion, Illinois, has been fighting for 17 years to build a new city reservoir and chances are the fight will continue for several more years.

Among Southern Illinois's impressive scenic areas is Fern Clyffe State Park, located near Goreham, with forested remnants from a past ice age in the form of glacial rock formations, geologic faulting and erosion.

Illinois' second state fair, the DuQuoin State Fair in Southern Illinois, will feature a major switch this year, going from Western World to a jungle theme. On the grandstand: Sawyer Brown and two American idol veterans.

As part of his budget proposal, Governor Rod Blagojevich has planned changes to the Illinois Department of Corrections that will eliminate union jobs and replace them with political appointees.

Located 2 miles north of Hot Springs Village, the Home Plate Cafe serves up generous portions of good southern cooking and plenty of hometown hospitality

The 10-day Illinois State Fair in Springfield this year (Aug 8-17, 2008) will include performances each night from a range of artists including ZZ Top, Weird Al Yankovic, Brooks and Dunn, and Huey Lewis and the News.

An earthquake was felt at around 4:37am in Illinois and other parts of the midwest...

Robert Stroud (1890-1963), the Birdman of Alcatraz, is buried in Metropolis, Illinois, a town on the Ohio River, in the southernmost tip of Illinois. Metropolis is also the hometown of Superman, the only town in the entire country with that name.

Illinois corn fields are being supplemented by Illinois vineyards thanks in large part to the recent growth in local wineries. Here's how it became a $20 million a year business in the heartland.

Winemaking in Illinois began in the mid 1800's with a Utopian sect called the Icarians. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail was originally the brainchild of a retired SIU professor who started his own winery in 1984....

When you think of the south you think of food. Southern food isn't just a means to an end, it is an entire event. Growing up in the South, I've been blessed to partake of some sinful southern treats in my day.

Trisha Yearwood released her first cookbook, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen (Recipes From My Family to Yours), this month to solid reviews.

When you think of the south you think of food. Southern food isn't just a means to an end, it is an entire event.

U.S. Interstate 57 runs right through the middle of Marion, IL. If you're traveling I-57 and need to make a stop in Southern Illinois, Marion has plenty to offer you in the way of food, lodging and more. What's available in Marion?

A few years ago, a National Guard Unit in Eastern Arkansas served a Thanksgiving buffet. The whole Unit and their families were invited. A young officer that had recently moved south and the food must have been different from what he was used to eating.

The tiny community of Metropolis, Illinois, decided decades ago that if Superman lived in the fictional city of Metropolis, they would adopt the comic book hero as their own. The town's devotion makes for a fun afternoon of Superman history.

If you love Southern cuisine, and I'm talking sweet potatoes, greens, chicken and dumplings and cobbler, then you just have to pay Mary Mac's Tea Room a visit. I became a life-time patron on my very first visit to the restaurant.

In July, Illinois began a program designed to assure that all children have access to health care, but the plan fails toa ddress big problems in the system and will fail.

J.C. Hagan has a sharp eye and keen wit for Illinois political analysis. It's a shame his take on the elections are right.

Rumor has it that one of the finest pizzas in the Florida Keys is to be had at Babalu's Southern Cafe. "Pizza at a Southern Cafe?," this I had to see!

The wine industry in Illinois is growing and thriving. Wineries in beautiful northern Illinois are family owned an operated and craft fine vintages of wine.

Illinois wineries are booming and to head off the competition, each one is trying to come up with the best flavored wine. Some of the new options are very creative and tasty.

Authentic Cajun and Creole recipes like the ones found in New Orleans Restaurants at Mardi Gras

After five years of no state funding for school construction, southern Illinois schools needing new facilities were getting desperate. This week, five school boards banded together to do something about it.

This is an article pointing out great tourist ideas near Valentine's Day.

This week's Southern cooking lesson deals with bacon grease. I have mentioned this valuable ingredient in previous lessons, but I want you to know that there are several different ways to use an ingredient that most people throw away.

A guide to online resources for recipes of all kinds.

From a tiny booth not much bigger than a dressing room, one family is serving up huge flavor that keeps the locals coming back.

The Southern tradition of sweet tea not only has a colorful history, but also has exciting potential for the future.

Ready for a new year with a little better luck coming your way. Many cultures all over the world eat specific foods and recipes on New Years day to bring them good luck throughout the year.

Tired of IHOP, Waffle House, and Zaxby's? Try this.

Boiled peanuts are a delicious snack so why does it seem that only Southerners appreciate them?

Lotawata Creek Southern Grill in Fairview Heights, Illinois has become a very special place for my wife and myself. Our first visit to Lotawata Creek together was a little over two years ago while we were engaged. We've been in love with the place ever since.

If you are looking for a good southern style meal, look no further than your local McDonald's for the feel of down home cooking flair.

Justin Timberlake opens new restaurant in NYC

Following are some St. Patrick's parades and events in the southern states of Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Kentucky.

Gumbo, pralines and creole sauce - what a perfect way to sample cajun/creole cooking! Try these 3 easy recipes.

This article lists some of the best cookbooks that Food Network fans should have on their bookshelves. All of these cookbooks are affordable and offer wonderful recipes.

Looking for a fun-filled weekend with your girlfriends? Attend the Southern Women's Show in Greensboro, North Carolina, September 29-October 1. There will be something for everyone from cooking demonstrations to makeup tips and fashion shows.

The atmosphere is like a breath of fresh air! Imagine sitting in a homey six room house which is the center piece of the restaurant since 1921 where you can still see the glorious built in oak furniture in the original living and dining room.

So you have a weekend with nothing planned and you want to get away. But where do you go and what do you do? Perhaps the Hendersonville and Brevard area of the Southern Mountains in North Carolina are the answer.

Jean Toomer and Zora Neale Hurston's writing were heavily influenced on the American South and the small southern town.

Almeria is a lovely old town on the southern coast of Spain. There are some fascinating things to do, but these are my favorites.

Best Mexican restaurant dishes in Southern California

Hoppin' John with a side of greens and cornbread is a Southern tradition for the start of the year. To be lucky and prosperous in the New Year, add this black-eyed pea dish to your New Year's Day menu.

Down South, we like our food to be fried, fresh, and downright tasty. So get out your frying pans and get ready to sample some tried and true Southern favorites.

Natchitoches, Louisiana is a relaxing city filled with French charm and Southern hospitality. Good food, fun attractions, and a historic district that will take you back in time are just some of the many enjoyments to be had in Natchitoches.

Deland Florida More Than a Southern College Town

One of the most popular hosts on Food Network is Paula Deen. Paula Deen is the queen of Southern cooking and hospitality. Fans enjoy not only her delicious recipes, but her attitude as well. If you know a Paula Deen fan, these are the gifts they will want.

Food Network Celebs

Mardi Gras will be observed February 5th. I have some great cooking ideas to help you enjoy this celebration.

This is a recipe I got from my Grandma in Mississippi when I was a little girl. Every time I cook it, I think of her and all of the love that went into her cooking.

Using a crock-pot is an easy and efficient way to make dinner for your family. It is an especially wonderful cooking method during frosty winter months. Read up on tips for using your crock pot and try these hearty and flavorful recipes.

Major points of interest around Oxford, Mississippi, delving into its past, present and future. Examining the creative culture that helped produce the likes of William Faulkner and John Grisham.

These are a few of the many iced tea recipes in my library. I hope you find these tasty.

Barbara Jean's brought it all together with good food and great service making us feel right at home

Get out your fishing pole and head to your nearest fishing lake. Here's what you need to know to create a healthy, home-cooked Texan seafood dish.

Close your eyes and throw a lava rock and you will hit a restaurant serving great food in Maui. Unless you move there, you won't have enough time to try all the great ones, let alone the good ones. I've tried to give you SOME of my favorites.

Ostuni, or " La Citta Bianca," was my home for 3 years as a young wife and junior intelligence officer in the US Air Force. It was set about 25 miles from the base, and retained its rustic and quaint flavor. Ostuni is a great travel destination.

A delicious deep fried chicken recipe.

Country cooking is just plain good eating and Granny really knew how to serve up some treats.

What makes Food Network so great? What makes Food Network the top TV channel of all time?

recipes everyone will love

Jan Thomas and Cameron Smith have made the old Douglass School into a thing of beauty, turning the old kitchen into a glass foundry of sorts for their hand-blown artwork.

My favorite top 10 sites for Cajun recipes.

Dog fighting is a cruel practice that is not part of southern culture.