You can cook like the Cajun Divas and all other hushpuppy cookoff teams who participate in the annual Texas State Forest Festival Southern Hushpuppy Championship!

Take a look at these great recipes and compare yours to the teams who will compete this year.

Basic Hushpuppy Recipe

Ingredients:

• Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil, for frying
• 3/4 cup Martha White® Plain Enriched White Corn Meal
• 1/3 cup Pillsbury BEST™ All Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion

Directions:

• HEAT 2 or 3 inches oil to 365ºF in deep fryer or deep saucepan.
• COMBINE cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl
• ADD buttermilk, egg and onion. Mix untill well blended. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls into hot oil. Fry a few at a time 3 or 4 minutes or until golden brown. Turn as needed for even browning. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.

Want to get more adventurous like the teams you'll see at the Southern Hushpuppy Championship? Follow the basic recipe above and make small revisions.

Buffalo Chicken

• Reduce milk by 1/2
• Add 1 can shredded chicken
• 1 package of dry ranch mix

Baked Potato

• Reduce milk by 1/2
• 2 shredded potatoes
• 1 cup of finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 package dry ranch mix

Italian

• 1 lb. cooked ground Italian sausage
• 1 package spaghetti seasonings
• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese

Mexican

• 1 package taco seasonings
• 1 package cooked and drained chorizo

Make sure to stop by the Southern Hushpuppy Championship while you are at the Texas State Forest Festival, presented by Brookshire Brothers. The championship is Saturday, September 19 at 2PM. The Texas State Forest Festival comes to East Texas Wednesday, September 16 and leaves Sunday, September 20. We hope to see you there!