Ohio (U.S.A.) 1 November 2024

Ohio is located in the continent of United States. It has Michigan to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the south, and Indiana to the west.

It gained statehood on 1 March 1803 and is #17 out of 50 states.

The capital is Columbus.

The climate is much like the north-central and eastern United States with summer highs seldom reaching 100F and winter lows rarely dropping below -20F.

The top ten favorite foods are buckeyes, Tony Packo’s chili dogs, the Thurmanator, Slyman’s corned beef, the 3-way, cheese coneys, Wendy’s frosty with fries, paw paws, Graeter’s Ice Cream, Jeni’s splendid ice creams (https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/ohio/iconic-foods-oh).

https://www.britannica.com/place/Ohio-state

COPYCAT TONY PACKO’S CONEY ISLAND HOTDOG CHILI SAUCE (https://www.food.com/recipe/copycat-tony-packo-s-coney-island-hotdog-chili-sauce-535552):

• 2lbs. ground beef, not lean, 70/30 mix so it does not dry out
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tsp dark brown sugar
• 2 TBSP chili powder
• 3 tsp Hungarian paprika
• 1-1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1-1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1-1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 3 C water

1. In a large skillet, cook beef and garlic over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, make sure to turn beef into fine crumbles. Best method is a potato masher to mash while cooking; do not drain!
2. Stir in brown sugar and seasonings.
3. Add water; bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer 50 to 60 minutes until liquid is almost evaporated. Now its ready to serve, freeze, or can!
5. For the hot dog, you gotta use Kolbasz sausage!
6. Heat oven to 350F, place sausage in a greased baking pan with a little Hungarian Beer.
7. Bake about 1 hour or until sausage is browned, but not dry.
8. The restaurant serves the sausage split in half (one half per dog) to make room and take on the chili sauce better.
9. Use Hawaiian Sweet Hot Dog Buns, cover with chili, and then desired ingredients: common is chili first, then mustard, then diced onion on top, and with peppers and pickles on the side.
10. Optional: shredded cheese cheddar jack mix on top of the onions.

Oh my goodness the flavors!!! Just enough spicy bite to it!! Highly recommend!!!

BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES (https://www.iheartnaptime.net/baked-sweet-potato-fries/):

• 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into thin sticks (about ¼” x 3”)
• ½ tsp Kosher salt
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp paprika or chili powder, optional
• 2 TBSP oil (I use canola or olive oil)

1. Preheat the oven to 415F.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. If using foil, lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray (if making extra-crispy fries, soak uncooked fries in a large bowl with ice cold water for 30 minutes. Drain then pat dry and place in a zip-top bag with 2 tsp cornstarch and shake until evenly coated. Use canola oil when baking).
3. In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, if using.
4. Place sweet potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet.
5. Toss with oil and sprinkle salt mixture evenly over the top.
6. Bake 15 minutes.
7. Flip and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until crispy.
8. Serve fries while hot! These are best served right away.
9. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.

Yeah not a great job on this. I will make them again just so I know I can make them!!!

BUCKEYES (https://sugarspunrun.com/buckeye-recipe/):

• 2 C creamy peanut butter (not “natural” peanut butter)
• ½ C unsalted butter, softened
• 2 TBSP light brown sugar, firmly packed
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1-1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 3-1/4 C powdered sugar
• 2 C semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp coconut oil or vegetable shortening

1. Combine peanut butter and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until well-combined.
2. Add brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir well.
3. Gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.
4. Scoop into Tablespoon-sized balls and roll with the palms of your hand until smooth and round.
5. Place on wax-paper lined cookie sheet and freeze for 15-20 minutes.
6. While peanut butter balls are chilling, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil (or vegetable shortening) and heat in the microwave in 25-second intervals (stirring well in between) until chocolate is smooth and completely melted.
7. Pour into a deep dish (I use a wide cup).
8. Remove peanut butter balls from freezer, spear the top of each peanut butter ball with a toothpick, and, holding the toothpick, dip each buckeye ball into the melted chocolate.
9. Return to cookie sheet and remove toothpick. Use the pads of your fingers to smooth over the toothpick mark.
10. Allow chocolate to harden before eating and enjoying (placing then in the refrigerator will speed up the process of the chocolate hardening!).

I know these are the craze for Christmas, but I made them now and they were great!!!!