Friday, August 31, 2012

Ribbons 2012


Best of show in Whole wheat bread (second time I have gotten this), first on white, 2nd on Sourdough, 2nd on rolls
Tom got Best of show on his White chocolate peppermint fudge (we still have a pan in the house- think i gotta break into it tomorrow)

First on my table runner


First on Cinnamon rolls, new recipe for me, so I was really happy with them.
WHAT,   no  ribbon  on a biscuit???
for the rest check out the fair, will not post Shelby's so see can be surprised.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Ready for the fair

Cooking for the fair is done, dishes done (but not put away) Keepin in real sister!
16 cooked items ready to go from me, 3 for Tom and 2 from Shelby. Gonna need a U haul tomorrow to get it all to the fairgrounds!!!

p.s. can you tell i was good at blocks as a child?

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Cooking Day for the Mariposa County Fair 2012

 
 
The time has come once again for the Mariposa County fair, Labor Day weekend every year, have only missed a few in my life. I love to enter things in the fair, for me cooking and quilts has been what I usually enter. This year I did not get much sewing done, have been moving my sewing room to the loft - have electricity now. Thanks to Brandon and Tom!
This year I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew with my baking entries, 3 kinds or bread, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, toffee, nut brittle, jam, fruit leather, and a sunflower! Because I cannot get a day off work this week, I am having to make items and freeze them. Not my first choice, but hopefully everything will turn out OK.
Some baking tips I have learned over the years for fair entries:
buy a new can of baking powder (look for aluminum free)
open a new package of yeast (I use SAF instant yeast from Smart and Final)
DO NOT CLEAN YOUR OVEN - the judge can taste the oven cleaner fumes, (and I am lazy and don't clean it all that often anyway)
bring eggs and butter to room temp for most recipes
have plenty of supplies on hand, in case you have to remake something
Follow direction from the fair book EXACTLY
have entries on time to the fair
pick up foam trays early from the fairgrounds
 
 
bench scraper at the ready, eggs and butter at room temp


Bosch mixer getting a workout today! started at 5 am!


White bread, Bosch mixer recipe. Super easy.

Whole wheat bread at the bottom, white bread in the center, cinnamon rolls. (minus one , OK 1 1/2,  2) they were really good! Recipe for WW bread also Bosch recipe, Cinnamon Roll recipe is from Chef Brad (see BYU channel)



Further updates to follow as the cooking continues! Entries are due on Wednesday afternoon. When I got the form trays from the pantry this morning my old Best of SHOW ribbon fell on me - is that an omen???



 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Summer Harvest

Shelby has been home a week now, got to have her overnight on Friday, she is such a big girl now, going to be 8 in a few weeks. She loves picking veges from our little container garden, picked some of Papa's corn - and spent the rest of the day working on entries for the fair and making corn husk dolls. Look for her entries (and doll) in building B at the Mariposa County Fair coming soon!
Shelby and basil and tomatoes she picked
I have quite a few entries to get ready for also, mostly mine are baking, but I will be entering a sunflower and a candy corn table runner. 
Sunflowers

What's Important to you?

Love this song, check it out.