The Good Ol' State of Indiana

"Back Home Again, In Indiana!!!"

This Is the song I've grown so accostomed to my dad belting out as we cross  back over the Indiana border at the end of a LONG road trip.  Sounds fun, huh?
After living in the state my whole life, it would seem I would know a quite a bit about the history and such.  Well, apparently not.  I did discovered many interesting things today as I researched different aspects of its history, attractions, and just interesting facts.  It amazes me how much Indiana really does have to offer! Most people think of Indiana Motor Speedway and, well.... Corn.  They really do offer great shopping I'm realizing. I'm thinking a road trip to the lower half of the state is going to have to take place very soon....Anyways,  here is a short list of interesting tid-bits, cool facts, and just notes I've gathered about the great Hoosier State. 

#1. Michael Jackson.  As many of you most likely are aware, The King of Pop himself was from Gary IN, a mere 5 minutes from where I live actually.  Michael and his 4 siblings, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon would perform at local bars, restaurants, and clubs across the town. Michael was the lead singer, and had huge dreams of making it big in the music industry someday.  Everyone had to start somewhere!

#2.  Top-quality limestone.  I know what you're thinking; how is this a "cool Indiana fact?" Well, The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, as well as the Pentagon and many other government buildings are made out of Indiana's rich, beautiful limestone.  The limestone can be found in large deposits in certain parts of Southern Indiana, and can be quite pricey because of its high value and durability.  Hey, it's an important contribution to this country!

#3.  Ever wonder why it's called The Hoosier State?  Well there are several stories and no one is quite sure which one is true, but you can choose to believe whichever you want!

The Who's Here Story- Some believe that Indianians were a nosy bunch.  Calling out "whos yere?" to every visitor to knock at the door.  It is said to have eventually evolved to "hoosier" over time.  (this explaination is not very plausible if you ask me!)
 The Fighting Indians Story-  The Indiana river men were a rambunctious bunch.  Always getting in fights but usually coming out on top, they were known for constantly "hushing" their opponents.  Hushing is believed to have later evolved into "hoosier."
Mr. Hoosier- An Indiana contractor was said to have favored Indians and tended to hire them  over other men for work on the Louisville and Portland Canal.  The men are thought to have been called "hoosier men" and later shortened to just "hoosiers."
 Who knows the REAL story behind the nickname Hoosier.  Either way it's still a pretty sweet name for Indiana's basketball team, don't you agree!?

#4.  Pokagon State Park- One of my personal favorite things about Indiana is Pokagon State Park.  My family goes there every few years in February for President's weekend. They have a huge toboggan run, skiing, shopping, and many other turist attractions.  If you love the outdoors you will surely enjoy this resort!




#5. Baseball- For all you sports fans out there, this fact might catch your eye. The first ever professional baseball game was played in Fort Wayne, IN  on May 4th. 1971.  The Fort Wayne Kekiongas beat the Cleveland Forest Citys 2-0 .

#6. The Crossroads of America- Indiana holds true to its motto, "The Crossroads of America," having more interstate highway per square mile than any other state.  The state's motto originated from the early 1800s when the National Road, a major westward route, and the north-south Michigan Road intersected in Indianapolis.  These roads were a major means for transportation in the country and I guess the name just stuck after that. 

#7.  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore- Another wonderful bonus to living in Northwest Indiana is the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. With beautiful beaches scattered across the lakefront, it is my favorite place to be. Even though it stretches just a mere 40 miles, it is still known as one of the Great Lakes States, and is Lake Michigan's finest shoreline.  A highly popular camping/vacationing destination in the summer months!
                                                      

#8.  Gold Medal Swimmer-Marc Spitz, a graduate of Indiana University, was Indiana's greatest Olympic swimmer.  Winning 7 gold medals in the 1972 Olympic games, he set a new world record! No other athlete has ever won so many gold medals in a single year. 

#9.  Indian Territory?- As you probably know, Indiana was named for being "the land of the indians." Well, these days that name doesn't ring nearly as true. There are only about 8,000 known indians still living within the indiana territory. 

#10. Waterpark Hall of Fame- Saving the best for last, this fact has to be my personal favorite. Santa Claus Indiana is famous for its Amazing water park, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, ranking within the top 5 waterpark attractions in the country.  So bring your friends and family and head to Santa Claus for some wild, wet fun! :)

Hopefully you've enjoyed this little bit of insight into the wonderful world of Indiana.  Now, on to more important matters. This IS a food blog for the most part.

Soft Pretzels

   Everyone loves the soft pretzel stands at the mall.  One wiff of the buttery, salty concoction and you just can't walk on by without one!  Well I have found a WONDERFUL copycat recipe for Auntie Anne's Pretzels.  The dough is super easy to make and has just the right amount of sweetness.  My friends ask me to make them all the time and they're gone in seconds! I tried about 3 recipes before I found this one. By far the winner. I highly reccomend making these. They're easy and delicious!  You won't be dissapointed. 

            Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzel Recipe 

                                           

Dough:

1 1/4 cup warm water
1 TB plus 1/4 teaspoon yeast
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 2TB powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Bath:

2 cups water
3/4 cup baking soda

Toppings:

1/4 cup butter, melted

Salted: Kosher or pretzel salt
Cinnamon Topping: 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in bread machine loaf pan. Let sit for a few
minutes.
2. Combine flour, powdered sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add to water with yeast. Add vegetable oil. Set bread machine to dough setting and do something else.
3. 20 minutes before dough cycle is complete, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
4. Make a bath for the pretzels by combining the baking soda with the warm water and stir until baking soda is mostly dissolved.
5. Remove the dough from bread pan and let set 15 minutes. Divide it into 8 even portions. Roll each portion on a flat  non-floured surface until it is about 3 ft long. Pick up both ends of the dough and give it a little spin so the  middle of the dough spins around once. Lay the dough down with the loop nearest to you. Fold the ends down toward you and pinch to attach them to the bottom of the loop. The twist should be in the middle.
6. Holding the pinched ends, dip each pretzel into the bath solution. Put each pretzel on a paper towel for a moment to blot the excess liquid. Arrange the pretzels on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. If you want salt, sprinkle pretzels with kosher salt or pretzel salt. DON'T salt any pretzels you plan to coat with cinnamon sugar. You will likely have to use two baking sheets and bake them separately. Bake the pretzels for 3 minutes and then spin the pan around and bake for another 3-4 minutes or until the pretzels are golden brown.
7. Remove the pretzels from the oven and let them cool for a couple of minutes. If you want to eat some now, brush them with melted butter first before serving.
7a. If you want the cinnamon sugar coating, make it by combining the 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush the unsalted pretzels with melted butter. Sprinkle a heavy coating of the cinnamon sugar on the pretzels over a large plate.

Makes 8 pretzels.