A Cook's Collection
  • What's New
  • A Little About Me
    • Newspaper Article
  • Jefferson County Fair
    • 2010 Winning Recipes >
      • First Place Apricot-Date Bars
      • First Place Banana Bread
      • Best in Show Blackberry Cobbler
    • 2011 Winning Recipe >
      • Champion Cherry Pie
    • 2012 Winning Recipes >
      • Champion Banana Sour Cream Bread
      • First Premium Golden Vanilla Pound Cake
      • First Place Lighter Than Air Angel Food Cake
      • Second Place Awesome Apple Pie
      • Second Place Blackberry Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping
      • Second Place Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Bundt Cake
      • Second Place Death by Chocolate Muffins
    • 2013 Winning Recipes >
      • Champion Raspberry Circles
      • Champion Zucchini Bread
      • First Premium Blackberry Pie
      • First Premium Blueberry Pie
      • First Premium Chocolate Pound Cake
      • First Premium Lemon Circles
      • First Place Montana Biscuits
      • First Place Cherry Pie
    • 2014 Winning Recipes >
      • Champion Southern Pecan Pie with Praline Sauce
      • First Place Angel Food Cake
      • First Place Amaretto Cake
      • First Place Brownies
      • First Place Chocolate Stout Cake
  • Mom's Handwritten Cookbook Recipes
    • Beverages >
      • Orange Julius
    • Breakast >
      • Cowboy Coffee Cake
    • Cakes >
      • Apple Cake
      • My Favorite Carrot Cake
    • Holiday Favorites >
      • Good Relish
      • Raw Cranberry Sauce
    • Homemade Items >
      • Grandmother Wright's Apple Butter
      • Chili Sauce
      • Million Dollar Pickles
    • Ice Cream >
      • My Basic Vanilla Ice Cream
    • Main Dishes >
      • Betty's Ham Loaf
      • Enchilada Casserole
      • Mock Raviola
      • Momma May's Porcupine Balls
      • Mother's Sweet & Sour Baked Chicken
    • Party Time! >
      • Holiday Punch
      • Hot Crab Dip
    • Salads >
      • Green Pea Salad
      • Fruit Platter with Hawaiian Cream Dip
      • Zucchini Salad
  • Favorite Recipes
    • Appetizers >
      • Appetizer Meatballs
      • Bakes Brie in Bread
      • Betty White's Chicken Wings
      • Caramel Pecan Apple Cheese Dip
      • Cheesy Crab Rolls
      • Chicken Ham Pinwheels
      • Creamy Greek Olive and Feta Dip
      • Easy Vegetable Dip (Knorr)
      • Foil Wrapped Chicken
      • Fruit and Caramel Brie
      • Kalamata Olive Tapenade (Dip or Spread)
      • Knorr Spinach Dip
      • Meatballs
      • Mexican Dip
      • Olive and Goat Cheese Crostini
      • Olive Nut Spread
      • Roasted Red Pepper Dip
      • Rumaki
      • Vidalia Onion Dip
      • The Ultimate Cheeseball Recipe
      • Tuscan Cream Cheese Spread
    • Beans and Bean Dishes >
      • Beans >
        • Cowboy Beans
        • Peggy Goldwater's Arizona Ranch Style Beans *
        • Quick Southern-Style Baked Beans *
      • Bean Dishes >
        • Red Beans and Rice
        • Tempura Green Beans, Yellow Beans and Tofu
        • White Beans with Roasted Tomatoes
    • Biscuits and Breads >
      • Almond Joy Bread
      • Almond Poppy Bread
      • Apricot Bread
      • Canadian Lemon Bread
      • Cranberry Bread
      • French Onion Pan Rolls
      • Grandma Birdie's Baking Powder Biscuits
      • Lemon Tea Bread
      • Linda's Pumpkin Bread
      • Mile High Biscuits
      • Orange Bread
      • Red Lobster's Cheddar Biscuits
      • Zucchini Bread
    • Breakfast Items >
      • Amish Coffee Cake
      • Baked Eggs, Ham & Cheese Casserole
      • Breakfast Casserole - Lancaster County Recipe
      • Cheese and Bacon Frittata
      • Ham and Swiss Quiche
      • Musil
      • Raisin Breakfast Mix
      • Raisin Crunch Breakfast Bowl
      • Yummy Breakfast Casserole
      • Muffins >
        • Bacon-Cheese Muffins
        • Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins
        • Rich Blueberry Muffins
      • Pancakes >
        • "Apple Pancakes" on Christmas Morning
        • Chocolate Chip Pancakes
        • Fluffiest Pancakes Ever!
        • German Pancakes
        • Ham and Potato Pancakes
        • Lumberjack Pancakes
        • Pancakes
        • Special Pancakes
      • Pies >
        • Sheppard's Breakfast Pie
    • Chili >
      • Amish Chili Recipe
      • Anna's Chili
      • Chili Con Carne
      • "Corner Grill" Chili
      • Eischen's Chili
      • Firehouse Chili
      • Full O'Beans Chili *
      • Fully Loaded Chili
      • My Favorite Chili
      • Paul's Touchdown Turkey Chili
    • Cornbreads >
      • Anguilla Cornbread
      • Broccoli Cheddar Cornbread *
      • Buttermilk Cornbread
      • Buttery Cornbread *
      • Olive and Parmesan Skillet Cornbread *
      • Special Cornbread
      • Skillet Corn Bread
      • "The King's" Cornbread
    • Desserts >
      • Bars >
        • Lemon Bars
      • Brownies >
        • Brownie Thins
        • Chocolate Chip Brownies
        • Fudgy Brownie Bars
        • Mint Chocolate Brownies
        • Katherine Hepburn's Brownies
        • SSC Brownies
      • Cakes >
        • Chocolate Ganache Cake *
        • Chocolate Cake with Frosting
        • Chocolate Loaf Cake
        • Chocolate Tweed Cake
        • Classic Pound Cake
        • Cracker Barrel's Coca Cola Cake
        • Dark Chocolate Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Chocolate Glaze *
        • Devil's Food Cake with Brown Sugar Buttercream *
        • Flourless Chocolate Cake
        • Mexican Wedding Cakes
        • Moist Yellow Cake
      • Cheesecake >
        • Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
      • Cobblers - New! >
        • Very Best Blueberry Cobbler
        • Chocolate Cobbler
        • Fantastic Blueberry Cobbler
      • Cookies >
        • Fudge Crinkles
        • Lady Fingers
        • Sandie Cookies
        • Spritz Cookies
        • Susannah's Chocolate Chip Cookies
      • Cupcakes >
        • Black Bottom Cupcakes
        • Death by Oreo Cupcakes >
          • Untitled
        • Fudge Filled Cupcakes
        • Hot Cocoa Cupcakes
        • Rolo Cupcakes
        • Rich Double Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes *
      • Dumplings >
        • Apple Dumplings
      • Pies >
        • Apple Crumb Pie
        • Berry Berry Cool Pie
        • Cherry Vanilla Ribbon Pie
        • Chocolate Chiffon Pie
        • Chocolate Satin Pie (Cooked) with Homemade Chocolate Curls
        • Door County Cherry Pie
        • Fresh Peach Pie
        • Frozen Lemonade Pie
        • Key Lime Pie
        • Pecan Pie
        • Three Berry Pie
    • Entrees >
      • Amish Chicken Casserole
      • Amish Oven Fried Chicken
      • Anna's Macaroni and Cheese
      • Barbeque Style Brisket (Tri-tip)
      • Beef Stroganoff
      • Chicken Enchiladas
      • Chicken Marsala
      • Crunchy Smokey Park Chops
      • Dixie Gulf Shrimp & Rice
      • 15-Minute Marinated Chicken
      • Flavorful Lasagna
      • Savory Pot Roast
      • Shrimp and Grits
      • Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder *
      • Stuffed Peppers
      • Tender and Flaky Salmon
      • Teriyaki Chicken
      • Winter Beef Stew
    • Holiday and Party Drinks >
      • Anna's Starlight Punch
      • Creamy Egg Nog
      • Gramm's Christmas Punch
      • Cranberry Burst
      • Holiday Celebration Punch
      • Hot Chocolate Mix
      • Hot Cranberry Cider
      • Irish Coffee
      • Peg's Cooling Limeade Slush
      • Perfect Party Punch
      • Rudolph's Reward Punch (non-alcoholic)
      • Throw A Party Punch
      • White Cranberry Wine Spritzer
    • Marinara & Spaghetti Sauces >
      • Marinara Sauce by Anne Burrell
      • Marinara Sauce by Giada De Laurentiis
      • Marinara Sauce by Ina Garten
      • My Favorite Spaghetti Sauce with Meat
      • Spaghetti-Italian Sauce
    • Meatloaf and Ham Loaf >
      • Ann Lander's Meatloaf
      • Bacon Wrapped Bison Meat Loaf
      • Lancaster Ham Loaf
      • Something Special Meatloaf
    • On the Grill >
      • Campfire Potatoes
      • Grilled Brats
      • Grilled Cobblers - New! *
      • Juicy Grilled Hamburgers
      • Rob's Grilled Hamburgers
      • Stafford Burgers
      • Yummy Grilled Hamburgers
    • Pickles >
      • Fresh Vegetable Pickles
      • Refrigerated Bread & Butter Pickles
      • Salt and Sugar Pickles
      • Shaker Pickles
      • Summer Squash Bread and Butter Pickles
      • Watermelon Rind Pickles
    • Pizza >
      • Pillsbury Mini Pizzas *
    • Rice >
      • Brown and Wild Rice Pilaf with Porcini and Parsley * >
        • Untitled
      • Buttery Rice Pilaf *
      • Chinese Style Rice *
      • Fragrant Rice Pilaf *
      • Fried Rice
      • Lemon Rice
      • Wild Rice and Toasted Almond Pilaf *
    • Salads >
      • Awesome Ambrosia Salad
      • Apple, Onion, Gorgonzola, and Pecan Salad
      • Chicken Cranberry Almond Salad
      • Cranberry Spinach Salad with Warm Honey Dijon Bacon Dressing
      • Mom's Fruit Cup
      • Orzo Salad
      • Potato Salad
    • Sauces >
      • Gribiche Sauce *
      • Quick Tartar Sauce *
      • Tasty Tartar Sauce *
      • The Best BBQ Sauce on 66
      • Tzatziki Sauce
    • Side Dishes >
      • Carmelized Sweet Potatoes
      • Egg Noodles with Peas and Mushrooms *
      • Garlic Mashed Potatoes
      • Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Peas with Kielbasa) *
      • Lemon-Parmesan Linguine *
      • Orzo with Artichokes and Pine Nuts *
      • Orzo with Brown Butter and Parsley *
      • Penne with Butter and Fontina *
      • Toasted Orzo with Peas, Onion and Bacon *
      • Vegetarian Cassoulet *
    • Snacks >
      • Amish Cashew Crunch
      • Caramel Corn & Craisin Snack Mix
      • Oatmeal Bars with Craisins and Chocolate Chips
      • Reindeer Snack
      • Sweet & Spicy Trail Mix
      • 3-Cheese Pizza Snack Mix
    • Soups >
      • Anderson's Split Pea Soup
      • Aunt Bee's Lentil Soup
      • Bennigan's Onion Soup
      • Gazpacho
      • Light Pasta e Fagioli
      • Midwest Gumbo
      • Pinto Bean, Tomato and Butternut Squash Soup *
      • Navy Bean Soup
      • Pot Sticker Soup
      • Potato Corn Chowder
      • Spiral Ham & Potato Soup
      • Split Pea Soup
      • Tony Roma's Baked Potato Soup
      • Tortilla Soup
      • Tuscan Bean Soup with Prosciutto and Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano *
      • Tuscan Bean and Swiss Chard Soup *
      • Virginia Peanut Soup
      • Cornbread Croutons
    • Stews >
      • Beef and Beer Stew
      • Betty Crocker's Classic Beef Stew
      • Burt Reynolds' Beef Stew
      • Easy Seafood Stew
      • Hearty Beef Stew
      • Irish Stew
      • Low Fat Crockpot Vegetarian Stew
      • Old Fashioned Beef Stew
      • Pork Stew
    • Vegetables >
      • Best Roasted Vegetables
      • Creamed Peas and Potatoes
      • Glazed Baby Carrots
      • Grilled Broccoli Parma Style
      • Roasted Mushrooms
      • Scalloped Corn
  • White House Recipes
    • Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower >
      • Corn Relish
      • Double Chocolate Pie
      • German Potato Salad
      • Gettysburg Farm Beef Stew
      • Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Pancakes
      • Quail Hash
      • President Eisenhower's French Salad Dressing
    • John and Jacqueline Kennedy >
      • Asparagus Parmesan: White House
      • Beef Bourguignon: White House
      • Beef Stroganoff
      • Boston Baked Beans
      • Boston Clam Chowder: White House
      • Chicken in White Wine
      • Chicken Kiev: White House
      • Veal Chasseur
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Baked Seafood Casserole
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Hot Cheese Corn Bread
      • Jacqueline Kennedy's International Coffee Cake
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Lemon Ice
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Lobster Cardinale
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Mushrooms with Herbs
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Potatoes Suzette
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Salad Mimosa
      • Mrs. John F. Kennedy's Souffle Froid Au Chocolat
    • Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson >
      • Corn Chowder
      • Creole Crab Gumbo
      • Pedernales River Chili
      • Southern Fried Chicken
      • Mrs. Lyndon Johnson's Popovers
      • Mrs. Lyndon Johnson's Spoon Bread
      • Mrs. Lyndon Johnson's Spinach Souffle
      • Mrs. Lyndon Johnson's Turkey Dressing
    • Richard and Pat Nixon >
      • Apricot Coconut Balls
      • Manhattan Clam Chowder
      • Stuffed Celery
      • Pat Nixon's Meatloaf
      • Pat Nixon's White House Punch
    • Gerald and Betty Ford >
      • Breasts of Chicken with Ham
      • Chocolate Walnut Fudge
      • Gazapacho
      • Lobster Thermidor: White House
      • Indian Pudding
      • Ruby Red Grapefruit Chicken
      • Rum Cake: White House
    • Jimmy and Roslyn Carter >
      • Chili Barbeque Sauce
      • Herbed Green Salad
      • Hush Puppies
      • Mexican Corn Casserole
      • Mexican Menudo Soup
      • Peanut Brittle
      • Peanut Stuffing
      • Polenta (Corn Aplenty)
      • Spoon Bread
    • Ronald and Nancy Reagan >
      • Apple Brown Betty
      • Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
      • Easy Party Chocolate Cake
      • Hamburger Soup
      • Nancy Reagan's Brownies
      • President Reagan's Favorite Homemade Chili
      • President Reagan's Favorite Macaroni and Cheese
      • Osso Bucco
      • Vienna Chocolate Bars
    • George and Barbara Bush >
      • Chinese Style Boiled Rice
      • Green Peppers with Crab Meat
      • Oyster Poulette
      • Roasted Fresh Ham
      • Roast Pheasant with Brandy and Cream
      • Rum Custard Cream
      • Salmon White House
      • Szechuan Noodles
      • White House Muffins
    • Bill and Hillary Clinton >
      • Beef Bourguignon A La White House
      • Cheese and Chili Burgers
      • Chicken Kiev Imperial A La White House
      • Chicken Roll Sandwich
      • Chocolate Rolls
      • Corned Beef Hash
      • Deviled Crab A La White House
      • Hot Barbeque Sauce
      • Jambalaya
      • Oysters Florentine
      • Risotto with Pork
      • Shrimp Fried Rice
      • Shrimp A La White House
    • George and Laura Bush >
      • Baked Potato Soup
      • Cowboy Cookies
      • Meat Pie A La White House
      • Pressed Duck: White House
      • Rum Pudding
    • Barack and Michelle Obama >
      • Beef Rolls
      • Fish Fillets in Cream Sauce
      • Guacamole
      • Roast Lamb with Artichokes
      • Roast Pork with Dumplings and Sour Cabbage
      • Spinach Soup
      • The President's Famous Chili Recipe
      • Yellow Pea Soup, Smoked Ham
  • Easter
    • Ham with Honey Mustard Glaze
    • Carmeled Sweet Potatoes
    • Green Beans with Bacon & Onions
    • Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
  • St Patrick's Day
  • Thanksgiving
    • Cranberry Sauce >
      • Raw Cranberry Sauce
    • Entrees >
      • Turkey
      • Spiral Sliced Ham with Honey Mustard Glaze
    • Desserts >
      • Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
      • Chocolate Cobbler
      • Pumpkin Pie
    • Baked Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, or Stuffing >
      • Mrs. Cubbison's Seasoned Stuffing
      • Baked Potatoes
      • Carmeled Sweet Potatoes
    • Vegetables >
      • Baby Peas with Butter
      • Green Beans with Applewood Smoked Bacon & Onions
  • Valentine's Day
    • Olive Garden Salad
    • Flavorful Lasagna
    • Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
  • Casual Parties
    • Appetizers >
      • Boneless Buffalo Wings with Spicy Blue Cheese Dip
      • French Onion Dip
      • Guacamole
      • Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip
      • Jo-Jo's Party Mix
      • Mini Beef and Provolone Crescents
      • Old Bay Hot Wings
      • Potato Skins
      • Pretzels with Sweet Spicy Mustard
    • Fun Fare >
      • BBQ Pork Sandwiches
      • Deep Dish Pizza
      • Chili-Cheese Dog Crescent Casserole
      • Hattie's Southern Fried Chicken
      • Kick-Butt Chili
      • Texas Brisket
    • Sweet Treats >
      • Fudge Crinkle Cookies
      • Guinness Sundaes
      • Ice Cream Sundae Sandwiches
      • S'mores Pizza
      • So-Easy Lemon Bars
      • Outrageous Brownies
      • Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Party Ideas
    • Appetizers >
      • Apricot and Chicken Bruschetta
      • Bacon Wrapped Bread Sticks
      • Beef Pops with Pineapple and Parsley Sauce
      • Crab and Cream Cheese Dip
      • Crab Appetizer Napoleans
      • Crab Stuffed Mushrooms En Croute
      • Crostini Alla Romana
      • Gorgonzola Spinach Artichoke Dip
      • Smoked Salmon Dip
      • Spinach Artichoke Dip
      • Zesty Cheese Straws
    • Drinks >
      • Champagne Punch
      • Chocolate Velvet
      • Frozen Peach Champagne
      • French 75
      • Grand Champagne Cocktail
      • Mimosa's
      • Kentucky 95
    • Non-Alcoholic Drinks >
      • Holiday Celebration Punch
      • Virgin Pomegranate Cranberry Bellinis
  • Special Parties
    • "Anytime" Open House >
      • Crispy Olives Stuffed with Sausage
      • Emeril's Champagne Punch
      • Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Focaccia Toasts >
        • Untitled
      • Prosciutto-Wrapped Crudite
      • Spitfire Shrimp
      • Winter Fruit Compote With Selection of Cheese
    • Buffet Dinner Party >
      • Caesar Salad
      • Braised Hoison Beer Short Ribs
      • Creamy Mashed Yukons
      • Sesame Snow Peas
      • Garlic Bread
      • Chocolate Tiramisu
    • Just Desserts Buffet >
      • Chocolate-Pistachio Canneloni
      • Goat Cheese Cheesecake
      • Horchata Rice Pudding
      • Mini Espresso Cakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
      • Old Fashioned Gingerbread
      • Raspberry and Sherry Trifle
    • Death by Chocolate Party >
      • Chocolate Cobbler >
        • Chocolate Loaf Cake
      • Chocolate Fondue with Fruit
      • Decadent Chocolate Cake
      • Chocolate Drinks
  • Comments Form
Picture
2012



"It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game . . ."

This was my 3rd year entering the Jefferson County Fair.  I don't claim to have all the answers to  baking greatness, however, I did think I knew more than I did!  I thought my chosen recipes this year were "great!" I chose "the best of the best" I thought. Had spent months putting my entree list together.  I entered:

1)    Banana Sour Cream Bread
2)    Golden Vanilla Pound Cake
3)    Lighter Than Air Angel Food Cake
4)    Awesome Apple Pie
5)    Blackberry Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping
6)    Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Bundt Cake
7)    Death by Chocolate Muffins

Where did I get all these recipes??? Well, I find alot of them on-line. The Banana Sour Cream Bread was given to me by a friend who said "People love this bread, they always want second and I've won several times with this bread."  The Lighter Than Air Angel Food Cake is one of Giada DeLaurentiis' recipes. I watched her make it on one of her shows and decided right then and there that it HAD to be one of my entries for the county fair.  In choosing my recipes for the county fair, I have a general idea of what I want to enter then I choose recipes according to that. 

Last year I entered Raspberry Streusel Muffins and was told two things on the back of the entry card: 1) What flavor? and 2) Muffins must be the same size.  Ok,  I can work on that. So, I decided to enter chocolate muffins (so there would be no question that it "was chocolate!") and I decided there had to be a way to make the muffins all the same size. I watched the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network make muffins one day and she used a large ice cream scoop to scoop the batter into the muffin pan.  Hmm, I thought - that's a great idea!  I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought a large ice cream scoop.  It was a disaster for me.  It put far more batter into the muffin cups than I wanted it to and it was just horribly messy for me.  Close to fair time this year, I experiemented with 1/4 cup plastic pourable measuring cup.  Sure enough - that did the trick!  There wasn't one mention about the muffins not all being the same size! 

About two weeks before the fair, my husband and I went out to dinner and ran into one of the fair judges. Randi asked me if I'd started baking yet. I said no, not yet - I will be starting Tuesday of next week.  I had decided that if I wanted to enter 7 items I'd better do alot of the baking ahead.  I also had to research how to properly store the items once baked.  I read on-line that the best way to keep baked items was to wrap them in wax paper. Cool!  Next time I went to the store I bought a large roll of waxed paper. On Tuesday, I first baked the Death by Chocolate muffins. They turned out great!  I let them cool then wrapped them up in waxed paper, followed by Press 'n Seal, followed by aluminum foil.  NO AIR was going to penetrate these muffins!  I continued baking during the week and wrapped everything up in the same manner as the chocolate muffins.  Tuesday was the only day I had off; the rest of the week I was working, then coming home and baking.  By Saturday morning I had only one thing left to bake - my Awesome Apple Pie.  I saved the "best for last" as I wanted the judges to taste the apple-ey goodness of the pie.

By the time the pie was done, I had half an hour to go before we needed to leave for the fair.  I had baked the pie in a disposable aluminum pie pan - you know, the flimsy kind.  The baked goods are auctioned off that evening and the proceeds go to the Fair Board for upkeep of the fairgrounds.  It is encouraged that you bake your entries in disposable pans as the pan is auctioned off with the baked goods.  They don't want you baking your entry item in an family heirloom pan.  I had put the apple pie on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and when the pie was done, I took it out of the oven, and because we were short on time, I went to move the pie from the baking sheet to a cooling rack.  The flimsy aluminum pan "bent" almost in half and the crumb topping "cracked" like it'd been in an earthquake.  THIS is the entry I'd wanted to win Best in Show??? Not after it cracked.  I was so disappointed and devasted - for a moment I thought I should just leave it at home and not even enter it.  But, I'd worked hard on it and despite the cracked top, it was going to the fair. 

Boulder is about a 20 minute drive south from where we live. The apple pie cooled on the way.

We got there about 20 minutes before the entry period was over; I learned later on that I was the only one who entered 7 items.  And, I came home with 7 ribbons. You see, no matter what you enter, no matter how good or bad the entry is, you go home with a ribbon.  I KNEW going in that I was going to come home with 7 ribbons.  Just "which ones" was the question.

Here's how it played out:

1)  Banana Sour Cream Bread - got a Champion ribbon.
2)  Golden Vanilla Pound Cake - received a First Premium ribbon. (that's a notch above a First  
      Place ribbon).
3)  Lighter Than Air Angel Food Cake - won a First Place ribbon. Comment on the back of the 
     entry card was "light and fluffy despite size." It did seem smaller than normal angel food cakes
     when I took it out of the pan.
4)  Awesome Apple Pie - received a Second Place ribbon.  The comments were: 1) Good flavor,
     and 2) Crumbled crust.
5)  Blackberry Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping - won a Second Place ribbon.  The comments 
      were: 1) good flavor, 2) too much topping for the amount of cake.
6)  Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Bundt Cake - won a Second Place ribbon. The comment
      was "not done all the way through."  Hmmm - interesting. I had taken a large wooden scewer 
      and had tested the doneness and the scewer came out clean.  I'll have to double check that
      next time.
7)  Death by Chocolate Muffins - received a Second Place ribbon.  Comments were: 1) Good 
     flavor and 2) too moist for a muffin. TOO MOIST????  You've got to be kidding!!!  When we
     got home, I went straight to the leftover muffins.  They too had been wrapped in wax paper,
     Press 'n Seal, and aluminum foil.  I opened the package and took one out.  I started to inspect 
     it.  The top was sticky, the inside had a moistness that isn't normally there. By using wax paper,
     the Press 'n Seal AND the aluminum foil, the muffin had remained moist - TOO MOIST.  They 
     weren't too moist for us to devour them over the next few days!! 

I LOVE baking and entering the county fair.  It's the one time of year that I can "shine" and show what I know about baking. It's also a time to "learn" about what makes a really great recipe GREAT. 











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