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State Fair of Texas – New Fried Foods

September 17, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

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.

Seven Word Poem

September 6, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Autumn flirts.
Leaves turn.
Summer retreats again.

talya

This was written for the Write Tribe Festival of Words. Prompt: Seven.

How to Make Pumpkins from Recycled Books

August 31, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

 how to make pumpkins from recycled books

Once September rolls around, I am all about decorating for Halloween. I saw a similar recycled book pumpkin project on Pinterest and couldn’t wait to try it.The hardest part of the project for me was selecting which book to use. ‘Defacing’ a book is downright sinful; however, I decided an old Fodor travel book on the Caribbean was expendable. If I return to the islands, I’ll buy a more up-to-date issue.Continue Reading

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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