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Champion cooks: what it takes to be a blue ribbon winner
Ebony, July, 2005
"Life changing" is how Sue Rhoads of New York describes winning the national grand prize in the Hidden Valley[R] Family Friendly Food Contest. "My family has never really won anything, and we ended up being treated like celebrities, flown to the West Coast and presented with a $1,000 check." Rhoads' winning recipe, "Cheering Cheesecake," was inspired by her son's favorite foods, but inspiration can take many forms.
Patty Knighton of San Diego usually begins by looking through food magazines and her many cookbooks. Knighton, who has won 130 blue ribbons over the past 17 years, has three sons ages 10 to 20 who also compete. "We'll see a fun contest and start looking through recipes to get ideas, sometimes switching seasonings or using different main ingredients."
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If you're thinking about entering a "Best Recipe" contest, Knighton has the following advice. "I was once disqualified for entering two extra pieces of candy, so the first rule is always follow the rules. Arrange your dish at the fair instead of at home so it doesn't get ruined in the car. Finally, remember presentation is key--try to make your entry as colorful and eye-catching as possible."
Fair Days
The third annual Hidden Valley[R] Family Friendly Food Recipe Contest is coming to a fair near you! Check out www.HiddenValley.com for a complete list of participating fairs.
Allentown Fair
Allentown, PA
8/30/05-9/5/05
610-433-7541
www.allentownfairpa.org
Heart of Illinois Fair
Peoria, IL
7/8/05-7/16/05
309-691-6332
www.hoifair.com
Kansas State Fair
Hutchinson, KS
9/9/05-9/18/05
800-362-3247
www.kansasstatefair.com
Maryland State Fair
Timonium, MD
8/26/05-9/5/05
410-252-0200
www.marylandstatefair.com
New Mexico State Fair
Albuquerque, NM
9/9/05-9/25/05
505-265-1791
www.exponm.com
Ohio State Fair
Columbus, OH
8/3/05-8/14/05
614-644-4040
www.ohiostatefair.com
Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma City, OK
9115/05-9/25105
405-948-6700
www.oklahomastatefair.com
Oregon State Fair
Salem, OR
8/26/05-9/5/05
503-947-3247
www.oregonstatefair.org
Tennessee State Fair
Nashville, TN
9/9/05-9/18/05
615-862-8980
www.tennesseestatefair.org
Utah State Fair
Salt Lake City, UT
9/8/05--9/18/05
801-538-8440
www.utahstatefair.com
Wisconsin State Fair
Milwaukee, WI
8/4/05--8/14/05
414-266-7000
www.wistatefair.com
York Fair
York, PA
9/9/05-9/18/05
717-848-2596
www.yorkfair.org
COPYRIGHT 2005 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
