FAIR FOOD

September of last year, I attended the State Fair of Texas. What I loved most about the Fair was Big Tex, the football game, and the food. Since that time I have been trying to come up with a fair dish. I need ya’ll to try this dish and tell me what you think.

SPAM FRIES

This just might be the culinary fair food of the century. I serve these fries with Green Onion Dip and a Whiskey Sour Cocktail.

Grits: 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 cup uncooked quick grits, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.

In a saucepan add the broth, and cream, bring to a rapid broth. Slowly add the grits stir with a whisk. When everything is mixed reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add the butter and cheese stir until the cheese melts+. Remove from the stove and pour into two buttered baking dishes the layers should not be more than ½-inch in height. Cover with clear plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Spam: 3 (12 oz.) cans Spam, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, 3 tablespoons white onions.

Dump everything into the food processor and grind into a paste. Spread Spam mixture on top of the 1^st layer of grits, evenly spread across the entire layer. Dump the grits from the 2nd dish on top; wrap tightly and put back in the refrigerator.

Egg wash: 4 large eggs, 2 tablespoons water, ¼ teaspoon seasoning salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Beat well, set aside. 3 cups panko breadcrumbs.

Remove the spam from the refrigerator, slice into strips about the size of steak fries. Drop the strips into the egg wash, roll in the breadcrumbs, run through the egg wash again, roll back into the breadcrumbs, set aside. Heat oil for frying. Bring the oil to hot 400 degrees. Drop the spam fries into the oil and fry to a golden brown on all sides. Remove from the skillet drain on a wire rack.

Dipping Sauce: 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon sour cream, 1 teaspoon sriracha hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1/8 teaspoon seasoning salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon minced garlic. Mix well.