22 lowcountry recipes

A Lowcountry classic: toasted benne (sesame) seeds ground into a paste and stirred into warm cream with oyster liquor and fresh shucked oysters. Rich, briny, and ready in 30 minutes.

Southern-style country captain chicken: floured and pan-browned chicken pieces baked in a curry-spiced tomato sauce with onion, green pepper and garlic, topped with raisins and slivered almonds. A Lowcountry classic with Indian roots.

Georgetown red rice cooked in bacon fat with tomatoes, onions, ketchup, and chicken broth. The Lowcountry South Carolina classic that holds the line as the unofficial state rice dish, smoky and tomato-stained.

Mama Blue's shrimp patties: Gulf shrimp bound in a thick béchamel with green onions, hot sauce, and paprika, then breaded and pan-fried golden. A Lowcountry shrimp cake with a rich, silky center.

Southern-style cheesy okra and crab casserole: fresh crabmeat baked with sliced okra, diced carrot and Tabasco in an egg custard, then topped with melted cheddar. A Gulf Coast main dish with Lowcountry roots.

Wow country fair judges with this delectable cake that will satisfy anyone's tastebuds and attract chocolate lovers from far away.