North Carolina - State flower: The Dogwood

1. Sweet and Sour Bean Salad
2. Oyster Chowder
3. Salt Rising Bread
4. Chicken and Dumplings
5. Braised Cucumbers
6. Baked Persimmon Pudding

Oyster Chowder - Serves 8 to 10

1 qt large oysters
¼ lb salt pork
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
6 medium potatoes, diced
1-½ cups boiling water
1/8 tsp pepper
1 qt scalded milk
Hard round water crackers
¼ cup cold milk

Separate oysters from liquor and reserve both. Heat the liquor but do not boil Cut salt pork into small cubes and fry out in a heavy fry or sauté pan, add onions and sauté until fat is well seasoned. Strain fat into kettle or soup pot; add potatoes, boiling water and pepper. Cook 10 to 15 minutes more. Add hot oyster liquor and oysters. Cook only until the oysters plump up. Pour over split crackers which have been soaked in cold milk to soften them slightly.

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