NANCY BACKUS wrote to DAVE DRUM <=-

I found my state fair fun when I was a
pre-adult (still in high school and before). My adult self found the
food and drink over-priced and the demonstrations that had fascinated
me as a youngster to be just another well-practiced, cynical shuck to separate the Rubes from their 'hard-earned'.

Maybe the NYS Fair is a better example of state fairs than what you
were exposed to.... And admittedly, we tended to spend more time in the animal barns, and the musical instrument museum, and the arts and
crafts and the 4-H exhibits than in the hawker halls... :) The dairy building generally got at least a pass-through, to see that year's
butter sculpture and get some fresh milk... and the free concerts on
the lawn were also something we tended to do...

The Illinois State Fair is pretty typical od that sort of exposition. It
is better than Michigan, Missouri, California and Wisconsin's examples.
Not as good as Texas, Indiana or Minnesota (all fairs I have been to for various reasons).

Then, as an employee of
the IL Dept of Agriculture I was required to be there every weekday of
the week preceding, the 10 days of, and the week after the fair. There
was no work scheduled during the actual fair - but no one was allowed
to take vacation. The eight fairs at which I was a forced attendee
made for a fine and burning loathing if not hatred.

Was there some good reason for having the employees attend the fair
while actually in session...? Like being available for crowd control
or to give directions to some hapless lost soul....? I trust that at least you were paid for being in attendance, and didn't have to pay the admission fee....

Just bureaucratic whimsy. We were paid for sitting around looking at one another (or playing bridge/gin rummy/canasta). And we got in at no out
of pocket expense. It was still a major PITA. One year I scheduled an
elective surgery and recovery to miss being at the fairgrounds during
the 10 day run. One of the upper level bureaucraps said in an accusing
tone "You scheduled this during the fair on purpose, didn't you?"

To which I replied "Are you going to deny me having a surgery my doctor
says is necessary?".

End of discussion.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Black Walnut Sundae Cake
Categories: Cakes, Chocolate, Desserts, Nuts
Yield: 10 Servings

3 c Sugar
7 ts Cocoa
3/4 lb Butter
6 Eggs
3 c Flour
1 1/2 ts Soda
1/2 ts Salt
1 c Milk
2 ts Vanilla
2 ts Black walnut extract
1/3 c Black walnuts; fine chopped

MMMMM---------------------------ICING--------------------------------
1 7/8 c Sugar
3 Egg whites
6 tb Water
1 1/2 ts Cream of tartar
1/4 ts Salt
1 1/2 ts Vanilla
1 1/2 ts Black walnut extract
1 c Black walnuts; Fine chopped
1 1/2 c Small marshmallows

CAKE: In a large mixing bowl cream sugar, cocoa, and
butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time,
beating well after each addition. Sift flour, soda, and
salt together and add to mixture alternately with milk,
starting and ending with flour. Mix in flavoring and
fold in chopped nuts. Bake in three (3) greased and
floured 9" layer pans. Bake @ 350°F/175°C for 35-40
minutes.

MARSHMALLOW ICING: In top of double boiler mix together
sugar, egg whites, water, cream of tartar, and salt.
Beat with electric beater over boiling water for 15
minutes. This should be on low heat.

Immediately add marshmallows, remove from heat and beat
another 5 minutes. Add flavorings and spread on cake.

Sprinkle nuts over the top of cake to make the sundae.

Source: Prize Winning Recipe from the State Fair of
Texas, 1976.

From: http://www.recipesource.com

Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives

MMMMM



... Haggis is tasty and nutritious and only makes you fart a wee bit.

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