New Fried Delicacies At Texas State Fair

It's getting close to time for the annual state fair here in Texas, which also bills itself as the Fried Food Capital of Texas because of all the fried food delicacies that can be found on the Midway. And it's also time to determine what the best new fried foods will be out of all the new concoctions submitted. Each year the Fair awards two prizes -- one for the best tasting new fried food, and another for the most creative new fried food.

This years award for most creative new fried food went to Deep-Fried Bubblegum. It's not actually bubblegum, but bubblegum-flavored marshmallows dipped in batter and deep-fried, then decorated with icing and powdered sugar. I think I gained a pound just thinking about eating that.

The food that won the best-tasting award isn't something on a dieter's menu either. It's called Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack -- a strip of buffalo chicken coated with flapjack batter and rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs before deep-frying. It is then served with a side of syrup. Yum.

Here's how the Fort Worth Star-Telegram described the other new fried foods that were submitted for judging:

Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake, featuring pineapple rings dipped in cake batter, fried, topped with a glaze made of caramel, sugar and cinnamon and served with a cherry on top. Deep Fried Texas Salsa showcased a medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion, tomato and pepper that are rolled together, dipped in masa and crunchy tortilla chips and deep fried. It's served with queso.

El Bananarito is a deep fried banana rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. It's topped off with hot caramel or chocolate syrup. Fried Autumn Pie features a puff pastry filled with pumpkin, cream cheese, powdered sugar and fall spices. It's deep fried and rolled in ginger, cinnamon and sugar.

Hans' Kraut Ball melds browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, sauerkraut, mustard and seasonings into a ball that's covered with bread crumbs, deep fried and served with spicy mustard, raspberry chipotle or ranch. And the Walking Taco, which features seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream and tasty salsa that's served up in a Nacho Cheese-flavored Doritos bag.