TEXAS LIVING!

Texas State Fair 2009 -- Every year, before Big Tex welcomes his first guest at the State Fair of Texas, the Big Tex Choice Awards are held to determine the best new fried edibles for the upcoming fair. Though the final eight submissions may sound as if they will induce a heart attack, registered dietitian Jennifer Pereira, an advocate of the belief that "there are no bad foods," says, “They are fine ... in moderation”. For starters, how about Deep Fried Butter? Whipped butter until light and fluffy, sweeten it, wrap it in dough and then, you guessed it, that bad boy dropped into bubbling grease. It is then impaled on a stick making it easier for you to munch while heading on to the next concessionaire. Or how about Country Fried Pork Chips? (Seasoned sliced pork loin, dipped into corn meal batter, then fried); Sweet Jalapeño Corn Dog Shrimp? (Shrimp on a stick is coated with a sweet and spicy corn meal batter, and then fried. Served with a spicy glaze); Twisted Yam on a Stick? (a spiral cut sweet potato is fried, then rolled in butter and dusted with cinnamon and sugar); Fried Texas Pecan Pie? (A mini pecan pie is battered and fried, drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with whipping cream); Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon? (A peanut butter cup is wrapped inside a coconut macaroon, and then fried. Dusted with powdered sugar); Deep Fried Peaches & Cream? (Peaches are coated in a cinnamon-ginger-coconut—graham cracker batter, then fried); and my personal favorite this year: Green Goblins (cherry peppers are stuffed with spicy shredded chicken and guacamole, then fried and topped with queso). The Fair runs September 25th - October 18th.