Have Your Deep Fried Oreos And Eat Them, Too!
I can't think of anything that sounds more disgusting, except maybe deep-fried poo. But, for you fans of deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried Snickers and the rest...happy day! Turns out the fine people at the Indiana State Fat Farm (uh, Fair) are now making these goodies trans-fat free! And just when you were worried about ballooning up to size 26...!
Here's the link from Consumerist/NYT, from a story by Monica Davey:
NDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 17 — The deep-fried Combo Plate may be a little more healthful this year at the Great Indiana State Fair. So say the fair’s leaders, who, taking a step rarely seen in the realm of corn dogs and fried pickles, have banned oils with trans fats from all the fryers that line the grounds here.The change is only the latest in a string of bans on artificial trans fats. Tied to health problems including heart disease, they have been banished by national restaurant chains, snack brands and New York City, which forbids restaurants to use them in food preparation.
But this is perhaps the most unlikely locale yet: the nation’s classic summer fair, long seen as one final safe haven from the health police.
Along the steamy thoroughfare here, where only sensitive palates can distinguish among the various cuts of potato (curly fries, ribbon fries and the old standby, French), fairgoers seemed pleased with the switch. The food tasted the same, they said happily. And if this meant they could indulge without guilt or have one more helping, so much the better.
“This is a slice of heaven,” said Ryan Howell, 31, as he cradled his Combo Plate, which, for the record, consists of one battered Snickers bar, two battered Oreos and a battered Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup — all deep-fried in oil that is trans-fat free, thank goodness.
“This was an issue we wanted to tackle,” said Cindy Hoye, executive director of the fair, which spent the winter months testing various oils and, despite the fears of some concessionaires about possible changes to taste or costs or tradition, concluded that trans-fat-free oils created what Ms. Hoye called a better product.
And yes, in case you were wondering, there is one thing stupider than banning trans fats in places like New York City. It's trying to ban use of the word "bitch."
Here on the East coast we have the Big E, or Eastern States Exposition, which is basically the area's Indiana State Fair. It includes all of the New England states, and each one has their own "house" where the specialties of the states are served. Nothing beats homemade Vermont Strawberry Shortcake with whipped cream! Well, maybe the maple syrup over pancakes. Nah!
I don't like deep-fried Oreos, Snickers, and all that. Why mess with 'em? Fish and chicken should be battered, but not cookies and candy bars. I've even heard of deep-fried Twinkies! But I wouldn't eat a Twinkie anyway, deep-fried or not. Those things are gross! >_
Flynne at August 22, 2007 5:35 AM
I've been to Indiana, and people in Indiana should eat more carrots and fewer Twinkies, deep-fried or otherwise.
Amy Alkon at August 22, 2007 6:01 AM
"It's trying to ban use of the word 'bitch.'"
Hope that doesn't go through. "Amy Alkon: Opinionated ...uhm... mean woman person" really doesn't have the same ring to it.
About the fried thing. My wife loves fried pickles. Never understood the attraction. Pickles are nearly a guilt-free food, and I think pretty good as-is. So let's throw it into a deep fryer!
As a culture, we seem determined to take food items that are already tasty and make them as unhealthy as possible.
Ever go to a Japanese Steakhouse? Most have something they call "white sauce" (some use prettier names). It's basically oil and eggs with some miso and other flavoring. I.E. oriental mayo. My opinion based on no actual research: It was probably invented because Americans complained that the hibachi-cooked meal seemed too healthy and needed molten lard thrown onto it.
Jamie at August 22, 2007 6:58 AM
It was probably invented because Americans complained that the hibachi-cooked meal seemed too healthy and needed molten lard thrown onto it.
Funny.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not of the idiotic "fat is bad" school. Fat fills you up, and I consider good mayo one of the great pleasures of life. But, come on!
Amy Alkon at August 22, 2007 7:06 AM
I'm not of the idiotic "fat is bad" school
Neither am I -- you've seen my videos, I'm hardly svelte. When I make a dessert, I tend to operate on the principle of using all-natural (usually high-fat) ingredients. They tend to taste a LOT better. However, then you shouldn't eat as much of it, and not make it too often.
It just seems like sometimes people pile on the lard just because. Fried twinkies, meat/cheese multi stack burgers...doesn't really add much flavor, just lard for the sake of lard.
Jamie at August 22, 2007 8:05 AM
I eat much less Haagen-Dazs chocolate chocolate chip than I would lowfat frozen yogurt. In fact, I usually take four days to get through a pint. Of course, I usually eat ice cream -- HD choc choc chip if I can find it -- every day: Lots of calcium and it makes me happy.
Amy Alkon at August 22, 2007 8:10 AM
I have an ice cream maker, and have been having a LOT of fun with it. They're a lot more convenient than the ones my family had when I was a kid. I know exactly what's going into it, and can tweak contents to my own tastes. Made some dark chocolate ice cream with semi-sweet chips in it over the weekend, so I think I can relate to your HD experience. Making rasberry/blueberry frozen yogurt next week.
Good think I'm on Eastern Standard Time...talking about ice cream is making me hungry, and I can go to lunch soon.
Jamie at August 22, 2007 8:38 AM
Not to detract from the Haagen Daz, but it has long been "amusing" to me how many feminist bloggers use the "bitch" but of course become outraged if anyone else, including their cup of tea feminist women do. See they "reclaimed it" they say.
I always laugh and respond that they will have reclaimed it when I no longer hear the entirety of the rest of the world using it.
I actually never, ever use bitch (outloud), not even to describe my ex. I admit that at times when she has denied custody, etc., I can't help but think it.
I enjoy it's use by Sigourney Weaver in Aliens and similar strong female action hero movies, and am somewhat appalled to hear the word "weotch" for witch - bitch on my kids' Sunday morning, Italian made, Witch Anime "The Winx Club."
Okay, enjoy your ice cream.
jerry at August 22, 2007 10:15 AM
I'm pretty sure that deep fried anything would make me sick. On that note, they're also trying to ban the word "ho."
Ughhhhh. Then we'll just make up another name and use it over and over until it becomes commonplace and begins offending people en masse!!!
If I start calling people "qwerty," in a few years, that'll be banned.
However, I do find it important to be polite and I don't swear in front of kids...
Gretchen at August 22, 2007 10:56 AM
That should have been "NOT their cup of tea feminists" referring to other feminists that they disagree with and for some reason insist on calling anti-feminists.
Uh, not that it really matters in order to enjoy the ice cream.
jerry at August 22, 2007 11:00 AM
From firsthand experience I can tell you that the deep-fried twinkie is delicious. I've even seen it dressed up with whipped cream and a rasberry coulis. But I'd throw up if I ate the whole thing. Split it.
"doesn't really add much flavor, just lard for the sake of lard." - Jamie, in regards to the embiggening of our burgers.
See also Crid's comments from a couple weeks back re: taste buds and condiments. To whit - adding more ketchup/mayo/cream cheese to the same bite doesn't really add more flavor, just more bad stuff. Stick to dabs.
As with everything - eat slowly, and enjoy portion control.
snakeman99 at August 22, 2007 10:52 PM
> embiggening
That's a fabulous word. First time I saw it here. After all these years, English is still the most fun language.
Crid at August 23, 2007 6:22 AM
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