State Fair Food Frenzy Back Again

It's time again for the State Fair in Florida. Soon other states will be having their's. The fair is so popular in Florida that the schools close for one day, so that kids and school personnel can attend. The official slogan of the fair this year is "super value, super fair and super fun." It could also be called super food...that is super food State Fair style, deep fried, full of fat, as well as some high sugar and chocolate goodies, perfect for your super heart attack or your super diabetic coma. Food is a big draw for many folks who attend the fair.

It seems that ever since the first corn dog and funnel cake emerged at a state fair, a crazy, cholesterol laden American tradition has evolved. Fair food mongers compete to produce the strangest and best tasting deep fried food sugary combinations imaginable.

Fair goers flock to the food tents and food concession stands to see and sample the newest, weirdest, deep- fried goodies. Each year new fried food favorites emerge. The 2009 Florida State Fair winner was batter- dipped, deep-fried green beans and chocolate-dipped bacon. Previous winners include fried Twinkies and various fried popular chocolate candy bars, all on a stick.

This year's offerings at the fair include some new as well as some old familiar artery busting concoctions. A few most popular delicacies are:

Over the Top Krispy Kreme Donut Burgers....Basically the donut takes the place of the hamburger bun. You add your own toppings. Calorie count is about 400 for the donut and 400 for the greasy burger...price $8.50

Deep- Fried Butter....2 or 3 pats of butter are wrapped in a dough and then deep fried. Assorted dipping and fruit sauces are available as well as sprinkled powdered sugar....Price $4.

Spaghetti and Meatballs on a stick....A cooked spaghetti and meatball mixture is breaded, rolled into a ball, dipped in marinara sauce and fried. Then it's topped with melted mozzarella cheese, more sauce and served on a stick.

Deep Fried Latte...Cappuccino ice cream, caramel sauce is wrapped in pastry dough, deep fried, sprinkled with instant coffee, powdered sugar and topped with whipped cream.

Deep Fried Coke....Coke Syrup mixed with Funnel Cake Batter is deep fried, drenched with more syrup and powdered sugar then served with whipped cream and a cherry. Deep Fried Coke won the prize at the 2006 Texas State Fair and has 860 calories.

Kool-Aid Dill Pickles (Koolickles)....This is one fair food treat you can make at home. It is the only thing remotely resembling a vegetable on this list. Remove half the brine in a pickle jar and replace it with a packet of your favorite sweetened flavored Kool-Aid. Shake well and let sit. The pickles will turn a bright neon green or red, depending on the color of the Kool-Aid.

You can find these pickles at most Southern State Fairs. They have also been spotted at an elementary school cafeteria in Indianola, Iowa.

Sources:

St.Pete Times

www.divinecaroline.com

Personal Experience