Secret summertime treat.

While most kids look forward to going to theme parks and fairs for the wild adventure of carnival rides, my kids love to go to sightseeing and visit museums.

Trust me, they're not dainty little wallflowers.

They both love the smell of nitroglycerin.

Listening to the roar of race cars at Lincoln Park Speedway is fun, but they prefer to stand next to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's fence, less than 200 feet away from the track, as nitro-dragsters and funny cars roar down the racetrack at speeds in excess of 300 mph during the National Hot Rod Association's Winter Nationals.

They argue about who got the largest goose bumps and who smells the most like nitro on the way home in the car.

So, you'd think amusement park rides and carnival rides would be right up their alley, but it isn't. But, they do love a few things at those types of events.

Recently there was a lively discussion in my living room about of which was better, going to King's Island or The Indiana State Museum.

"Why would I want to stand around in line for 20-30 minutes, or longer, to get on a ride that doesn't last two minutes. What a complete waste," my daughter valiantly argued. "You figure it up. If you go to a park at 10 a.m., and there are 10 rides you want to go on, you're going to spend most of your day standing in line!"

Then my son blurted out the real reason for not liking those theme park rides, "When do you get time to go eat?"

The skinny little booger loves the food booths.

"Yeah," my daughter agreed, exposing it was also her reason as well. "And if you do eat, it's going to come right back up after being on some of those rides. I love funnel cakes. That's the only time I get one. I don't want to throw it up!"

That was when I had to leave the room, because I couldn't keep a straight face.

My children don't know I have a secret.

I've had a recipe for homemade funnel cakes for years.

If you wonder why I haven't told them about the recipe or made the wonderful treat for my kids, I have to admit that I love them too.

Its hard enough finding clothes to fit now, if we made these treats at home, I'd have to resort to wearing kaftans.

Combine in a mixing bowl one cup of all-purpose flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, quarter teaspoon of salt and sugar and a half-teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a bowl. Mix in one egg and 3/4 cup of whole milk until the batter is smooth. This should be enough to make four large or six smaller cakes.

Pour approximately one inch of vegetable oil into a medium-size non-stick skillet and let heat to 360 degrees over medium-high heat.

Pour a small amount of the batter in a funnel, making sure you cover the bottom hole of the funnel with your finger, and then pour batter into the hot oil in a circular pattern to form the cake. Fry about a minute or until a light golden brown and turn over to cook other side.

Remove your funnel cake to a cookie sheet lined with paper towels and allow to drain for about 2-3 minutes.

Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and a splash of cinnamon or top with canned fruit filling and whipped cream.