If You Fry It, They Will Come

Fall must be just around the corner because it's almost time for the State Fair of Texas! And in grand fair tradition, here are the foods in the running for the Big Tex Choice Award for most unique food creation:

* Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Creator: Christi Erpillo
What is it? Two slices of white bread filled with American and cheddar cheeses, dipped in a egg and milk batter and lightly coated with bread crumbs. Served with a side of shoestring potato sticks, a pickle spear and tomato soup dipping sauce.

* Chicken Fried Bacon
Creator: Glen Kusak
What is it? Thick and peppery bacon seasoned, double-dipped in a batter and breading and deep-fried. Served with a side of ranch or honey mustard sauce.

* Fried Banana Split
Creator: Shirley Weiss
What is it? Banana and honey peanut butter rolled in balls, battered and deep-fried. Topped with powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, chopped peanuts, whipped cream, banana split-flavored ice cream bites, and a cherry.

* Texas Fried Jelly Bellys
Creator: Justin Martinez
What is it? Jelly Bellys rolled in funnel cake batter and fried. Try to guess the Jelly Belly flavors as you bite into this treat.

* Deep Fried S’mores
Creator: Tami Stiffler
What is it? Marshmallow cream and chocolate chips sandwiched between two graham crackers, dipped in batter, fried and dusted in powdered sugar.

* Fire & Ice
Creator: Abel Gonzales
What is it? A pineapple ring battered and deep-fried, topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen. The smoking concoction is covered in strawberries and syrup.

* Fried Chocolate Truffles
Creator: Nick Bert Jr.
What is it? A handmade dark chocolate truffle rolled in cocoa powder, battered and deep-fried. The truffle is then dusted in cinnamon, sugar and more cocoa powder.

* Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls
Creator: Mark Zable
What is it? Fresh strawberries covered in a thick chocolate shell, dipped in a waffle batter and deep-fried. Dusted with powdered sugar and served on a stick.

These all sound good and artery clogging, don't they? I can't wait to find out for myself, though I have a hard time believing that anyone will ever top the Deep Fried Snickers bar of a couple of years ago.