In a hurry Sunday afternoon, I grabbed an old favorite festival food of mine: fried veggies.

I think I have probably eaten fried veggies at just about every fair or festival around Lorain County at some point over the years.

In my head, the fact that I’m eating vegetables cancels out the fact that I’m eating fried food. And, yes, I know how stupid that sounds.

There were a number of fried veggie booths at the fair, even two that looked virtually identical right across from each other. I stopped at the one that happened to be closest.

Fried veggies are a festival favorite of mine. (Photo by Rona Proudfoot, The Chronicle-Telegram.)

I opted for a “small,” one of each type of vegetable — onion, mushroom, green pepper, broccoli and cauliflower — although I think my veggie vendors slipped in a couple extra.

I juggled my camera bag, tripod, veggies and two small cups of ketchup to the nearest picnic table and settled in.

My veggies could have used some ranch dressing — I didn’t remember them offering me any and I was carrying too much stuff to go back and ask. And they seemed a little soggy, perhaps undercooked.

But I was in the home stretch of my Lorain County Fair week, and nothing could ruin my mood.

I set off to scour the fairgrounds for a few more photo or video opps as I eagerly anticipated that evening’s demolition derby.