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The Austin Rhodes Show

The Austin Rhodes Show

The Austin Rhodes Show

A Fair Day At The Georgia-Carolina Fair

Author Michelle Mitchell

It’s been years since I went down to the Georgia-Carolina State Fair, but this year my family and I decided it was time to go check it out. We honestly could not have asked for better weather, not too hot and not too cold, it was just the perfect day to walk around the fairgrounds.

Georgia-Carolina State Fair

The sights, the smells, there’s just nothing like a good day at the fair! My entourage included my son and his girlfriend. And what surprised all of us was how many memories came flooding back by just walking around the fairgrounds!

We probably spent 3 or 4 hours taking everything in. The first thing we noticed were the food vendors lined up before you even get inside the fairgrounds! I was craving a funnel cake so that was priority one for me, but nobody in my group seemed to mind. As we were stuffing our faces, all of us remembered a favorite time we had at the fair in years past. There’s just something about enjoying your childhood faves that brings back all the memories of good times you had just hanging out with your family!

Memories

For me the fair always meant riding ALL the rides and freaking out in the fun house when you couldn’t find your way out of the hall of mirrors! Even after all these years, it still seems like that’s the best way to enjoy the fair, just absolutely full blast! I chuckled watching the little kids on the airplane ride, remembering the year my son had a meltdown because I couldn’t ride with him.

My son surprised me by remembering times we went to the fair that I really didn’t think he would be old enough to remember. It just goes to show, all those years of trying to create good memories really does pay off!

With full bellies and smiles on our faces we made our way back to our car at the end of the day, feeling lucky to have been able to relive some good times and create some new memories for next time. I was worried that going to the fair was just a “kid” thing and my adult child wouldn’t enjoy spending the day with mom at the fair. Turns out, being a kid is just a state of mind. We each enjoyed the walk down memory lane as much as the actual attractions!

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Warm And Comforting - These Are The Top 5 Fall Comfort Foods People Are Searching

The official first day of Fall was September 23rd.  But in the Georgia and South Carolina area, that doesn’t always mean it feels like Fall!  There have been many years where temperatures stay in the 70s and 80s way longer than you might expect.  Once that chill is finally in the air, that’s when we start thinking about comfort foods.

What Are Comfort Foods?

Comfort foods aren’t just reserved for the Fall and Winter seasons.  This is food that can feel nostalgic and boost your mood. It might be food that remind you of childhood or that just give you a feeling of safety and comfort when you’re sad or stressed. And it could just be your favorite food!

According to GoldBelly, this is the food you reach for when you’re feeling down or have a stressful day.  And they are often high in fatty acids, carbs, and/or sugar. The foods can be mood-boosting and trigger the brain’s reward system and pleasure centers.  Of course, food can’t make our stress and issues go away, but it can give us a slight, short-term boost.

Comfort foods are often easy to prepare and easily accessible.  But they can vary from person to person.  We all have our preference for our top choices. Some people prefer something sweet, others lean toward something salty. And carbs are probably the most common like bread, pasta, and pastries.

Fall Foods

While comfort foods aren’t reserved for any particular season, when that chill rolls in, that’s often when we start craving warm, comforting food.  And it seems the slightly cooler temperatures have led to quite a few searches for fall comfort food lately.

Google has compiled the top 5 searches for fall comfort foods from the past 30 days in the United States.  Let’s take a look at those.  Did your favorite make the list?

  • 5. Chili

    Chili is something I can only enjoy once it gets cold outside.  It doesn’t feel right to eat it when the temperatures are still in the 80s.  There are a variety of ways people enjoy their chili. Some top it with cheese.  And some people top it with sour cream.  You can add in things too, like crackers or Fritos.

  • 4. Butternut Squash Soup

    This isn’t a soup I’ve ever had, and honestly, I don’t feel like I’m missing out.  But then again, I’m pretty picky. This is the 4th top searched Fall comfort food though. From most of the recipes I’ve seen, it has spices that definitely make it more of a Fall food.

  • 3. Beef Stroganoff

    I don’t know that I’ve ever had beef stroganoff.  But I can definitely see why it would be searched for in the Fall.  The combination of beef and pasta seems like a recipe that would definitely warm you up.

  • 2. Beef Stew

    Another warm, comforting meal that seems easy enough to make.  And if it’s something you can make in the Crockpot, even better! There’s nothing like letting a meal simmer in the slow cooker all day and that comforting aroma filling the air!

  • 1. Mac N Cheese

    This is my year-round comfort food.  There’s just something about that creamy, cheesy goodness that warms you from the inside out.  This is one that can be both nostalgic, and just overall a favorite food too!

    I found a recipe not too long ago that I can make in the quick cooker, and it’s been a hit every time I cook it.  And it’s SO easy!

    Easy Macaroni And Cheese - Quick Cooker Recipe

    Last weekend, I found a recipe for easy macaroni and cheese in the quick cooker. I added the ingredients to my grocery list immediately. Macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite things... it makes a great side dish, or a full meal if I'm being honest.

Michelle is the producer for the Austin Rhodes show afternoons from 3pm-6pm on WGAC. She's known and been friends with Austin since they were both starting out in their 20's. She's been in the Augusta market on News Talk, Top40, Country and Rock radio on morning shows, middays and afternoons for many years. You also may have heard her in Charleston SC, Columbia SC, Savannah GA and even Des Moines Iowa! Michelle likes to focus her stories on local history, local happenings and local animals in need. She loves spending time with her rescue dogs, her horses and listening to fun new music.

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