Pennsylvania is known for good - if not slightly oddball - eats.

From back roads to urban centers like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the Keystone State has no shortage of intriguing foods.

It's best described as a mishmash of snack food favorites - think potato chips, pretzels and chocolate - hearty, stick-to-your-ribs Pennsylvania Dutch fare and Philadelphia inventions. (Don't get us wrong, Pittsburgh gets plenty of credit, too.)

Here's a list of 37 foods every Pennsylvanian should know, if not try at least once in their lifetime.

And if you think we overlooked any foods, feel free to share them in the comments.

PennLive reporter Sean Adams contributed to this story.

Don't Edit

In this Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 photo, displayed are Peeps at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Peeps

In case you were worried that Pennsylvania's domination in the junk food category might wane a bit during Easter, rest easy: we're pretty proud of the Peeps. These marshmallowy candies are made by the Just Born company in Bethlehem.

Don't Edit

Provided

Heinz Ketchup

Founded in Sharpsburg and now headquartered in Pittsburgh, the Heinz company has produced food products far in excess of their advertised 57 varieties, but they're most well-known for their ketchup.

Don't Edit

File photo by Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Harry Burnett Reese was an employee of Milton Hershey who founded his own candy company, using Hershey chocolate to make his peanut butter cups. The companies would later merge, and the peanut butter cup is one of the world's top-selling candies.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Cope's Corn

It's the corn with the devoted fanbase. John Cope's Corn originates in Lancaster County, and is a popular side dish on many family's Thanksgiving Day tables. It's also versatile. The dried sweet corn can be stewed or baked or used in creamed corn recipes.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Scrapple

You were waiting for this one, weren't you? A meat loaf of pork scraps, corn meal, and a whole lot of love, scrapple is maybe Pennsylvania's most famous "I can't believe you actually eat that stuff" food. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, though.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Middleswarth Potato Chips

Everyone brags to have a favorite Pennsylvania potato chip. And, we're not denying there aren't plenty of good choices. It's just Middleswarth Potato Chips, which hail from Middleburg in Snyder County, standout as one of the best, according to many snackers.

Don't Edit

Whoopie pie

Don't you believe those horrible lies told by folks from other states - this cake-cookie with a creamy filling is absolutely a Pennsylvania thing. We've got the recipes to prove it. You're welcome, Maine.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter| sgleiter@pennlive.com

Cup Cheese

Yet another food we can thank the Pennsylvania Dutch for introducing. Cup cheese is a spreadable cheese made with sour milk. Its consistency is much like molasses and it has a strong odor. The name comes from the fact it is stored in cups

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Chow Chow

It's the condiment with a strange name but chow chow is another PA Dutch dish. It is pickled relish and contains green beans, kidney beans, carrots and cauliflower with vinegar and sugar.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter| sgleiter@pennlive.com

Birch Beer

Forget Coke or Pepsi. We'll take another round of birch beer, please. The soda is similar to root beer or sarsaparilla but made with the bark of the birch tree.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Teaberry Ice Cream

Teaberry is a regional ice cream flavor found in Pennsylvania. The soft pink ice cream is flavored like wintergreen. Producers including Hershey's Ice Cream, Hall's Ice Cream and the Berkey Creamery at Penn State produce the flavor.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Lebanon bologna

Get that Oscar Meyer stuff outta here. My bologna has a first name, it's L-E-B-A-N-O-N. The salami-like sausage was invented by the Pennsylvania Dutch and has a distinct tang due to fermentation.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Ham Loaf

Ham loaf is similar to meatloaf, but just not as common. Typically, ham loaf is made from ground ham and pork, topped with a sweet glaze of brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and dry mustard.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Tastykake

Another bold innovation in mass-producing snack food, the Tastykake was created by the Tasty Baking Company, founded in Philadelphia in 1914.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Red Beet Eggs

What do you get when you combine beets and eggs? Pickled red beet eggs, of course. The PA Dutch favorite is made by brining hard-boiled eggs with beets, beet juice, vinegar, sugar, cloves and other spices.

Don't Edit

Fastnachts

Say what? If you're not from central Pennsylvania, you might think they are JUST any old doughnuts. But the pre-Lenten treats are the Pennsylvania Dutch version of King Cakes. Pennsylvania Dutch housewives traditionally made fastnachts to use up all of the fat, particularly lard, in the house before Lent.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Bacon Dressing

Salad never had it so good. This Pennsylvania Dutch "sweet and sour" favorite is poured onto bitter greens such as dandelion, endive or escarole. It's also used by some families to make potato salad.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Shoofly pie

It is perhaps unsurprising that this classic Pennsylvania Dutch dessert drew flies that would need to be shooed away, considering its main ingredient is molasses.

Don't Edit

File photo by Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Wilbur Buds

Pennsylvania might be home to Hershey's but it's also known for another popular chocolate - the Wilbur Bud. Ever since H.O. Wilbur and Sons in Lititz produced their first batch of Wilbur Buds back in 1894, customers keep coming back for more.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

File photo by Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive

Farm Show Milkshakes

Say what you want, but every January Pennsylvanias cannot sip enough of the Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association milkshakes. We're surprised nobody ever thought to name them Pennsylvania's official state drink. Luckily, you can find them throughout the year at fairs, festivals and high school football games.

Don't Edit

Cheesesteaks

No introduction is needed. Cheesesteaks are in our mind Pennsylvania's most recognizable food.

VisitPhilly puts its origin in the 1930s, when Pat Olivieri put some beef on his grill and made a steak sandwich for a taxi driver. The driver liked it, word spread and Pat's King of Steaks became a thing. So where does the infamous Geno's, Pat's rivalry come in? Well, both claim to have put cheese on the steak sandwich first.

Don't Edit

Chicken and waffles

Don't be confused. We're not talking about the southern kind with fried chicken and maple syrup. This is the real thing. The stick-to-your-ribs dish takes homemade waffles and tops them with yellow gravy and roasted chicken.

Don't Edit

File photo

Pork and sauerkraut

The heartier the food the better, right? Pork and sauerkraut is revered on Jan. 1 when it's cooked at churches, fire halls and mom and pop restaurants. If you follow Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, this comfort food will bring you lots of good luck in the new year.

Don't Edit

Fries ON that sandwich

Fries on that sandwich? Yes, it's a thing thanks to Pittsburgh's Primanti Bros. The deli/restaurant chain has made piling french fries atop a meaty sandwich or a top a salad a completely normal occurrence.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

File photo by Sean Simmers| ssimmers@pennlive.com

Apple dumplings

Pennsylvania is one of the nation's largest producers of apples. Naturally, apple dumplings are a Pennsylvania Dutch staple and commonly sold at farmers markets and family-style restaurants.

Don't Edit

File photo by Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Chicken Pot pie

The Pennsylvania Dutch version of this meal contains no pastry shell, though it more than makes up for that with the egg noodles. There's also chicken and vegetables in the stew, so why not try it vonst?

Don't Edit

File photo Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.

Sand Tarts

Super thin and crispy, sand tarts are a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas cookie. They are like works of art, often decorated with sanding sugars or nuts.

Don't Edit

Photo from Sarcone's Bakery's Facebook

Tomato Pie

It is believed tomato pie was invented when leftover hoagie roll dough was topped with a generous layer of tomato sauce - aka gravy - and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. That was back when Italian bakeries occupied nearly every city street corner. Now, the rectangular pies are a favorite across Philadelphia and its outskirts, sold at bakeries, pizza shops and restaurants such as Sarcone's Bakery and Iannelli's Famous Brick Oven Bakery.

Don't Edit

Pretzels

Pretzels were invented in the Middle Ages in Europe, but German settlers brought them here and Pennsylvania is the world's leader in manufacturing both the hard and soft varieties, ranging from Snyders of Hanover to Auntie Anne's to the Philly Soft Pretzel Factory.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Italian Ice

Italian immigrants introduced Italian ice to Philadelphia. They were looking for a cool treat similar to granita, a type of icy dessert. Today, there are dozens of water ice stands in operation throughout the city, and, believe it or not, they all aren't named Rita's.

Don't Edit

File photo by Jeff Gleiter

Stromboli

Second to the cheesesteak in fame but no less delicious, the stromboli was invented at Romano's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria near Philadelphia in 1950. It's a bit like a calzone, but with a Philly touch.

Don't Edit

Hog Maw

It's a funny name for a food and much like scrapple, hog maw is one of those foods you either love or despise. It's made with pig's stomach. The lining of the pig's stomach, similar to a sausage casing, is stuffed with sausage, cabbage and potatoes and then baked. Don't knock it until you try it.

Don't Edit

Isaly's Chipped Ham

An Isaly's sandwich is the Pittsburgh region's version of the Philly cheesesteak. The chipped chopped ham has a different flavor than thickly sliced ham and is a western Pennsylvania tradition.

Don't Edit

File photo

Chicken corn soup

Hands down, central Pennsylvania's favorite soup is chicken corn. It's like chicken noodle with tender corn kernels which add a level of sweetness. Some cooks add noodles, cooked egg or doughy rivels.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Hoagies

Don't you dare call them subs or grinders. In Pennsylvania they're hoagies. Next to cheesesteaks they are ranked as the state's favorite sandwich.

Don't Edit

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Yuengling Lager

Nothing against other Pennsylvania-based brewers but D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. in Pottsville is a state favorite. The fact it's the America's oldest brewery helps its street cred.

Don't Edit

Old Forge Pizza

Anyone who is from the northeastern part of the state knows the Old Forge style of pizza is not like ordinary pizza. It's prepared in rectangular trays and served by the cut, not the slice. So well known is the pizza, the coal mining town of Old Forge is nicknamed the Pizza Capital of the World.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

For more PennLive food and dining stories:

Don't Edit