Hushpuppy

Hushpuppies or Hush puppies are an American food consisting of small cornmeal breads that are deep fried in a spherical or oblong shape.

Preparation

The usual ingredients include cornmeal, flour, eggs, salt, baking soda, milk, and water, and can include whole kernel corn, onions, and peppers. Sometimes, pancake batter is also used. The batter is mixed well, adjusting ingredients until it is suitably thick. Then the batter is dropped into hot oil (such as vegetable oil). The hush puppy is typically fried until golden brown, and usually set aside to cool. They are often eaten with catfish, seafood, or barbecue. They are usually made at home or served in restaurants that advertise home-style food as opposed to fine dining establishments. Captain D's, Long John Silver's, Arthur Treacher's, and Skipper's are well-known franchises that serve hush puppies. They are a hearty, heavy food that can easily be eaten while active or mobile as a snack or in addition to a meal.

Origin

Hushpuppies are a distinctly Southern food, although they are now available throughout America on the menus of fried-fish fast food restaurants. The name “hushpuppies” is often attributed to hunters or fisherman who would quickly fry corn meal and feed it to their dogs to “hush the puppies” during cook outs or fish frys. [cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hush%20puppy |title=Hush Puppy |work=Dictionary.com |accessdate=2007-07-02] Two other legends surrounding the hush puppy date back to Civil War days. Southern soldiers would sit beside a campfire, preparing their meals. When Union soldiers came near, they would toss their barking dogs some of the fried cakes with the command "Hush, puppies". A common explanation for the name in Charleston, SC is that slaves returning into the homes of their masters carrying food recently prepared in the outdoor kitchens would throw the batter balls to the barking dogs, telling the "puppies" to "hush." Also, during the time of the underground railroads, escaping slaves would feed these to the dogs tracking them while coaxing them with hopeful commands such as "hush, puppies." [cite web |url=http://southernfood.about.com/cs/catfishrecipes/a/catfish.htm |title=Catfish and Hush Puppies |work=Southernfood.about.com]

See also

*Cuisine of the Southern United States
*Fish fry

References

External links

* [http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bread/Hushpuppies.htm History and Recipe for Hushpuppies]
* [http://southernfood.about.com/cs/catfishrecipes/a/catfish.htm More About Hushpuppies]