California - Northern

[PetRock]

Okay, my fair results this year. (I'm not trying to be "uppity", LOL, but some of you asked). I just love doing the Fair competitions. I've made great friends with many of the other exhibitors, we all sit together during judging, laugh, whisper, swap recipes, root each other on and hug goodbye until next year.

I'm good friends with the woman that runs the food program at the County jail. They train inmates to cook so they'll have a skill when they are released. They have their submissions brought in for them (obviously, LOL) and are quite excited to get ribbons in return. She said their rallying cry is "Beat Debbie" and they have a banner on the wall that says that, LOL She said when they are feeling lazy and don't want to bake, she tells them "Debbie is doing it and more things than you!" One year, the jail contingent all walked in wearing shirts that said "Beat Debbie". She had a shirt made for me that read "I'm Debbie". I have that shirt hanging in my closet and it's one of my dearest possessions.

Yeast breads
First places - Graham, Raisin, White, Sweet
Second places - Buttermilk, French, Wheat, Rye
Quick breads
First place - Zucchini
Biscuit/Rolls
First places - BP biscuits, Cinnamon Rolls, Bran muffins, Yeast rolls, Muffins
Third place - Other (I made homemade Poptarts for the heck of it)
Cake
First places - Bundt, Angelfood, cupcakes
Second place - Pound cake
Third place - Gingerbread, banana cake
Cookies
First places - Brownies (was considered for BIS), Drop, Oatmeal, Sugar
Second places - Peanut butter, Rolled, Snickerdoodle
Third place - Bar cookies
Pies
First places - Cherry, Apricot, Lemon meringue (this won BIS for the last four years straight, but I changed my crust recipe this year for the heck of it and got dinged), banana cream
Second place - Chocolate cream
Third place - Blackberry
Confections
First place - Caramel (was considered for BIS)
Second places - Hard candy & fudge
Fiery foods
First place bread (which went on to take Best in Show)
Third place cookies

Out of my 49 entries, I only had nine that fell out of the ribbons. I also won the Overall Sweepstakes. I did well, I've done better in the past. This is my first serious baking in my new ovens, it takes awhile to get used to them.

Oh and in Preserved Foods, I only had ten entries since I was without a kitchen during the height of canning season. But I got 4 firsts, 3 seconds, 1 third and 2 no place. I won BIS dried foods.

I won't know on my Photography until I pick it back up on Monday, but I'm not expecting anything. It was just a snapshot and the competition is STIFF, like 100+ in each class.

There you go, my fair for the year, now I can take a break and next week start canning/testing recipes for next year

Congratulations!!!! I'm exhausted just thinking about all the work you put in!

 

[ChickNmamma]

For some reason I am both exhausted and hungry... wow!

I guess you will be going back to your old crust recipe next year? Lemon Meringue - one of my very favs!
And for some reason - that "pop tarts for the heck of it" just struck me as very funny

I guess you didn't have anything better to do and got bored...

Amazing job. I think the "Beat Debbie" is probably one of the highest complements you can get - and from a bunch of prisoners too! Did you wear your "I'm Debbie" shirt this year?

 

[gryeyes]

~<I><*perk*></I>~ Homemade Pop Tarts?

 

[Flowers of Abba]

Okay, my fair results this year.  (I'm not trying to be "uppity", LOL, but some of you asked).  I just love doing the Fair competitions.  I've made great friends with many of the other exhibitors, we all sit together during judging, laugh, whisper, swap recipes, root each other on and hug goodbye until next year.

I'm good friends with the woman that runs the food program at the County jail.  They train inmates to cook so they'll have a skill when they are released.  They have their submissions brought in for them (obviously, LOL) and are quite excited to get ribbons in return.  She said their rallying cry is "Beat Debbie" and they have a banner on the wall that says that, LOL  She said when they are feeling lazy and don't want to bake, she tells them "Debbie is doing it and more things than you!"  One year, the jail contingent all walked in wearing shirts that said "Beat Debbie".  She had a shirt made for me that read "I'm Debbie".  I have that shirt hanging in my closet and it's one of my dearest possessions.

Yeast breads
First places - Graham, Raisin, White, Sweet
Second places - Buttermilk, French, Wheat, Rye
Quick breads
First place - Zucchini
Biscuit/Rolls
First places - BP biscuits, Cinnamon Rolls, Bran muffins, Yeast rolls, Muffins
Third place - Other (I made homemade Poptarts for the heck of it)
Cake
First places - Bundt, Angelfood, cupcakes
Second place - Pound cake
Third place - Gingerbread, banana cake
Cookies
First places - Brownies (was considered for BIS), Drop, Oatmeal, Sugar
Second places - Peanut butter, Rolled, Snickerdoodle
Third place - Bar cookies
Pies
First places - Cherry, Apricot, Lemon meringue (this won BIS for the last four years straight, but I changed my crust recipe this year for the heck of it and got dinged), banana cream
Second place - Chocolate cream
Third place - Blackberry
Confections
First place - Caramel (was considered for BIS)
Second places - Hard candy & fudge
Fiery foods
First place bread (which went on to take Best in Show)
Third place cookies

Out of my 49 entries, I only had nine that fell out of the ribbons.  I also won the Overall Sweepstakes.  I did well, I've done better in the past.  This is my first serious baking in my new ovens, it takes awhile to get used to them.

Oh and in Preserved Foods, I only had ten entries since I was without a kitchen during the height of canning season.  But I got 4 firsts, 3 seconds, 1 third and 2 no place.  I won BIS dried foods.

I won't know on my Photography until I pick it back up on Monday, but I'm not expecting anything.  It was just a snapshot and the competition is STIFF, like 100+ in each class.

There you go, my fair for the year, now I can take a break and next week start canning/testing recipes for next year

How on earth did you transport all of the entries? I can't even imagine loading and unloading !

In chicken stuff... How are your Campine (golden) looking? And did any od hatch? I managed two trader joe chickes yesterday. The humidity and temp went really well...
My husband just signed for another few frames so I won't see him until September lol. I've hired my son to come build the extra coops. ( pulled his ear) he has a baby on the way so he was tempted by the extra money! Ill post pictures of me tourturing him out back shortly...

 

[Ali707]

I'm sorry about this. Is it something you could change their diet with? I'd call Cackle and ask if they've had any other issues. How many other birds do you have from the same source?
I use the soil of course, from our compost pile but my secret is I use a 10

10

10 fertilizer. I overuse it by putting it on every week (or more)! You can watch the plants grow and they still have fruit on them.

On the Polish....they can be hard to sex but from just these pictures, I'd guess pullet on the top and cockerel on the bottom. The male will have more pointy and spikey although the bottom ones tail feathers are starting to box up like a girls. Is this bird older then the other one?

Has someone been pecking the top ones crest? Looks like she's missing some feathers in the middle of her crest.

I don't think anyone pulled the crest feathers but he/she did have a male pattern bald spot there for a long time. The black ones tail feathers haven't had the middle feathers grow in at all, not like the other one.

Thanks. For BP biscuits, I just use the recipe from the old Betty Crocker cookbook.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/baking-powder-biscuits/e70c261e-066e-434d-8176-6721805a8031?p=1
The secret is to mix in half your shortening until very fine, then mix in the other half until you have pea size clumps of shortening. Also, add in 1 T of sugar to your dry ingredients. This is an absolute must for competition. They are going to be tasting them cold and stale the next day. The hint of sweetness helps. But it also improves them for at home, fresh and hot. I think I've won the biscuit class every year for at least the last five (probably jinxed myself now for next year, LOL).

This is the recipe I use for dinner rolls.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Unbelievable-Rolls/Detail.aspx

Don't forget, you can take any bread dough recipe you like and make rolls from it. Mostly look for one that includes milk, egg & sugar to get a light fluffy roll. And use AP flour, not bread flour for a lighter texture.


You just have to read your rule book carefully. At my fair, they require six cookies, half a cake, half a loaf of bread, third of a loaf of quick breads, ten pieces of candy, a whole pie (but it only has to be 6"). The rules will tell you exactly what you need. People will get their entry DQ'd if they don't follow the rules of submission. The finer points of what to do to win, that comes from experience, but if you truly would like to try, you're welcome to PM me for advice. I'm sure everyone doesn't want a class here on fair competitions, LOL

I do notice the change in crest shape very early. I'd post an example, but I haven't been able to post photos lately. I thought it was just me, but someone on another of my threads is having the same problem.

If the toe problem came on this late, then I would try the vitamins. I don't think taping would help at this point. Taping is really for when the bones/joints are still soft at hatch. Good luck though.

Molly, my RIR all came from Dick Horstman originally and I've hatched quite a few chicks from them. Let me know if you'd like some eggs from them.

LOLyeah! Although in a perfect world I would LOVE to do the baking and canning and things you are doing, it ain't gonna happen for a while. I have about 2 hours each evening to get chores, dinner, kid washed and to bed before I get any me time.

Okay, my fair results this year. (I'm not trying to be "uppity", LOL, but some of you asked). I just love doing the Fair competitions. I've made great friends with many of the other exhibitors, we all sit together during judging, laugh, whisper, swap recipes, root each other on and hug goodbye until next year.

I'm good friends with the woman that runs the food program at the County jail. They train inmates to cook so they'll have a skill when they are released. They have their submissions brought in for them (obviously, LOL) and are quite excited to get ribbons in return. She said their rallying cry is "Beat Debbie" and they have a banner on the wall that says that, LOL She said when they are feeling lazy and don't want to bake, she tells them "Debbie is doing it and more things than you!" One year, the jail contingent all walked in wearing shirts that said "Beat Debbie". She had a shirt made for me that read "I'm Debbie". I have that shirt hanging in my closet and it's one of my dearest possessions.

Yeast breads
First places - Graham, Raisin, White, Sweet
Second places - Buttermilk, French, Wheat, Rye
Quick breads
First place - Zucchini
Biscuit/Rolls
First places - BP biscuits, Cinnamon Rolls, Bran muffins, Yeast rolls, Muffins
Third place - Other (I made homemade Poptarts for the heck of it)
Cake
First places - Bundt, Angelfood, cupcakes
Second place - Pound cake
Third place - Gingerbread, banana cake
Cookies
First places - Brownies (was considered for BIS), Drop, Oatmeal, Sugar
Second places - Peanut butter, Rolled, Snickerdoodle
Third place - Bar cookies
Pies
First places - Cherry, Apricot, Lemon meringue (this won BIS for the last four years straight, but I changed my crust recipe this year for the heck of it and got dinged), banana cream
Second place - Chocolate cream
Third place - Blackberry
Confections
First place - Caramel (was considered for BIS)
Second places - Hard candy & fudge
Fiery foods
First place bread (which went on to take Best in Show)
Third place cookies

Out of my 49 entries, I only had nine that fell out of the ribbons. I also won the Overall Sweepstakes. I did well, I've done better in the past. This is my first serious baking in my new ovens, it takes awhile to get used to them.

Oh and in Preserved Foods, I only had ten entries since I was without a kitchen during the height of canning season. But I got 4 firsts, 3 seconds, 1 third and 2 no place. I won BIS dried foods.

I won't know on my Photography until I pick it back up on Monday, but I'm not expecting anything. It was just a snapshot and the competition is STIFF, like 100+ in each class.

There you go, my fair for the year, now I can take a break and next week start canning/testing recipes for next year

I know who's house I am going to drop in at around Christmas time!!!

~<*perk*>~ Homemade Pop Tarts?

yeah this one intrigued me too......?

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Congratulations Deb!

Warms my heart, picturing all of you rooting for each other and hoping to win at the same time. What special times. Thanks for sharing not only your awards but the story of it all. You worked so hard!

 

[Ali707]

Confirmation or opinions please........

Sorry some of the pictures seem hazy. I think the lens was a little dirty....

I think this is my one Basque that hatched and it seems to be a boy.....? Is that an accurate assumption?


Blue Orpington I think. This comb is redder and wider than one of the others, but I am not at all familiar with Orpingtons.


I love the coloring on this bird. Any guesses on gender? I posted the top of this one yesterday and tried to get a better front picture today. These guys are all almost 7 weeks old.

 

[ronott1]

I'm sorry about this. Is it something you could change their diet with? I'd call Cackle and ask if they've had any other issues. How many other birds do you have from the same source?

Thank You Pam!

I changed their diet after the first on died at 9 months. They do not get carbs except for Oatmeal every couple of weeks. They get greens every day and the worst thing they get is BOSS.

I have three of the BAs left. They are the only ones to get Fatty Liver Disease.

 

[ronott1]

Confirmation or opinions please........

Sorry some of the pictures seem hazy. I think the lens was a little dirty....

I think this is my one Basque that hatched and it seems to be a boy.....? Is that an accurate assumption?


Blue Orpington I think. This comb is redder and wider than one of the others, but I am not at all familiar with Orpingtons.


I love the coloring on this bird. Any guesses on gender? I posted the top of this one yesterday and tried to get a better front picture today. These guys are all almost 7 weeks old.

The Basque looks like a boy as well as the blue Orpington. IDK about the Polish but the legs are big for 7 weeks so I am leaning towards boy too.

 

[debs_flock]

For some reason I am both exhausted and hungry... wow!

I guess you will be going back to your old crust recipe next year? Lemon Meringue - one of my very favs!
And for some reason - that "pop tarts for the heck of it" just struck me as very funny

I guess you didn't have anything better to do and got bored...

Amazing job. I think the "Beat Debbie" is probably one of the highest complements you can get - and from a bunch of prisoners too! Did you wear your "I'm Debbie" shirt this year?

I like to mix things up in the "Other" categories, so I tried the Poptarts. They were better (and easier) than I expected.

I actually like the new crust recipe, it was the easiest rolling recipe I've ever made. I think I just need to make it a few times and add some of my own tweaks.

I've never worn the shirt since the year they brought it (and made me go to the bathroom to put it on), but I've brought it along before and always mention it to them. It somehow seemed pompous to put it on, even though I know it would make them laugh.