State Recipes from the Living Well Book

Alabama

Fried Green Tomatoes

In Alabama, we love our tomatoes. From red to purple to green, tomatoes are a cornerstone of our diet and we love growing our own. Sometimes we can't wait until those tomatoes growing everywhere from our kitchen windows to our gardens to ripen. So we pick 'em green and fry them up! Fried green tomatoes epitomize Alabama cuisine and when shared with family, friends, and neighbors, they embody the Southern hospitality spirit that defines us.

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2009 Annual Session & Exhibits

September 14 - 18, 2009

NEAFCS invites you to come to Birmingham, Alabama for its 2009 Annual Session. The theme of this Annual Session is Celebrating Our Heritage, Embracing Our Future. It is an appropriate theme as we take time to celebrate the Association's diamond anniversary, 75 years of continued professional development and service furthering the field of Family and Consumer Sciences. Let us tell you about a few of the things you can experience and enjoy when you come south in 2009.

What better way to celebrate our heritage than to go back in time by visiting the Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. This beautiful park has more than 1,500 acres devoted to Alabama's natural beauty and acts as a setting for history to come to life. You will have the opportunity to visit a blacksmith and a working grist mill. Local artisans will be demonstrating many of the pioneering crafts such as basket weaving, soap and pottery making and quilting. In addition to experiencing a tableau of living history, you will be treated to a true Southern meal including farm-raised catfish, fried okra and banana pudding.

Ready for something more modern? Learn all about the beauty and graciousness of living in the South by spending an afternoon with the editor and writing staff of the popular magazine, Southern Living. We are all familiar with the magazine's focus on food, culture, gardening and décor of all things Southern, and you will now have the opportunity to experience true insights into the pleasures of living in the South with this exciting afternoon lineup.

Perhaps you are interested in coming to Alabama in order to embrace our future. If so, sign up for an In-Depth Session at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In the past four decades, UAB has evolved into a world-renowned research university and health care center, Alabama's single largest employer, and the economic engine of Birmingham with an impact of more than $3 billion on the area. With more than 18,000 students, 19,000 faculty and staff, and a campus covering more than 80 city blocks, UAB is on the leading edge of teaching, research, health care, and community service.

Maybe something fast-paced would be of interest to you. If so, plan to sign up for the Zoom, Zoom tour and visit the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum and the Talladega Superspeedway. The Talladega Superspeedway is the biggest, fastest, most competitive motorsports facility in the world. Records for both speed and competition have been established at Talladega earning it the distinction of being NASCAR's Most Competitive Track.

And we complete our invitation to you by coming full circle and returning to our heritage. 2009 marks the 75th anniversary of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. A celebration of this momentous occasion will take place at the historic Alabama Theatre located in downtown Birmingham. A retrospective look at the association's accomplishments through the years will be a treat for all to experience in this beautiful Birmingham landmark.

So, come to Alabama to celebrate our past and embrace our future. We know you will enjoy your time rekindling friendships, learning new concepts within your field, and experiencing a few days of Southern hospitality.

Hotel / Convention Center Information & Reservations — Learn more about the Sheraton Hotel and Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex and make your online reservation.

Tour Information and Registration — A selection of optional tours of local and regional attractions is available to enhance your visit to the Birmingham and surrounding area.

2009 NEAFCS Annual Business Meeting — Friday, September 18, 2009

Keynote Speakers — Learn more about our keynote speakers:

• Dr. Allen Mallory — Opening General Session Keynote Presentation
  
• Child care expert and popular stand-up comic
• Dr. Marshall Stewart — Wednesday All-Member-Caucus Keynote Presentation
  
• Associate Director, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service


• Department Head, State Program Leader, Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences, NCSU
• An Afternoon with Southern Living — Thursday General Session Presentation
  
• John Floyd (Editor Emeritus) and Associates from the Magazine
• Phyllis Norton Hoffman — Closing General Session Keynote Presentation
  
• Media and publishing entrepreneur

In-Depth Sessions, Wednesday Afternoon, September 16 — The Alabama Host Committee has developed a number of In-Depth Sessions (Workshops On The Move) designed to provide hands-on training and detailed information about the subject matter covered by each session. Space for some sessions is limited. Sessions will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exhibits, Sponsorship and Advertising Information — As an official supporter of the 2009 Annual NEAFCS Session and Exhibits, your organization will generate exceptional visibility and immeasurable goodwill among Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educators who reach several hundred thousand consumers each year!

Ground Transportation — The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel is less than 6 miles driving distance from the Birmingham International Airport, approximately 10 minutes.

Important Dates

"Extension is small in our state and attending the Annual Session keeps me abreast of the latest information on nutrition, food safety, leadership, new technology, Extension trends and resources available from collaborating agencies. It fills the gap in my state. I leave feeling engaged so I can engage others!"

Up a Level to: Past Annual Sessions