grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

State Fair of Texas – New Fried Foods

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Only ten days until the beginning of the State Fair of Texas!

Only ten days and we can begin grazing through the 2013 lineup of new fried foods.

grace grits and gardening State Fair food
fried cinnamon roll with bacon (2012)

Here we go—a few of the newest, deepest fried concoctions…

1. Deep Fried Cuban Roll—involves slow-cooked pork roast, chopped ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and secret sauce rolled into pastry dough and fried like an eggroll. This one sounds edible and won “best taste” in the 2013 Big Tex Awards. 
2. Deed Fried King Ranch Casserole—Texas-shaped cheese dipped in southwestern egg wash and coated in bread crumbs. This fried cheese sounds yummy, but I thought King Ranch Casserole included chicken?  
3. Fried Thanksgiving Dinner—Really? Yes, really. Turkey and dressing dipped in creamed corn, rolled in meal and deep fried like a hush puppy. Served with cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. This one won “most creative” in the fair food contest. Creative, maybe. I say the only giblets at the fair should be in the livestock buildings.
4. Chicken-Fried Meatloaf—Just like it sounds. A slice of meatloaf fried up like chicken fried steak. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and cream gravy. Save it for Sunday lunch.
5. Spinach Dip Bites—Spinach Artichoke dip bites coated in tortilla chips and fried. I suppose this counts as a veggie serving?
6. Texas Fried Fireball—Pimento cheese, pickles, cayenne and bacon rolled into a ball, dipped in buttermilk and jalapeño-infused batter then deep-fried. I’ll be trying this one. I love pimento cheese…
Is it any wonder Big-Tex went up in flames last year? 
State Fair of Texas
If you fry it, we will come.

a State Fair regular…
talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

P.S. Only ten days and the new and improved Big Tex will return, bigger and Texier than ever.

Curiosities, East Dallas. Always feels like home…

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Grace Grits and Gardening
For two years, I was drawn to this painting. Although it was partially hidden on a top shelf buried behind seashells and pieces of coral, I studied it each time I wandered into Curiosities, my favorite Lakewood haunt for treasures, trinkets and yes, curiosities.

There was just something about the way artist Glenn Ramey (1953) captured the ocean’s mood at first light… Plus, I loved the frame.

Several months ago, I took it upon myself to reorganize the shelf in this particular booth. I dug the painting out and moved it front and center. I stared at it with a feeling of deja vu.
Each time I visited, (yes I go there often), I was relieved no one had purchased it. I admired it again and again, but left empty-handed determined not to bring anything else into our house. (I pretend to be downsizing…)
Finally, on the day I took my friend Dorothy to visit Curiosities, I bought it. For whatever reason, the time seemed right, plus the owner of the painting was there which made it even more exciting for me.
Now the painting hangs on the wall in my office where I write.
One week later, John and I went to the Pacific Northwest for vacation. Cannon Beach felt serene and calm and familiar. I’d never been to the Oregon Coast, but that spot on earth felt like home.
And then I remembered my new old painting.
Cannon Beach, Oregon

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life



…though we know we had never been there before, we knew we had been there before. ― Margaret Atwood

Musical Pairing:

Feels Like Home, Bonnie Raitt

Are you alive?

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Congratulations.
If you are reading this post, you are alive.
Do you feel alive? Truly alive? Do you wake each morning excited, wondering what amazing things the day will bring, or do you merely go through the motions with no passion and zero enjoyment? While days disappear, do you wait for your life to begin?
Things will be better next year…when I get married or buy my dream house or publish a book.

We aren’t guaranteed five more seconds.
If you knew you only had one year to live, what would you do?
Still reading?
Guess what? You’re still alive.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life
Musical Pairing:
Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven
This was written for the Write Tribe 100 Words on Saturday. (Write exactly 100 words on the prompt – a story, a poem, a mini-essay). This week’s prompt: Truly Alive. 


Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!