RECIPES: Indiana-inspired, satisfying and homegrown flavors (2024)

By Andrew Armstrong

Our recipes this week actually come from a few families in various parts of Indiana. Growing up I had a good friend, whose family was from Lafayette, Indiana. After expressing interest in doing a column on their home state and the home state of my grandmother Sarah. My friends the Byrd family were eager to help in any way possible. Indiana is best known as the mother of Vice Presidents and as the 19th state. It was adopted into statehood on December 11, 1816. The state is well known for its, utmost agricultural abilities in farming corn. Here are a few facts on the state of Indiana.

1. There is some truth to the state’s “corny” reputation. In 2014, farmers in Indiana planted 91,000 acres of corn for popcorn and harvested 90,000 of it, which was an increase of 10,000 acres from the previous year. An estimated 20% of the country’s popcorn supply comes from those crops.
2. Indiana bred Vice Presidents in the late 19th to early 20th century. An unofficial nickname for the state was “Mother of Vice Presidents,” because, in 10 of the 13 elections between 1868 and 1916, there was a man from Indiana on the ballot.
3. Abraham Lincoln moved to Indiana when he was 7 years old. He lived most of his boyhood life in Spencer County with his parents Thomas and Nancy.
4. During World War II the P-47 fighter-plane was manufactured in Evansville at Republic Aviation.
5. Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914.
6. Most of the state’s rivers flow south and west, eventually emptying into the Mississippi. However, the Maumee River flows north and east into Lake Erie. Lake Wawasee is the state’s largest natural lake.
7. Indianapolis grocer Gilbert Van Camp discovered his customers enjoyed his old family recipe for pork and beans in tomato sauce. He opened up a canning company and Van Camp’s Pork and Beans soon after became an American staple.
8. Muncie’s Ball State University was built mostly from funds contributed by the founders of the Ball Corporation, the same company famous for its glass canning jars.
9. “America’s oldest magazine,” The Saturday Evening Post, is headquartered in Indianapolis. The magazine is probably best known for its iconic covers, 323 of which were painted by Norman Rockwell over the course of five decades.
10. The 1983 film a Christmas Story is set in Hammond, Indiana, the hometown of Jean Shepherd, the author who wrote the book on which it was based titled “In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash.” There are several references to the town and surrounding areas, but Locals must travel east to Cleveland, Ohio to visit Ralphie’s iconic home, which is now a museum.

This is one state where you can truly experience many satisfying and homegrown flavors. Life experiences and cultural history are part of what keeps this place popping!

If you have a favorite recipe to share in 2021, my email is recipeswithandrew@gmail.com

I look forward to an exciting summer!

-Andrew M. Armstrong

Fountain City Apple Salad

6 Apples, peeled and diced

1/2 Cup of walnuts, chopped

1 Cup of celery, diced

1 Cup of purple grapes, chopped

1/4 Cup of sugar

2 Tablespoons of Miracle Whip

1/2 pint of heavy cream, whipped stiff

In a bowl whip the heavy cream. Once stiffened, blend in the sugar and fold in the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate for 4 hours, before serving.

Sausage Casserole

1 Pound of sausage, browned and cooled

6 eggs, beaten

8 slices of bread, cubed

2 Cups of milk

1 Cup of cheese, shredded

Mix together all of the above ingredients and pour into a well-buttered 8 x 12 baking dish. Refrigerate for 3 hours to allow the mixture to sit. If desired top the casserole with more cheese and bake for 1 hour in a 325-degree oven.

Mary’s Monkey Bread

4 cans of biscuits

3/4 Cup of Sugar

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Spray a bundt pan down with cooking spray. In a bowl mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Coat each piece of dough in the mixture and place in the pan.

1/2 Cup of sugar

1 stick of butter

2 Tablespoons of water

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees. Place the remaining four ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour the glaze over the dough. Place the bundt pan in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, until golden brown.

Sarah’s Potato Salad

8 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

8 boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1/2 Cup of Mayonnaise

1/8 Cup of Dill pickle relish

1 Tablespoon of mustard

Salt and Black pepper to taste

Cayenne Pepper to taste

Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water. Once cooked, drain the water and slightly cool the softened potatoes. In a bowl mix all of the ingredients together and chill overnight for the best results. Before serving the potato salad, if it is desired lightly dust the top with cayenne pepper.