Deep-fried everything!

Check out this insane blog post about foods at state fairs. I think most of them must be in Texas, though only a couple say they are. The featured treats include:

1. Krispy Kreme Burger
2. Kool-Aid Dill Pickles (Koolickle)
3. Deep-Fried Drinks
4. Donkey Tails
5. Fried Cookie Dough
6. Cool Dog

Oh, the hankering.

I like to keep my menu depression-era.

"This rich, spicy cheese spread appeared in some fashion in JofC from 1931 until the 1960s. The 1936 edition declared it 'a grand cheese spread for hot or cold sandwiches.'

Combine in a medium bowl:

One 4 oz. jar chopped pimientos, drained
1 cup mayonaisse
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp ground red pepper

Beat with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer at medium speed until blended. Add:
2 cups grated Cheddar (8 oz.)
2 cups grated Colby (8 oz.)
Beat until the consistency of cottage cheese.

Taking my cue from the 1936 edition of JofC, I served this cheese spread on a sandwich with roast beef, after frying all of it up, grilled cheese style, in a frying pan. An excellent use for those pimientos leftover from making "Build-a-Mountain".

Inspiration.

Justin enlightened me about the pictorial treasures waiting to be seen at the Library of Congress' website. If you go to http://www.loc.gov, and click on "American Memory" you'll find dozens of collections housing digital images from history. So far my favorite section is "Culture and Folklife", where pictures like this one are just waiting to be found:



Yes, those are shelves of homemade preserves.