Fare from the fair

By KATHRYN REM
FOOD EDITOR

Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Pat Nelson has been entering culinary contests at the Illinois State Fair for years, and she’s won a lot of prizes. Not long ago, she earned an unexpected premium when a free copy of a cookbook featuring one of her winning state-fair recipes arrived at her home in the Fulton County town of Vermont.

“It was quite a surprise. I’m so proud to be featured in the book,” said the retired fraternity-house cook about her inclusion in “Blue Ribbon Recipes: 693 Award-Winners from America’s State and County Fairs” (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2007, $19.95), edited by Barbara Greenman.

Special requests: Check out these best food fest recipes

Karen's Note: Here is a book about great recipes at some of the festivals in the USA - goes to show there is more to life then funnel cakes.

Mary Bergin

— 11/02/2007 10:55 am

Sorry to rub it in, but you missed the Bayfield Apple Festival, which is always the first weekend in October.

Why bring up old news? The event is one of the few from Wisconsin that makes the cut in "The Best Recipes from America's Food Festivals" (Alpha, $16.95), a new book by James Fraioli, a California food journalist and former filmmaker whose credits include "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls." Hmmm.

The author describes 45 events in the U.S. that showcase food, then shares relevant recipes. He compares the nation's most famous food fests to "an outing at Disney World or a big ballgame." The book's strength is its mix of recipes, which hint at regional tastes and cooking methods.

California Raisins Announce Home Cooking Recipe Contest Winner

2007 home cooking recipe contest results in scrumptious home cooked recipes from raisin lovers.

Fresno, Calif. (PRWEB) October 8, 2007 -- Drum roll, please… today, the California Raisin Marketing Board (CRMB) announced the winners of the 2007 California Raisin Wise Choices Recipe Contest.


Over 1,300 recipes were submitted by home cooks and bakers from across the country, with hopes their California Raisin creation would win the $10,000 Grand Prize or one of eleven other prizes, along with the chance to be featured in the 2008 California Raisin Recipe Calendar.

“It was not an easy task sifting through the hundreds of spectacular California Raisin recipes we received,” said Karla Stockli, Vice President of Marketing for CRMB. “Each of the many entries demonstrated the versatility of California Raisins as a flavorful ingredient.”

A panel of esteemed judges, including California Raisin farmers and their families, evaluated the home cooking recipe entries based on contest criteria, including taste, recipe originality, and visual appearance. In addition, the most healthful and flavorful home cooking recipe was honored with the Valerie Waters Wise Choice Award; named on behalf of Valerie Waters - celebrity fitness trainer and California Raisins spokesperson.

And the Winners of the Recipe Contest Are…

Grand Prize and the Valerie Waters Wise Choice Award: $10,000 cash:
Caramelized Onion Soup with Golden Raisin Pesto
Submitted by: Jeanette Corvino of Pearl River, NY

First Prize:
Sunshine Cheeseburgers
Submitted by: Shelley Hunter of Glastonbury, CT

Second Prize:
Sweet and Smokey Canapés
Submitted by: Jennifer Wellbrock of Cincinnati, OH

California Raisin Home Cooking Recipe Contest Winners

Honorable Mentions:
California Raisin and Brie Dessert Quesadillas
Submitted by: Jasmine Buliga of Braintree, MA

Crunchy Raisin Rice
Submitted by: Margaret Staszak of Kent, WA

Fragrant Roast Pork with Five Spice Raisin Relish
Submitted by: Lisa Keys of Middlebury, CT

Jane’s Favorite Tri-Colored Salad
Submitted by: Jane Moughon of Fort Worth, TX

Mayan Soft Tacos
Submitted by: Marion Stevens of Oceanside, CA

Orange Blossom Raisin Tarts
Submitted by: Christine Dohlmar of Valrico, FL

Orange-Scented Golden Raisin Tapenade
Submitted by: Angela Buchanan of Longmont, CO

Raisin-Apple Stuffed Squash
Submitted by: Richard Rizzio of Interlochen, MI

Tunisian-Spiced California Raisin Hummus
Submitted by: Niki Norman of Milton, TN

Raisin lovers can visit www.LoveYourRaisins.com to view all of the winning recipes and prizes of the recipe contest, along with additional mouth-watering recipes from the California Raisins’ extensive cooking recipe library. And, in November, plan to visit www.LoveYourRaisins.com to sign up for a free 2008 Recipe Calendar featuring some of these delicious recipes.

About the California Raisin Marketing Board
The California Raisin Marketing Board was created by a State Marketing Order in 1998 and is 100 percent grower funded. Its mission is to support and promote the increased use of California-grown raisins and sponsor crop production, nutrition and market research. To learn more about the California Raisin Marketing Board, visit its Web site at www.LoveYourRaisins.com.

Media Contact:
Jenna Kirkwood
Fleishman-Hillard
(916) 492-5305

Countyfairgrounds, USA - adds e-book sales

If You Love County Fairs these E-Books will be of Interest to YOU!

Countyfairgrounds, USA recently added e-book sales. Featured currently are e-books on cooking. If you go to county fairs and exhibit these e-books will be of interest to you. There are also e-books for children. More e-books will come. Currently, featured is the following:

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