CARNIVAL FOODS

Candy Apples


Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) package strawberry glaze
1 1/2 cups corn syrup
1 (3-ounce) box cherry gelatin dessert mix
1/2 cup hot water
6 Granny Smith apples, washed and dried
6 wooden candy apple sticks
1 cup chopped nuts
Directions
In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine glaze and corn syrup. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Dilute gelatin mix in hot water and pour in saucepan with glaze. Stir and continue to cook until temperature on a candy thermometer is between 180 and 200 degrees F.

Shove wooden candy sticks into bottom of apples, far enough to secure inside. Dip each apple in syrup and turn until completely coated. Immediately roll bottom half of apples in nuts. When cool arrange on parchment-lined tray.


Churros

Ingredients
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose baking mix
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Vegetable oil, for frying
Directions
In a large bowl, combine egg, butter, milk, and baking mix. Whisk together until smooth. Pour into piping bag with a star tip. In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon.

Pour oil into a 10-inch heavy skillet to a depth of 1-inch. Heat oil to 350 degrees F. When oil is hot enough, pipe dough in lines, a few at a time, and fry about 30 seconds on each side, or just until deep golden. Drain on towels. While still hot, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Serve warm.


Funnel Cakes

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose baking mix
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 cup liquid vanilla coffee creamer, or other flavor of your choice
Vegetable oil, for frying
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine baking mix, eggs, milk and coffee creamer. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.

In a deep-fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees F.

Cover the bottom of a funnel with your finger. Ladle 1/2 cup of batter into funnel. Holding funnel over oil, slowly release finger and move in a spiral motion, then cross over to create criss-cross pattern. Fry golden on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Alternate method: Instead of using a funnel, try squeezing batter out of a plastic ketchup bottle. This can help you make the design more accurate and is also less messy.