And then, there is the food. You name it, they've got it. And even a few things I'll bet you've never heard of--deep-fried cookie dough, alligator on a stick, and the "Earthquake Burger" -- one-half pound of ground beef on a 10-inch bun, piled high with cheese and grilled onions. Of course, the fries that go with it weigh in at a pound.
The fair has been going strong for 122 years, and for 107 of those years, visitors have savored the hot scones filled with butter and raspberry jam. I love fair scones but wince at the cost. $1.75 for one little triangle--about 6 bites.
I make scones at home, and my family says they are more than "fair":
Fair Scones
Ingredients- 2 ½ cups flour
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup golden raisins
(2) Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add cold butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Remove from the food processor and place in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
(4) Turn the dough out onto a generously floured surface and knead about 6-8 times or until it forms a smooth ball. Don't overwork or your scones will not be tender.
(5) Pat the dough into a disk, slightly higher in the middle.
(7) Place on an ungreased cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
(8) Remove to a cooling rack. To serve "fair-style", while still warm split and fill with softened butter and raspberry jam.