Thursday, April 28, 2011

What’s Your Favorite Fair Food? Corn Dogs!


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When is the last time you and your family were at a State or County Fair? What do you remember most about your trip? If you’re like my family, it’s always about the food – the fair food, to be more specific. And, the first thing we eat when we arrive is always corn dogs!

Our State and County Fairs only come around once a year, which is way too infrequent for our love of fair food. We’ve tried to duplicate those corn dogs we get at the fair by making the pre-packaged corn dogs from the freezer department at the grocery store. Those corn dogs just weren’t the same. So, of course, we decided to get out the deep fryer and make a batch at home.

Now, corn dogs may not be the most nutritional meal on the planet. However, as far as treats go, a corn dog doesn’t have to be totally wasted calories, high in salt and sugar. The great thing about making your own corn dogs at home is that you get to control all the ingredients.

First there’s choosing a hot dog. There was a time when all hot dogs were alike. Now you can choose a hot dog made with chicken or turkey, and even a hot dog stuffed with cheese. There are organic hot dogs and vegetarian hot dogs. If you prefer not to eat pork or beef, you’ll find many options. Choices appear to be almost endless, so when it comes time to make a healthier choice, you’ll find something for you.

When it comes to the coating, this is where you can make some flavor changes, as well as healthier choices. You can choose whole wheat flour instead of white flour. You can cut back on the salt or use only the egg whites for the coating. Some pre-packaged corn dogs have added sugar, so that’s certainly something you can eliminate. Add a few herbs and seasonings for a whole new flavor and added color.

You also get to choose the oil you use when you make your own corn dogs at home. When you are at the fair, you don’t get to choose what oil they use or how long they’ve been using it. The oil you use should have what’s called high “smoke points”, in other words, it should be tolerant of high temperatures. Normally, you’ll want a clean, clear refined oil such as refined sunflower or safflower oil. Many people also use peanut oil or corn oil. Be sure to read the label to check if it will work for high temperatures.

If you have a regular deep fryer, just be sure to check their directions. If you use a pot or skillet on the stove, you’ll need a reliable thermometer to check the oil. It should be about 375 degrees before you begin to fry the corn dogs. Fry a few corn dogs at a time being careful not to crowd the pot. If there are too many in the pot at one time, the oil will cool and the corn dogs will start to get soggy because they are just swimming in the oil instead of frying. Take the corn dogs out and let the oil drain off by putting them on absorbent paper spread over a cooling rack. Let the corn dogs cool a bit, then serve with ketchup, mustard, or your favorite sauce.

When dark winter nights seem to be stretching out forever in front of you, and the County Fair is just a distant memory, recreate a few of those memories by making some of your favorite fair food. Get your recipes and your supplies together and treat your family to a little taste of summer!

Looking for a great corn dog recipe you can make at home for your family? Check out our fun food for kids and get started creating tasty treats tonight!

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