Fair time

[Punchy]

So the county fair is coming up next weekend, and I gotta get the kids' art entries over there today. For my own part, one of the special competitions is a stuffed bell pepper. Here's the plan, I'm gonna try it out today and I'll update the thread: smoked jalapeno popper (bacon wrapped, seasoned cream cheese), inside the bell pepper with a brown sugar bourbon rice (inspired by Zatarain's Bourbon Chicken rice, no longer available grr). I may have to pivot on the rice flavor, but I am committed to the pepper-ception concept here. I also signed up for a blackberry jam since we have a very productive bush in the front yard, and a wine jelly since one of the kids' friends' mom runs one of the local wineries. Figured I'd make enough for the fair and to gift some back

 

[DinoMikeSr]

Our small country fair just finished last week. Always a fun time. Always loved
taking our kids when they were small.

 

[Punchy]

Well, got the artwork dropped off, then headed up to the winery. I stopped by with every intention to buy a bottle or two, and she gifted me three. Picked up the friend on the way home and now the kids are all hanging out back at our place, it's been a minute since they've seen each other. Summer time ain't the same when you're out in the boondocks *spits*

 

[baimun]

There are times where I think I was dropped into the midwest from another country…. I still say “soda” much to the consternation of my family and friends who use the repulsive “pop” (which is a sound, not a beverage… on no bottle does it say “pop”)…


… and the other is I despise the fair. I’ll eat some fried foods, but having it accompanied by the stench of barnyard feeces and the sounds of wobbly, shoddy, portable amusement rides and rigged carnival games? Pass. I’ll go to Cedar Point thank you very much.


That said…. Ludacris just performed last night at ours. Seriously.

 

[Punchy]

There are times where I think I was dropped into the midwest from another country…. I still say “soda” much to the consternation of my family and friends who use the repulsive “pop” (which is a sound, not a beverage… on no bottle does it say “pop”)…


… and the other is I despise the fair. I’ll eat some fried foods, but having it accompanied by the stench of barnyard feeces and the sounds of wobbly, shoddy, portable amusement rides and rigged carnival games? Pass. I’ll go to Cedar Point thank you very much.


That said…. Ludacris just performed last night at ours. Seriously.

Our fair has the carnival and all that, but the 4-h and FFA kids really do a good job of keeping the critters and their pens clean. Other than that, it's fun to enter stuff here because it is a small county, and your chances of placing are actually pretty high. The first homebrew I entered I won third place in the IPA division, and haven't brewed since lol. But I like doing the food stuff, just have to see if I can execute

 

[Bob411]

There are times where I think I was dropped into the midwest from another country…. I still say “soda” much to the consternation of my family and friends who use the repulsive “pop” (which is a sound, not a beverage… on no bottle does it say “pop”)…


… and the other is I despise the fair. I’ll eat some fried foods, but having it accompanied by the stench of barnyard feeces and the sounds of wobbly, shoddy, portable amusement rides and rigged carnival games? Pass. I’ll go to Cedar Point thank you very much.


That said…. Ludacris just performed last night at ours. Seriously.

I say either but, some people say soda pop and I'm curious what your feeling are on that.

 

[baimun]

I say either but, some people say soda pop and I'm curious what your feeling are on that.

Fence riders.

 

[dodgechargerfan]

on no bottle does it say “pop

 

[dodgechargerfan]

What pissed me off when I was a waiter back in my late teens was when we’d get people in from the U.S. and they’d order soda to drink.

“You want soda water?”

“No. soda.”

“WHAT FUCKING KIND OF SODA, YOU FUCKING POTATO!”

With a quizzical look on their face, “Oh, you Canadians call it pop. I’ll have a Coke.”

“Is Pepsi okay?”

“Orange Coke, please.”

“FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF!”


That was over 40 years ago. I’m getting better at dealing with it.

 

[jrockbridge]

Good luck at the county fair @Punchy


“Don’t give me that so-so soda, the same old cola. I want a rock ‘n’ roller. I want a pop…..”

 

[Bob411]

What pissed me off when I was a waiter back in my late teens was when we’d get people in from the U.S. and they’d order soda to drink.

“You want soda water?”

“No. soda.”

“WHAT FUCKING KIND OF SODA, YOU FUCKING POTATO!”

With a quizzical look on their face, “Oh, you Canadians call it pop. I’ll have a Coke.”

“Is Pepsi okay?”

“Orange Coke, please.”

“FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF!”


That was over 40 years ago. I’m getting better at dealing with it.

You were 100% justified being pissed off.. Of course you understand any place that sells Pepsi instead of Coke should be burned to the ground. Also, what the hell is Orange Coke?

 

[micwalt]

Pepsi > Coke (unless you’re eating a McDonalds burger)
Where I grew up, there was a great county fair: the Calaveras Frog Jump. I have many fond memories of hanging out with friends, eating fair food, riding the Tilt-a-Whirl, etc. Nowadays, you couldn’t pay me to go to the San Diego Fair. Too hot. Too crowded. Can’t eat that crap anymore. And the rides look like they’re gonna collapse at any moment. I did perform there with my old band a couple times, though, which was fun but kind of a PITA.

 

[Punchy]

Pepsi > Coke (unless you’re eating a McDonalds burger)
Where I grew up, there was a great county fair: the Calaveras Frog Jump. I have many fond memories of hanging out with friends, eating fair food, riding the Tilt-a-Whirl, etc. Nowadays, you couldn’t pay me to go to the San Diego Fair. Too hot. Too crowded. Can’t eat that crap anymore. And the rides look like they’re gonna collapse at any moment. I did perform there with my old band a couple times, though, which was fun but kind of a PITA.

Dude, I forgot you were from up in these parts! We still haven't made it over to the frog jump, and we've been here going on 12 years now. We have some badass monster bullfrogs in our pond too, I'll be damned if I know how to catch them though.

 

[dodgechargerfan]

You were 100% justified being pissed off.. Of course you understand any place that sells Pepsi instead of Coke should be burned to the ground. Also, what the hell is Orange Coke?

There are certain regions in your country wherein every soft drink is referred to as “Coke” regardless of the actual brand or flavour.

 

[jrockbridge]

There are certain regions in your country wherein every soft drink is referred to as “Coke” regardless of the actual brand or flavour.

 

[micwalt]

Dude, I forgot you were from up in these parts! We still haven't made it over to the frog jump, and we've been here going on 12 years now. We have some badass monster bullfrogs in our pond too, I'll be damned if I know how to catch them though.

Yeah, I grew up in Arnold, went to HS in Angels Camp. Where are you, exactly?

 

[Punchy]

Yeah, I grew up in Arnold, went to HS in Angels Camp. Where are you, exactly?

Between Ione and Jackson, about a mile off Hwy 88. Perfect base for zombie apocalypse

 

[micwalt]

Between Ione and Jackson, about a mile off Hwy 88. Perfect base for zombie apocalypse

I used to drive through there every time I went back up to visit family when I was living in Sacramento/Davis. There was a stretch of road before Ione (Michigan Bar Road?), where I always put in a fresh dip, cranked some hair metal on the stereo, and drove as fast as humanly possible. Good times.

 

[Punchy]

I used to drive through there every time I went back up to visit family when I was living in Sacramento/Davis. There was a stretch of road before Ione (Michigan Bar Road?), where I always put in a fresh dip, cranked some hair metal on the stereo, and drove as fast as humanly possible. Good times.

That road is crazy. Hwy 104 down to Galt is almost as bad. Now gotta watch out for wild pigs. But yeah, probably twice a year we have correctional officers crash somewhere along there. Then we get a memo about driving safe.

 

[Punchy]

Well. The stuffed pepper turned out fantastic, for anybody who's a fan of such things. Definitely have high hopes for fair time.

Preheat oven to 350°F
1 box Rice-a-Roni (throw out the flavor packet, or set aside for reasons)
1/3 - 1/2 packet McCormick Brown Sugar Bourbon marinade mix (to taste)
Follow the directions on the Rice-a-Roni box

. . . in the meantime . . .

season enough cream cheese to stuff a jalapeno, plus some, I used Meat Church Holy Voodoo
Chop the top, scoop out the innards, and fill it with the cream cheese mix
Wrap it with bacon, season with your favorite, smoke (I just put a chonk of hickory on the grill with the pepper on the cool side) until the bacon looks good
Mix a spoonful of rice with a spoonful of cream cheese mix and some shredded cheese (we have costco Mexican-style).
Stuff the bottom of the bell pepper, put the popper in there, and fill around it with the cheese and rice mix

This is where I might change it up. . .
Bake at 350° for 45 min

One of my compadres suggested throwing it back on the grill just until the bell gets some grill marks and softens a bit. I may be so inclined to try that for the actual competition dish.

All that being said, it turned out fantastic, and would be excellent chopped up and baked into a casserole with biscuit, crescent, or corn bread topping.