You Can Take Me to the Fair
It’s that time of year — summer is in full swing, the heat is on — it must be fair time! My local paper, The Washington Post, ran a huge listing of local county and state fairs in the Weekend section this week, and it really got me excited about the possibilities for exploring.
The fair is all about food. Fairs are the places where farmers bring their produce and livestock to show off. It’s always good to show kids where their food comes from. (Well, not always… make sure your kids can handle it and won’t freak out when they realize that beef actually comes from cows) Where else can you see a 50-pound pumpkin or zucchini? The home arts section is also a place for foodies. You can wander through room after room of pies, cakes, preserves, etc. Unfortunately, the food entered in competitions is not for sale, or for eating unless you happen to be a tasting judge. Still, if you’re lucky, you might find some entries with recipes attached. We definitely did at last year’s Maryland State Fair — check out these yummy cookies!
There was only an ingredient list, but that’s OK. These are basically like thumbprint cookies. Roll the dough into 1- to 2-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. Then press your thumb into middle and fill the divot with filling.
Cooking temperature and time are up to you and your oven. I did 350 for 8-10 minutes, until the edges started to brown a bit. Give them a try!
Stay tuned — next up: Fair Food. You know, fried stuff on sticks. And a few healthier options.
