American Cuisine

by Jessica Sánchez Munguía

American cuisine has a variety of ingredients taken from different nations as: Asia, Africa, Europe, and other. The first book published about food was American cookery; this book has different food from different places. For example, in South America has been influenced by immigrants from Africa, France and Mexico.

Examples of Germany influences are: Hot Dogs and Hamburgers these being a principal American food.

Given the huge size of the territory of the United States it surprising that the cuisine is diverse and can be typified by regional variations. The kitchen of the East Coast, for example, uses as ingredients as fish and shellfish more than the kitchens in the Midwest, where corn and beef have a higher prevalence and more of it is available.

The apple pie is one of the most representative 

icons of American cuisine

Some degree the increase in capacity transport in food has benefited the mixture of different tastes across regions, though, the Americans still associate certain foods with certain areas of the country, so, the steaks are related to Omaha; American lobster with Maine, salmon with Pacific Northwest coast, and the blue crab and crabcake with Maryland.

American cuisine has been able, however, beyond the borders, some examples such as the Tex-Mex, barbecue restaurants and others can be found in many parts of the world, being most popular fast food restaurants, burgers bars and pizzerias.

The popular burger is a clear example of food identified 

with the United States that has an origin in European cuisine.

 Some of the most representative dishes are:

The apple pie: is a fruit cake made ​​of dough covered with apple. There are many variations and can be chopped apple or applesauce. The apples can be placed directly top of the dough or a cream base. One of the most popular fruit tarts and international.

Brownie: also known as chocolate brownie, is a small chocolate cake, like a cookie, typical American cuisine. It is named for its dark brown, or "brown" in English. It is sometimes covered with fudge (chocolate syrup thick) and can lead into pieces of nuts, chocolate, butterscotch (a kind of crunchy toffee), peanut butter.

Cream cheese: is a cheese spread which is obtained by curdling milk enzymes using a mixture of milk and cream. This type of cheese is normally consumed with bread, being common to use the same toast. 

Some typical food in the U.S.A

by Valeria Clemente Lorenzo

The gastronomy in the United States is very interesting because it is practical and easy to do. Besides   all the people, including the children are accustomed to eating this food. In this moment I am only going to talk about two of these famous   foods like: hot dog and French fries.

Hot dog                

The hot dog   is from the U.S.A. Also this food is distributed in all the world. In the United States the “hot dog” refers to just to the sausage. Usually it is   consumed in summer. This can be of wiener kind; the snack is fried or boiled. The ingredients to prepare a hot dog are:

The bread: Is the most important ingredient to support the sausage, the bread can be big or small.

Sausage: Is the meat that usually the people put in the middle of the bread.

Vegetables: The vegetables are very essentials to the hot dog to give presentation at the food; this vegetables are tomatoes, onions, chilies peepers.

Condiments: The condiments that we can put on the hot dog are ketchup and mustard.

French Fries

The French fries are from U.S.A. this is a very famous snack in United States and in Mexico, for that reason I am going to talk about it.

The French fries are potatoes that are prepared cutting in slices in large form frying in oil, until this are totally roasted, and after, put on the potatoes some salt. Then we can take up the potatoes from the oil. This can consume with seasoning, ketchup and mayonnaise.

I am wrote about this topic because for me is very important know about the culture of   some countries, to make a difference with the Mexican culture.

England Christmas

by Taide Citlalli García Garduño

The Christmas in England is one of the most important celebrations in the year. I researched that the first Christmas postcard was sending in 1840 and since 1840 every Christmas all the people send another people or their families a postcard. These postcards are making only for Christmas because theirs decoration is in order to celebrate the Christmas.   

The Christmas tree was very popular because the Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, inserted one into of the castle in 1840. Since 1840 Norway every Christmas presents to UK a big Christmas tree.

Also is very popular that the children present to their families or other people Christmas tales and sing Christmas carol. The Christmas carols also are singing for special groups in days before of the Christmas to the whole neighbours.

The children have a special tradition because they hang a big red sock on the fireplace, in order to Santa Clause fills with gifts and candies.

In the Christmas day many families give to their families gifts, and the families goes to church and pray.

In the Christmas dinner, the people frequently eat roast turkey, duck, or chicken with dressing and potatoes. In addition, there are pasties of meat and pudding. The pudding has to prepare weeks before of the Christmas dinner. In England there is a Christmas cake, this cake is makes with fruits, marzipan and glass sugar.

Other tradition are Christmas cookies; they were inventing in 1846 by a baker in London, these cookies are seeming to a big, large and bright candy, but into has a gift.

However, the most important tradition for the people in UK is the “Queen`s message” because is transmitting for television and radio. 

Christmas

by Tanhia Karen García Gómez

The Christmas traditions are influences of several parts of the world. A tradition very common in many places is to sing carols in groups walking on the streets from house to house, this event is known as caroling. “Christmas Carols” give an atmosphere of happiness, hope and celebration, in the house or any other place where it is listened to.

During Christmas, it is common that families send “Christmas Cards” to family and friends, even and they haven’t been seen physically in much time. It is part of the sense of Christmas to reach and to unite to the humanity.

Much people wait for every year the snow.  Many activities come with the snow, including go in sleigh, to ski, to do “ snowmen ”, throwing balls of snow to the other people, and, later the activity returning to the house to take hot chocolate and to warm up themselves and to dry themselves in front of the fire.

Also are very common cooking cakes in family. Most popular they are the sugar cakes. The process is simple, but to be in company of the family is what it makes special, from beating the mass, decorating each cake and finally to cook it.

An element characteristic of Christmas is the decoration of the house. It is very common, that the garden is decorated with lights. The most symbolic element of decoration is the tree or Christmas pine. In the United States, it is very common that the Christmas pine is natural. . One of the most special moments is the process to install the Christmas pine, is the adjustment or decoration of the same, also, the more exciting thing is that it is realized in family.

Santa Claus is the main image of Christmas in the United States. Santa Claus, or San Nicholas, with her particular red shelter arrives at all the houses through the chimneys.

References

http://www.mty.itesm.mx/

http://www.turismoeeuu.com/gente-y-costumbres/

Davis, Fred (1992). Fashion, Culture, and Identity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, p. 69.

Thanksgiving Day

By Laura Estrada

This day is traditional in the United States of America; it usually is celebrating the fourth Thursday of November although it used to be the last Thursday of November.

This day is celebrated in appreciation for good harvest. The first time of this celebration was in Florida. The first national day of thanksgiving was celebrated by the president Lincoln in 1863 and he proclaim that is going to be held every year from then on.

American people organize a dinner this day with their family. In some homes is common offer a prayer before to eat. Often people cook a big roast or baked turkey. Traditionally this turkey is accompanied with a filling made with corn bread and sage.

Usually the turkey is serving with cranberry sauce red, some vegetables, and sweet potatoes, some desserts like a pumpkin, nut or apple pie.

This day is famous because is a holiday in the Unites States celebrated by all American families so is a good day to go out shopping and buy the ingredients to the turkey. Supermarkets and malls are full and are good business for the traders. The most business and offices are closed this day, but some stores, shopping centers, restaurants and pubs remain open

Thanksgiving Day is considered by many people as the favorite holiday in USA because the family are bring together around the table for dinner.

After sharing dinner people preferred diversions like watching football games and for others like take a nap or simplify spend time with their family.

 RESOURCES

Thanksgiving Day (en inglés). Encyclopedia Britannica. Consultado el 27-11-2009.

Morill, Ann "Thanksgiving and Other Harvest Festivals" Infobase Publishing, ISBN 1-60413-096-2 p.28

Una historia del día de acción de gracias “thanksgiving day” By Jhon Manuel Cáceres in 2008.

E JOURNAL USA. Sociedad y valores estadounidenses. Julio 2004.  “Celebra el día de acción de gracias” por Neil Klopfenstein

Thanksgiving Day

by Juan Manuel Hernández Vences

Thanksgiving Day is a celebration that most people of United States and Canada celebrate during the holidays. This celebration is each year, the exactly date is on the second Monday of October in Canada, and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. This celebration is a long tradition that people doing with their families. Most people say that when this celebration ends at the next day all things are very cheap in the malls, and the people start to shop for Christmas.

According to this story the principal reason to realize this action is to remember when the Indians helped immigrants who left England, and came to American soil and had a very difficult time. They had nothing to eat and the Indians helped them to not starve.

Actually the American families celebrate this day making family reunions, inviting all the friends and people that don´t have family. Together give thanks to god for all good days and the health all the year, also the people go at the store and buy a lot of things that they need to celebrate this action with the family and friends. The traditional menu is roast turkey, mashed potatoes, caramelized sweet potatoes, green beans and carrots glazed; the typical dessert is pumpkin pie or pecan nuts.

Many people think that this day of Thanksgiving is a wonderful celebration, which gives them a long weekend and enjoy a delicious dinner. Others may think that just the day of Thanksgiving is the beginning of Christmas celebrations. You can go United States of America and celebrate this day if have family there or if don’t have family is not important because you can celebrate this day in a restaurant or wherever you want. The important reason is to give thanks.

References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving 

Baker, James W. (2009). Thanksgiving: the biography of an American holiday. UPNE. pp. 273.

Halloween

By Guadalupe Miranda

Halloween is a festival celebrated in some countries as: United States, Canada, Ireland, etc., on the night of October 31. Its origin is the Celtic Festival and the Christian holiday of All Saints Day

In 1840 this festival comes to America. Irish immigrants passed versions of the tradition during the Great Irish Famine and they were who spread the custom to carve the "Jack-o'-lantern" (hollow giant pumpkin with a candle inside), inspired by the legend of "Stingy Jack."

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

However, the party did not start mass held until 1921. That year was the first Halloween parade in Minnesota and other states then followed. The party gradually acquired popularity in the coming decades and the internationalization of Halloween took place in the late 70's and early 80's thanks to movies and television series.

This day is often associated with the colors orange, black and purple. The typical activities include the famous Halloween trick and costume parties, besides bonfires, visiting haunted houses, jokes, reading scary stories and watching horror movies.

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

But the most important legend says: the door between the living world of the beyond opened and the spirits of the dead were a procession in the villages where they lived. On this night the spirits visited the houses of their relatives, and they had to put a candle in the window of the house for each deceased in the family. If there was a candle in memory of each deceased, spirits did not disturb the family, if not, the spirits disturbed at night and they could have terrible nightmares.

Now, Halloween is one of the most important dates in United States. Some Latin American countries have their own traditions and celebrations for this day, but they agree in its meaning: the union or extreme closeness of the living world and the kingdom of the dead.