Flowers, Food, and Symbols of The States in the U.S.
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What I learned on my visits to some states.
My job led me to travel to some states in the U.S. as a Civilian Federal Provider for the Department of Defense. My delight & privilege was to learn about the history, people, local cuisine, & places of interest in the various states of my assignment. Here are a few of my discoveries;
New Mexico:
When we order local cuisine, the official state question is, “Red or Green?” The question refers to the colors of chili peppers. The state’s legislature adopted the idea in 1996 to honor the native cash crop. New Mexico’s official cuisine is beef & chicken enchiladas, tamales, Huevos Rancheros & green chilies stuffed with cheese & deep fried. Yucca is the state’s flower. Their flag has a red sun symbol of the Zia people on a field of gold.
Maine:
The official state’s treat is the “Whoopie pie,” a cake-like chocolate cookie with fluffy marshmallow filling. A white pine cone is the state’s flower. The Pine is the state’s tree. Maine state symbols are the Maine coon cat, Chickadee bird, & the moose. The Maine lobster is the state’s official crustacean.
Wisconsin:
The official state pastry, the “Kringle,” introduced in the 1800s by Danish immigrants, is a flaky pastry filled with fruit & nuts. The wood violet is the state’s flower, and the American robin is the state’s bird, the bee is the state’s insect, & the sugar maple is the state’s tree. Wisconsin is the center of German American and Scandinavian American culture. In addition, it is one of the nation’s leading dairy producers, famous for its cheese and Milwaukie beer. With its great lakes & many inland lakes, Wisconsin is a popular outdoor vacation…
