usa's food

1. Twinkies

You may know these as the super synthetic, likely non-biodegradable cake snacks — the ones with a shelf life spanning years, if not decades (okay, maybe just 45 days.) According to Hostess Cakes, the goodie was invented by bakery manager Jimmy Dewer in 1930. En route to giving a presentation on his idea, Dewer saw a billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoes. With that, the adorable name — and the tasty treat to go with it — was born.

2. Cheeseburger

This is about as American as it gets. The concept of the hamburger originated sometime in the late 19th century, according to the L.A. Times. As the dish began to increase in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, cheese seemed like a natural next step. The origins are widely disputed — of course they are — because who wouldn’t want to be credited with the cheeseburger that started it all? Nowadays, Americans eat nearly 50 billion burgers a year, according to The Huffington Post. That figure translates to three burgers a week for every person in the United States!

3. Fried chicken

Fried chicken is certainly not unique to the United States, but Americans have adopted the crispy, greasy dish as one of their own. The southern United States, in particular, have taken this dish to new levels — keeping in stride with their reputation for exquisitely indulgent fried-up delights. Try this comfort food alongside a hearty serving of waffles (or waffle fries!) Don’t have a deep frier? You poor sap! Head out to any of the numerous fried chicken chains (ranked here by Thrillist) known so well for this all time comfort food classic.

4. Apple pie

As American as… This one is self-explanatory. Apple pie crossed the Atlantic with the pilgrims and made itself at home in the U.S. According to Parade, “The Pilgrims brought apple spurs with them to the New World; when the trees began producing fruit, apple became one of the most popular pie fillings in early America. Back then, pies were seen as an economical and sustainable food source that helped to fill the stomachs of hungry immigrants.”Delicious and functional — who knew? Better help ourselves to an extra slice.

5. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

For Americans, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are as second nature as breathing. According to the National Peanut Board, “the average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he/she graduates high school.” Like most culinary staples, it’s hard to pinpoint the origins of the PB&J. What we do know is that, as author Don Voorhees puts it in Why Do Donuts Have Holes?, “the all-American PB&J is little appreciated by the outside world.” Oh, well. More for us!

6. Buffalo wings

This is yet one more case for the “Unsolved Food Origin Mysteries” pile. No one can really decide where or how these thoroughly messy and delicious wings came to be (Buffalo, New York seems a better wager than many), but they seem to have begun popping up sometime in the 1970s. Nowadays, there are very few American-fare pubs and restaurants you can go to that won’t have a buffalo wings option on hand. Wings have widespread appeal, and are a fun and yummy excuse to revel in your gluttony. The National Chicken Council attests to the dish’s popularity, estimating that over 13.5 billion chicken wings would be sold over the course of the year 2012. During 2012′s Superbowl Weekend alone, the Council estimated that over 1.25 billion wing portions would be consumed.

8. S’mores

S’mores are a simply and traditional American campfire treat. According to Slate, “The first known s’mores recipe appeared in 1927 in the Girl Scouts handbook Tramping and Trailing With the Girl Scouts.” Speaking on behalf of everyone who’s ever sat around a campfire, we are forever grateful that it did.

10. Pastrami Sandwich