Hushpuppies: From Civil War to Modern Standby    To try Regina's
recipe for these traditional cornmeal fritters, click here.  One
of the most highly regarded items in the menagerie of Southern
fried foods is the hushpuppy. When it comes to the history of
Southern food, it is often difficult to separate fact from
fiction, but with many Southern dishes the separating is not
worth it, since the folklore adds a lot of charm and allure. I
have heard as many different stories about the hushpuppy as
there are recipes for this Southern staple.  Most of the stories
seem to be centered on the time of the Civil War. The one common
thread is that this fried cornmeal was used to "hush the dogs."
I have heard that Confederate soldiers used it to hush their
dogs when the Union troops were getting near. I also have heard
a similar story in which runaway slaves would use this favorite
food to hush the dogs. The characters change but the story is
the same. If slaves created the hushpuppy, it was most likely
based on a common f