Friday at the Fair

The Conservation Club fish sandwich was a hit. Trumped only by how awesome the 🍟 fries were. ( we added some JR. Mads and some garlic salt)

Once again, Bruce, from Poor Jack Amusements slayed the drying. He also won a blue ribbon for his 🌽 corn entry.

Bruce’s winning 🌽 corn entry! His blue ribbon ear dwarfed the lowly red ribbon participant.

Nina Hackman’s first place Pineapple Pie at the Family Arts building.

Mendy’s Swedish Nut cake and heavenly Angel Food cake.

Heidi’s zucchini butterscotch Blondies on the left and peanutbutter no bakes on the right.

Fair Food: Sauers

Molly Bassett can only hope a morsel Hits the floor. Nina’s chili soup, Bruce grilled burgers 🍔 on the Blackstone as well as delivered on the sweet 🌽 corn from the family garden. As the rain cooled things down tonight, the chili really hit the spot.

A true Sauers girl , Kristen Stuckwisch had her Mom, Marti, bake this incredible peach 🍑 🥧 pie.

Immanuel Stand: Fair Food Wednesday

Fried Platter. Fried, chicken, mozzarella stick, corn dog and onion 🧅 rings.

Corn dog, fresh tomatoes 🍅, slaw, onion rings, fried pickles, chicken strip.

Chandler Stahl: Grand Champion Holstein.

Poor Jack Amusements provided the fryer.

For dessert we had Farm Bureau ice cream.

The Choco Taco: Fair Food Tuesday

Taco 🌮 Salad from the St. Peter’s Taco House, complete with the cardboard 🚣‍♂️ boat, was featured at the Fair Food 2020 party tonight. I like mine with Fritos, taco meat, lettuce, black beans, cheese and Western Dressing.

It was delicious, however, Mendy Stahl’s rendition of the Choco 🌮 Taco was DaBomb.com!!! She made crepes with waffle batter, filled them with ice cream, folded them up and topped them with chocolate and nuts. They were incredible!

Once again, the Lemon Shake Up was the featured drink of champions.

Taco 🥗 Salad with jalapeños, tomatoes 🍅 and drizzled with Ranch dressing.

Great conversation with three generations of fair goers and friends just like we were sitting around the “Hackman Tree” at the Jackson County Fair.

New Bethel Ordinary

Located in Wanamaker, Indiana you will find the New Bethel Ordinary. Actually, it is extraordinary!!!

This is one time that I like “Finger Pointing.”

Wanamaker is in Franklin Township of Marion County. (Indy)

Tenderloin strips with horseradish and ranch dipping sauces. Ordering an entire tenderloin 🥪 sandwich was asking too much. It was like a relationship when all I really wanted was a date for Tuesday afternoon.

Rae’s sausage, pepperoni and mushroom personal 🍕 pizza. Exceptional.

The Texas BBQ 🍔 Burger was a whopping half pound of ground beef topped with cheddar, bacon, BBQ sauce and an onion ring on a toasted bun! It was speared with a big kitchen knife 🔪.

I couldn’t really pay much attention to the huge order of 🍟 fries and green beans.

Myself, Rae, and our wonderful hosts Bill and Audrey Bush.

This slice of Americana has a craft beer list and the food is far from ordinary. This old cast iron wood stove adds character just sitting outside the front door.

Poor Heidi had to work today so I had to appreciate this for her. Audrey shared a slice of her pizza and Heidi really enjoys the crusty cheese at the edge of the pizza like this.

Pork Producers: Monday at Fair 2020

It was pork 🍔 burgers and ribeyes from the pork producers stand tonight at Th e Jackson County Fair locates in Wegan tonight at Stahl Farms.

We kicked it up a notch tonight as Bruce got Dairy Queen cups for the Lemon Shake Ups.

This plate has it all. Porkburger, Heidi’s Kick Ass Beans ( named by Bruce) smokin’ hot baked potato 🥔, applesauce and some beer broth sauerkraut.

*Just ask Bruce Stahl about the beans.

Jackson County Fair Food 2020

The Wintin/Kreis, Hackman and Stahl families are recreating Jackson County Fair food from home this year due to obvious reasons.

Monday was a hit and the ladies have taken the bull by the horns and we have a menu for the rest of the week.

Tonight’s feature was a tenderloin from Immanuel fried up by Nina Hackman along with some potato salad from Sauers. Mendy Stahl provided the delicious sweet corn 🌽 picked fresh from the Stahl garden while Heidi Wintin came up with watermelon 🍉 and 🍈 cantaloupe from the Hackman Family Farm Market.

Nina’s peach 🍑 pie. Photo by RaeAnn Wintin

First Miracle Winery

To celebrate Heidi’s birthday 🎂 we meandered through the 🌽 cornfields of Washington County to First Miracle Winery. Amid Amish country, this gem is nestled into the the rolling hills and 🌽.

As soon as we enter we meet our tour guide, Andy. The place is furnished with several Amish made tables and chairs made from milk jugs and stainless steel. They will last forever and are very sturdy and comfortable.

Most of the 🍷 wine’s names have a biblical reference and Andy has a story for each. We were entertained throughout the evening.

Andy took us to his wine cellar and gave us samples straight from the fermenting containers.

We had originally planned on eating back in Salem until we saw and smelled the food they were serving.

Heidi’s margarita pizza on rosemary garlic crust. It tastes every bit as good as it looks and was baked in a wood 🔥 fired oven.

Gourmet grilled cheese with BBQ chicken.

They get their 🥖 bread and cheese 🧀 from an Amish bakery down the road. I am going back just to shop at the bakery.

This Sunday, July 26 they will have live music 🎼 with Justin Underwood. On Saturday July 25 they are hosting a tasting titled “Washington County Wine Walk…If you can.”

Andy was a wonder host and I learned so much from the tasting. The significant point is that First Miracle does not add anything to their wines. They are naturally aged and fermented and the taste is fresh and clean!

Mini Zucchini Pizzas & The Classic: Green Bean, 🥔 Potato and Smoked Sausage Combo

Heidi nailed the mini zucchini pizzas tonight!

The zucchini, green beans and potatoes were all from local gardens and the “Fresh” factor put these dishes over the top.

I personally believe that smoked sausage is an under rated meat. I enjoy it on the grill, however, in this combo the only challenge is getting the right amount. You see, the perfect forkful has all three ingredients; Beans, sausage and potato. Furthermore, I have to have a bite of sausage in every bite in order to be 😃 happy. This combination a full meal in one dish. That gives it “Classic” status! Just so you know.

The zucchini came courtesy of the Scarletts. Heidi simply sliced it up, added pizza sauce and mozzarella and baked it up.

I spent most of my life living in town and only eating what came from the grocery store. Now it doesn’t take a genius to know that the smartest thing I ever did was marry Heidi Hackman. What you didn’t know was just how much better she made all facets of my life. Especially my appetite.

River House: Louisville

For a guy that often critiques tenderloins, the River House is for sure an up scale seafood establishment on the the Ohio River.

We sat outside and enjoyed live music coming from the King Fish next door.

Our knowledgeable waitress humorously compared King Fish to Long John Silvers.

The atmosphere was very nice and then the food arrived and trumped it up a notch.

The Brie was amazing!!!

Sorghum cornbread in a 🍳 was a pleasant surprise!!!

The waitress kept referring to “Chef” and how he gets fresh seafood flown in. Bruce and Mendy had seen him on WDRB news recently. We watched Barges go up and down the river as we dined. It was relaxing and delicious!