Texas State Fair Corn dogs

Big Tex, an icon at the State Fair of Texas

Food is the prominent feature at the State Fair of Texas, aside from Big Tex, and one of the main reasons to visit Fair Park in Dallas every year.  Fried food is the real star with the Big Tex Choice Awards, an annual contest judging the best-tasting and most creative fried foods this side of the Mississippi.  Past winners include chicken fried bacon, fried banana split, and deep fried peaches and cream.  Everyone in Texas remembers last year's Most Creative winner, deep fried butter.  Yes, I said "deep fried butter."  It is hard to wrap my mind around the fat and calorie count of deep fried butter, but it may be best not to think about it.  Fried foods are special-occasion foods after all, and though we can look down our "nutrition-focused" noses at deep fried butter, even  the healthiest among us has a hard time resisting funnel cake.  I mean, c'mon, have you ever tasted that stuff.  Add Belgian waffles, strawberry lemonade and corn dogs and more than the kids are going home with full bellies.

These boots were not made for walking...

Every summer we have a day of cooking class honoring the fair and we fry up everything we can get our grubby little hands on.  This year we even tried deep fried Oreos...not our best concoction, but eaten none the less.  We make Belgian waffles, drink our strawberry lemonade, then sit back with full tummies and look forward to the next few healthy classes focused on summer fruit and veggies.  But oh what a day it is!
 

The stars at night are big and bright!

So, I thought I would honor the great State Fair by sharing our corn dog recipe with you.  The Texas State Fair is still a month away but who has time to fry up corn dogs after school is back in session.  You have a week and a half left to try these out.  Put out some celery and carrot sticks and enjoy your fried creation guilt free. 

CORN DOG BATTER


3 c. cornmeal
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1 1/4 c. water
1 eggs

In large mixing bowl mix all dry ingredients. Add buttermilk and water. Beat in eggs and mix well. If batter gets stiff add small amount of water.

To prepare corn dog, use hot dogs right out of the package; insert stick in one end of the hot dog and coat it by rolling it in the batter. Hold on to stick and gently lower into deep, hot oil. Turn the corn dogs until browned on both sides. Leftover batter may be kept a few days in the refrigerator.