Possible Clues:

• Ingredient in many Asian desserts
• Birmingham-to-Muscle Shoals dir
• Dir. opposite 51-Down
• Compass reading
• Very left-leaning?: Abbr
• Compass pt.
• Dir. from NYC to Seattle
• Tucson-to-L.A. course
• Asheville-to-Knoxville dir
• Boise-to-Portland dir.