The State Fair of Texas!!

This time of year we're all thinking of mums, pumpkins, hot apple cider and other fun fall things. But Texans are also thinking of the State Fair! I've only been twice - once for the ou-Texas game (in which we did not stick around for anything fun) and the following year, my last semester in college, I met my dad, sister and brother there for an awesome Sunday afternoon. I seriously have the best memories from that day - it was gorgeous weather, we ate great food, rode some rides, everyone was in a good mood.

I'm eating a cup of Fried Coke! I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was just fried dough balls and whipped cream drizzled with Coke syrup...very good!

Amanda and I enjoying our Fletcher's corny dogs immensely. They really were the best corn dogs I've ever eaten.

I'm not sure we'll be able to make it this year (it ends in 2 weeks on October 18!), but I looked up the new fried foods for this year (from here):

Deep Fried Peanuts – Deep fried peanuts in shells and seasoned with a variety of flavors (Cajun, garlic, powdered sugar, jalapeno). Nimitz Drive N9.

Stuffed Wings on a stick – Texas sized, boneless, seasoned stuffed wings, fried and served on a stick. They are crispy on the outside; tender mouth watering stuffing on the inside. Smokey John's CBP15.

Rotisserie Chicken - Whole Rotisserie chicken sold in either 1/4 or 1/2 with corn and bread. Belgian Waffle stand in Tower Building.

Pokey O's -Custom made fresh baked cookie and ice cream sandwiches. Choice of two of eight flavors of cookies including semi-sweet chocolate chip, vanilla sugar, Snickerdoodle, fudge nut brownie, white chocolate macadamia, margarita, cappuccino chocolate chunk and a special large State Fair cookie loaded with favorite ingredients. Hand dipped Blue Bell ® Ice Cream choices include: homemade vanilla, strawberry, cookies & cream, cookie dough, mint chocolate chip, crazy colors, Happy Tracks and cake batter. Grand Avenue G-32F near Big Tex Circle. Yes, I'll take a snickerdoodle cookie with cake batter ice cream...yummmmmm.

BBQ Stuffed Wings – Texas sized wings are rubbed with Smokey’s special spices and stuffed with hearty Texas flavors (beef, potato, onion, noodles and spices), then smoked for hours. Smokey John's CBP15.

Texas Bar-B-Que Boomerangs – Tender, hickory smoked brisket, chopped and mixed with BW’s special sweet, smokey flavorful BBQ sauce. Brisket is scooped into a light pastry won ton wrapper, folded, sealed and deep fried to a delicate crisp golden brown. Served with your choice of sauce: BBQ or BW’s Flame Thrower. BW’s in the Tower Building.

Fried Apple and Peanut Butter on a stick – A large wedge of apple wrapped in caramel and peanut butter, dipped in batter, fried and sugar dusted. On the Midway near the Texas Star M19.

Banana Praline Waffles – A golden banana waffle with warm praline sauce and topped with lots of whipped cream. Tower Building TB23.

Deep Fried Pizza – Pepperoni or sausage pizza slices battered in homemade Italian batter, deep fried and served with an extra helping of pizza sauce and parmesan cheese. On Fun-Way, FW20. I'm all about craving this right now. I don't care about my arteries right now.

Smokin’ Bullets on-a-stick – Internationally seasoned beef filled egg roll, wrapped, deep fried until golden - bullets served with a tantalizing sweet, sour and spicy Chinese – Thai dipping sauce.On Cotton Bowl Plaza CBP16 and MLK26 near Little Hands.

Fried Turkey on-a-stick – Cajun seasoned Turkey breast meat, marinated, breaded and deep fried. On Nimitz Dr. behind the Cotton Bowl at the Yoakum booth N30.

Chocolate Jalapeño – Fresh jalapeno skewered and dipped in funnel cake batter, fried and then dipped in chocolate. Available dusted with cinnamon and sugar, or dipped in chocolate. In Cotton Bowl Plaza, CBP1. I could totally see my mom and dad liking this. I would give it a whirl.

Fried Peanuts n Shell – Fried peanuts; eat shell-n-all. On Fun Way, FW27.

Mexican Pies – Shredded chicken mixed with Jack cheese, black beans, corn kernels, red peppers and green onions between two tortillas pressed in a special pocket grill. Auto Building restaurant.

Frozen Turtle Cheesecake Dipped in Chocolate on a stick – Located beside many Lemon Chill carts throughout the grounds.

Frozen Explosion Swirl – Strawberry, Pina Colada, Blue Raspberry, build your own swirl frozen beverage in a special container. Locations in all sections of the park.

Chili Cheese Dog Pot Pie – Slices of wieners mixed with chili, covered with grated cheese and a pastry crust. Baked and cut into squares, served in a 12 oz. bowl. Served at the Chili Parlor in the Tower Building.

Fernie’s Southern Fried Fajitas – Tender succulent strips of mildly seasoned skirt steak dipped in batter & fried until golden & crunchy. Topped with savory fried onions & served with a side of creamy homestyle gravy. At the Dock Restaurant on Nimitz Dr.

Texas Pig Candy – Scrumptious, sweet & spicy cocktail sausages glazed with brown sugar, raspberry chipotle & cayenne pepper. Oven baked and topped with our signature candied sliced jalapenos. Served at Bailey’s in the Tower Building.

And the 2009 Big Tex Choice Awards Finalists are:

Green Goblins – Cherry peppers are hollowed out, stuffed with spicy shredded chicken and guacamole, then battered and deep fried. Served three to a skewer and topped with queso. Located at the entrance to the Thrillway. Yes, I'll take anything that consists of fried guacamole covered in queso. Heaven on earth, in my opinion.

Deep Fried Butter – 100% pure butter is whipped till light and fluffy, then specially sweetened with a choice of several flavors. The tantalizing mixture is surrounded by a special dough and quick fried. Located on Nimitz Drive. Winner of Most Creative in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition. Done and done. I would have probably voted this the winner also! Paula Deen needs to come endorse it!

Twisted Yam on a Stick – A delicious, towering, spiral-cut sweet potato on a 13” skewer is fried to a delicate crispy texture, then gently rolled in butter and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Located near the Exposition/Parry Avenue entrance.

Fernie’s Deep Fried Peaches & Cream – Sweet juicy peaches are coated in a delicious batter of cinnamon, ginger, coconut, graham cracker crumbs, eggs & milk, then deep fried to a crunchy golden brown on the outside, while luscious and sweet on the inside. Served on a plate drizzled with raspberry sauce, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and topped with a cool dollop of whipped cream. A side of vanilla butter cream icing is provided for dipping. The Dock Restaurant inside the Embarcadero Building. Winner of Best Taste in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Texas Fried Pecan Pie – A mini-pecan pie is battered and deep fried to a golden brown. Served drizzled with rich caramel sauce, then topped with whipping cream and chopped candied pecans. Located on Nimitz Drive near the entrance to the Creative Arts Showplace Theater.

Country Fried Pork Chips – Thin sliced pork loin is seasoned, surrounded by a tasty corn meal batter and deep fried. Served with sides of ketchup or cream gravy. Located on Nimitz Drive at MLK and the Hans Mueller Booth on Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Sweet Jalapeno Corn Dog Shrimp – Shrimp on a stick is coated with a sweet and spicy corn meal batter, then deep fried to a golden brown and served with a spicy glaze. Located at the Belgian Waffle stand on the NE corner of the Esplanade.

Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon – A peanut butter cup is wrapped inside a coconut macaroon fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Also available with a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream. Located near the Texas Star. I believe this is what I would make a bee-line to, after my Fletcher's corn dog.

If you get a chance to go...please enjoy at least 2 fried items and think of me!! :)