The OC Fair and Competition Results

The results are in and mama took home some color! I also Instagramed the fair because I’m lovin’ being so portable.

1st Place – Single Crust with a fruit filling.  I made the best Dutch Apple Pie, at least my family thinks so and apparently the judges did too.  I’ll post the recipe this summer so you can make it too.

I also made this funky little video.  My tasty treat will be twirling for a month’s stay in it’s little refrigerated world.  This really amuses me no end.

2nd Place – Directional blog post, How-to.  Do you remember the meringue hearts post from February?  I had a brief Sally Field’s moment of, “They liked me” but they liked my friend Trevor better.  He won first.  You can find him gloating over on his blog Sis Boom Blog. I have to say he did very well as he is an excellent writer and all around blogger.  Tell him I sent ya.

orange county fair awards

3rd Place – Edible Sugar Arts.  Cookies for a Autumn Wedding. 1st place were lovely gum paste flowers and second place were fair-themed cookies.  Worthy competitors.

Zilch – My grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies (ccc) which were grossly misunderstood as the crackle top was judged as ‘interesting but not traditional’.

I think cookies that were made 70 years ago didn’t look like the slice and bake of today’s cookies.  There’re still my family’s favorite and I’ve been told there is not any other ccc’s that even come close which proves my theory, whatever ccc you grew up with is your favorite.  No one can be truly impartial when it comes to childhood memories.

Some other Instagrams from the fair:

They like big things at the fair.

And one day old piglets.

One night we went to the B52’s concert.  The last concert we went to was John Williams’s at the Hollywood Bowl so we kind of forgot the protocol of an opening band.  We couldn’t figure out why the B52’s were so awful and why they didn’t play Rock Lobster and Love Shack.  To add to our un-coolness, we then couldn’t understand why no one was leaving when the lights came up.  I actually asked someone and found out the B52’s were coming on next.  We are so not rock n’ rollers, I guess, but don’t tell anyone.

Here’s a little clip of “Roam”.  One of my favs.

Now I’m under the weather, as they say, but I’ll be back to blogging soon!  Hope you’re all enjoying the summer.

I Know How She Feels

I entered two culinary blog posts in the Orange County Fair this year.  Last year I won first place and Best of Show.  Couldn’t score any higher. Competition was fierce this year, I was told. I received second place for a culinary tutorial post with recipe and honorable mention for a reminiscent post with a recipe.  The honorable mention post also included a tutorial because that’s what I do and I don’t edit my routine to please the judges.  Points… [Read More]

Another County Fair. Another Sweet, Chocolately Win!

Booyah! (I can’t believe I just said that). Chocolate layer cake lightening can strike twice and it did this past weekend as my son’s entry at the Los Angeles County Fair won First Place in chocolate layer cakes and Best of Division for all layer cakes! Coming off our victory from the OC Fair in July, we thought, just for fun, to go for the big daddy of fairs and around these parts it’s the LA County Fair. The fair… [Read More]

‘Best of Show’ and Other Pretty Ribbons

I hope you’ll allow me my ‘15 seconds, minutes or written lines of fame’ ‘cuz this is going to be one braggy blog post. It’s my story of entering the 2011 Orange County Fair Culinary Arts Division this summer. It all started with my husband who lovingly encouraged me to enter cookies I made for my niece’s wedding this past May. Those who love you are always your biggest fans. Since I had a few extra left over I thought,… [Read More]

“And We Have A Winner!”

I’ve been a little busy picking up some blue ribbons … … and so has my college boy2. A chip off the ol’ cookie, if you will, and I couldn’t be more proud! I’ll tell you all about it soon! Have a blue ribbon – divisional winning – Best of Show, kind of day! We are! 🙂