Deep Fried Indulgences

Who can resist the crunchy taste and juicy flavor of deep fried fair food? Most of us indulge at least once a year at local fair events and festivals.

In recent years, fair and food vendors have taken on unique twists with traditional deep fried foods they have been serving for years. These concoctions are the closest one can get to deep fried heaven!

Traveling throughout the years, I have noticed that the food becomes more sinful and more unique the further south you go. The southerners seem to be the first to introduce everyone else to some very divine and scrumptious treats!

Here are a few tasty treats that you can check out the next time you are at the fair:

Donkey Tails- A new twist on the old hot dog! Donkey Tails are large all-beef hot dogs, with a slit on the side and stuffed with sharp cheddar cheese. The dog is then wrapped tightly in a large flour tortilla and fried until golden brown. Serve with your favorite hot dog toppings.

Chicken and Waffles- A southern favorite! Toasted waffles are sinfully brushed with flavored butter and topped with honey battered deep fried chicken tenders. Serve these up with your choice of syrup or white creamed gravy. Very sweet and salty!

Shrimp on a Stick- Huge jumbo shrimp battered to perfection, then skewed and served up with your favorite dipping sauces.

Fried Macaroni and Cheese- A must try for the mac and cheese lover! Little bite sized clumps of macaroni and cheese are covered with a light layer of herb and garlic flavored bread crumbs. The mixture is deep fried until they are hot and cheesy on the inside and extra crispy on the outside. Kids love these! You can also serve on a skewer and have a variety of dipping sauces such as ranch, ketchup and honey mustard.

Fried Avocados- For the Tex- Mex lover in you! A new taste sensation that's literally sweeping the nation! Hand battered chunks of just ripened avocado that is deep fried to a crisp and then served with sour cream or salsa.

Good Ol' French fries- Deep fried to the utmost perfection and then loaded with smooth nacho cheese, bacon, chives, butter and sour cream.

Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly- Not your momma's PB and J! This sinful little treat is created by making your traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with two slices of bread and then dipping it into a deep fried batter mix and letting it sizzle in the hot oil until light golden brown. To die for!

Ready for some Sinful Deserts?

Cheesecake on a Stick- Ah... cheesecake, who doesn't love it? The richer the better. But what about when it is deep fried? A piece of Cheesecake is frozen around a stick, then dipped in a batter and deep fried. Served with your choice of fruit toppings. This can also be served with everyone's favorite topping- turtle, using hot caramel, fudge and salted pecans.

Fried Pralines Desert- Huge pecans and coconut pieces battered and deep fried to perfection--then sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Candy Apple Turnovers- A flaky pastry or turnover filled to the brim with cinnamon and apples, crushed red candies and brown sugar. Deep fried to perfection and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Bananas Foster Cinnamon Praline- If you love bananas, this is for you! Banana rum sauce and caramelized bananas poured over cinnamon ice cream and then topped with whipped cream and a rich warm pecan praline sauce.

Fried Choco Rito- A large flour tortilla is stuffed with coconut, marshmallows, candy bar pieces, caramel morsels and cinnamon, then dipped in pancake batter and deep fried to perfection. Very crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside! You can also drizzle with warm honey and top with whipped cream.

Chocolate covered fruits- Take ripened strawberries, melons and cherries, place on a skewer and dip in your choice of milk, dark or white chocolate.

Fried Coke- A new southern favorite! Smooth sphere-like pieces of coca-cola flavored batter are deep fried to perfection and drizzled with pure coca-cola fountain flavored syrup, then topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry!

Note: Although all of these treats sound scrumptious -- it is not healthy to eat these items on a regular basis.

If you want to indulge once in a while at your local fair or even if you want to try these easy concoctions at home --these of sinful concoctions should be enough to get you started. Happy Eating's!