August 8, 2007

•   
  
  
  
  

  Well, can anyone guess what time of year it is?  That’s right, it’s STATE FAIR TIME here in Indiana.  It starts this morning, with a balloon race, and runs for 12 days!  We do have a grand State Fair!  Yep, there’s more than corn in Indiana … although this year they are calling the fair, the ‘Year of Corn’ … and so, in honor of the ‘Year of Corn’, here is one of my favorite ‘corn’ recipes … the guys love it when I make it, and I take it to most of our pitch-ins because it’s always requested!
   

  

  
  
  JIFFY CORN CASSEROLE
  
  

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 package Jiffy corn bread mix
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can creamed corn
• 1 cup sour cream

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.

  In a medium bowl, blend together melted butter, eggs,
  corn bread mix, whole and creamed corn and sour cream.
  Spoon mixture into prepared dish.

  Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden brown. 
  
  This really is delicious!  I ran across this recipe a few years back. 
  A bit like a cross between corn souffle and a slightly sweet corn pudding! 
  It will fluff up as it bakes!  I know you’ll love it!  Everyone always wants the recipe!  
  Hey, I ought to enter it into the Heart Beat cookbook! 
  I usually double the ingredients and and bake it in a 9×13 inch baking dish
  in almost the same amount of cooking time. 
  If you give it a try, let me know how you like it!
  
            

  The fair has changed quite a bit since I was younger, but we still go to see the farm animals, horses, and they also have a really fun Pioneer Village where you’ll find hard at work, quilt makers, basket weavers, wood whittlers, broom makers, and other demonstrations with old farm equipment.  This year we have a new special event…the fiddle contest!  It’s on Saturday, and open to all fiddle styles!  Too fun!  
  
  They have the Hammered Dulcimer Society that plays every year, and a great group of guys called the ‘Delta Mountain Boys’….yee-haw!!  I have to admit, I do like to watch the square dancers!  Last year they had ‘wall dancers’ … they are suspended from the top of the building and they do all of these ‘dances’ on the walls while attached to these wires…that was different! 
  
  Also new is Homeschool Day!  Boy, I sure wish they’d had that when we were homeschooling Ian!  We still took him every year and he learned a lot at the fair … we went with other homeschool families, as well … State Fair Field trip day!  We really enjoyed the 4-H exhibits … I still do!  I have a friend who always entered her decorated cakes, and won quite often!  There are antiques, art and photo entries in the Home and Family Arts Building … my absolute favorite, and where I spend the most time is looking at the hundreds of photo entries … I’m going to try entering next year.  By then I should really know how to use this camera! 
  
                                                               
  
   
  This year they’re having what is know as “Marriage on the Midway”.  You were to go and vote on-line for the couple that you’d like to see get married there once you’ve read their ‘story’.  Deadline was last night … I didn’t vote … figured they’d get married anyway!  We also have clown and tractor parades, and then midway with all the rides!  Lew went on a ride a couple of years ago and got sick … hasn’t gone on one since!  Ian isn’t here to go on them with me, so I’ll probably pass this year … I’m going to be taking pictures to share with you all anyway! 
  
  
  
  
  We do enjoy walking, but when we get plum tuckered out, we hop on one of the ’tractor trams’ that travel the whole way around the fair.  Then last but certainly not least, we have the ‘fair’ food!  I love the Milk Barn, where I’ll get a grilled swiss cheese on rye, and a tall, cool, bubbly, glass of milk!  Can’t turn down that juicy, sweet, buttery corn on the cob either, and of course, my hubby’s all time favorite … the infamous ‘Elephant Ear’!  The sites, the sounds, the smells … it’s State Fair time in Indiana!  
  
  

  
  …ya think this’ll come in handy after all that ‘fair’ food?!!

  
  So, do you have a ‘State Fair memory’ … or what special things do you like to do when you go!  I know it’s going to be hot this year, and my DH is working hard this week, so I’m praying he’ll be up to it sometime before it ends!  He’d be disappointed if he missed it … especially that ‘Elephant Ear’!!  Have a wonderful Wednesday, share a memory, and stay cool!
  
    Blessings and hugs!
  ~ Deborah <><