The Devil made me do it~

Besides the fist pump, Snooki and the Situation, New Jersey has the Jersey Devil. It is a mythical creature that has haunted the Pine Barrens for 260 years and has been witnessed by over 2,000 people.But how did such a story come to pass. Legend goes that Mrs. Leeds was a poor woman, and barely eked out an existence. She found out she was pregnant with her 13th child. She complained to friends and relatives that the "Devil could take the next one", and that is just what the Devil did. When the child was born, it was described as a monster, which was said to have flown off into the darkness of the Pine Barrens. I don't know about you, but the word Barrens itself scares the crap out of me.

In the first five years of the Jersey Devil's birth, the townsfolk were terrified of the Pine Barrens because of the unexplained sightings. A local clergyman decided to exorcise the devil, banishing him from the townsfolk. There was one catch however, the banishment would only last 100 years, after that the Jersey Devil was free to return.

While the exorcism was performed there were two sightings of the horrible creature by two very reputable figures, with no reason to make stories up. One was a naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, and the other the former King of Spain and brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Bonaparte. 100 years to the date the Devil returned and ravaged livestock with a vengeance. The people of Pine Barrens were gripped with terror again. As time marched on,the vast number of sightings caused New Jersey to enter a Sate of Emergency. Residents were instructed to be indoors by nightfall, and secure all animals at night. The newspapers regularly reported on numerous sightings, although the validity of the Devil began to wane. Somewhere, somehow, one person recognized the notoriety of the situation and in 1930, the Jersey Devil became official. The state's hockey team was the Jersey Devils.

     In 1966, sadly a farm was raided and 31 ducks, 3 geese, 4 cats and 2 dogs were killed, one dog a very large German Shepard had his throat ripped out. Then in 1987, a rather aggressive German Shepard was found mutilated and the body was located 25 feet from where he was originally hooked up.

     Many people from the area disagree, about exactly what  the Jersey Devil is, is it a bird? One teacher suspects it resembles a Pterodactyl based on the tracks it leaves. Whatever it is, it has been seen by reliable people, police, government figures, postmen and area businessmen. The tracks and footprints even if they were hoax's, what explains them being on roofs?

     Where ever the truth lies, one thing is for sure.  It is hard to collaborate over 2,000 stories of the very same creature as far as the New York Border..I'm just saying....

     If you are in the Jersey area for Halloween be sure to lock yourself up in the most haunted prison on the eastern seaboard.  The Eastern State Penitentiary  is the place for you.  If you would rather take a leisurely hayride through the haunted Pine Barrens then the Night of Terror is the ride for you, the attractions are not for the faint of heart and guaranteed to scare the socks off you. If wandering around a maze is your idea of a good time, visit Corner of Chaos Haunted Maze New Jersey's largest walk-through attraction, where perhaps you could come face to face with the Jersey Devil and join the many eyewitnesses.  Be sure after you have been all scared out try The White Horse Diner, for the diner food that your Mom used to make, everything from Liver and Onions to Chicken and Waffles can be found here, a great end to a perfect evening.

Deviled Corn Pudding

4 cups of corn cut from the cob

1 can cream corn

1 medium onion, diced finely

4 tablespoons bacon fat

4 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tsp prepared mustard

1 (8oz) box of corn mix~ Jiffy works great

2 eggs

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

GENEROUS SHAKES OF TABASCO

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup cheezit crumbs crushed up

2 ozs melted butter

In a sauce pan add bacon fat and saute onion until translucent add flour and cook for a few minutes on low heat.  Add milk and can of creamed corn and cook until slightly thickened. Season the sauce with the mustard, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and hot sauce.  Mix well.  In another bowl mix the Jiffy mix and slightly beaten eggs until well mixed.  Set aside.  When the sauce has cooled slightly add the four cups of corn and fold in the corn meal egg mix into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.  Pour into a well-greased baking dish and top with the crushed cheezit mixed with melted butter and bake in a 350F oven until the crumbs are golden brown.

Avoid any diet that discourages the use of hot fudge.~Don Kardong