Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#91925 Jul 17th, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
Tomorrow I am entering some things in the fair. I even took the day off of work. But I am depressed about it all since last year some things were so much better! badday As you can see from my signature I had big onions last year and they are half the size this year. I am even having dreams about it it is bothering me so much. Anyway a few things stand a chance and I am also entering flowers and jam and cookies. Tomorrow I will dig my first taters and see what is under there. I wish I could use xray vision! :wink:
Does anyone else enter the fair? With what? and what pointers do you have?

#92042 Jul 17th, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
5k Posts
Offline
5k Posts
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
Tamara, I was thinking about entering the state fair. I made some nectarine jam, that I just love, and was wondering how you know if something is worth putting in the fair? There is no foam and the fruit (for the first time ever) isn't floating on the top of the jam. Are you usually there for the judging? Is this your state fair or a county/city thing? On the positive side, if you had a bad year, a lot of others probably did too. So maybe you have the best of the bad-year produce! Good luck! thumbup


Sarah - Zone 5b/6
LandOfOz #92143 Jul 17th, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Northern Star
30k Posts
Online Crazy
Northern Star
30k Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Good luck with the fair, wish we had something like that around here.

P.S. Sarah, fruit floats from not enough stirring while cooking. If you notice you have alot of gel and less fruit, stir it for a few minutes after cooking before pouring it in your jars. that works also. Foam is decreased also if you add a dab of butter in your jams while cooking.


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
Sunflowers #92158 Jul 17th, 2007 at 05:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
I do know what they look for in jam after not doing so well last year. They want it thick and gel-y with a clean rim and the proper amount of head space. They want good color and texture on the fruit with a good glow to the jam.
Thanks for the good wishes! I will probably find out Thurs or Sunday or Monday.

Tamara from Minnesota #92733 Jul 18th, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
I spent ALL DAY getting my stuff ready. What a futile exercise, but I had fun. I entered 17 things and it was hot and humid today and so it was a lot of work and a lot of standing and waiting for all of them to be entered. I think I have a fair chance.(oh no pun intended) I entered flowers too and that was more of a challenge. Hopefully I can learn some things.

Tamara from Minnesota #92868 Jul 19th, 2007 at 03:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Northern Star
30k Posts
Online Crazy
Northern Star
30k Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Good luck, waiting to hear some news.


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
Sunflowers #95269 Jul 22nd, 2007 at 07:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 378
Ok I finally got to see how I did. They wouldn't let me pop in Thursday and then Friday an old man let me through but the building wasn't open for 20 more minutes. So tonight I had to pick up the entries and I did pretty well. I got 11 first place, including 3 reserve champions, 4 second place and 1 third place and my haricot verts got nothing (I don't think they knew what they were). So I got a check for $36 but took a whole day off work to prepare. rolz It was fun and I am proud of my ribbons. They liked my garden collection basket, my sweet pea bouquet and my pouring container with sweet peas and bellflowers best. The jam still had problems this year. It was thick and pretty but they said 5 minute process time was not enough. I have been using that strawberry recipe for 4 years and the new raspberry recipe is from a book reprinted in Gourmet magazine. But whatever; I can say 10 minutes next year. Well I am pretty proud of my ribbons. My husband should be excited for me. shots

Tamara from Minnesota #95312 Jul 22nd, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,953
1k Posts
Offline
1k Posts
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,953
Wow, Tamara ! I'd freak out to get a blue ribbon for anything !
I think you did great !

DeborahL #95415 Jul 23rd, 2007 at 04:04 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Northern Star
30k Posts
Online Crazy
Northern Star
30k Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Great news.


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
Sunflowers #95558 Jul 23rd, 2007 at 06:18 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 16,245
TweetyBird
10k Posts
Offline
TweetyBird
10k Posts
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 16,245
"haricot verts "
Your whats???


[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
Wrennie #95856 Jul 23rd, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
Northern Star
30k Posts
Online Crazy
Northern Star
30k Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,453
Likes: 61
That is 'green beans' in french Wrennie. lol


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
Sunflowers #95863 Jul 23rd, 2007 at 03:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,953
1k Posts
Offline
1k Posts
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,953
Skinny little green beans that you pick before they get too big.

DeborahL #95870 Jul 23rd, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
5k Posts
Offline
5k Posts
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
Wow, that is great, Tamara! I bet your name will strike fear in many hearts when you enter next year!! lol

I just might put my jam in the fair. I was a good girl, for a change, and measured out the headspace to a half inch and I processed the stuff for 10 minutes. It is so pretty and I'd say it glows. There isn't much for fruit in it though, most of the nectarines cooked down to lots of little bits. This is the first jam I've made that called for butter and it really did help with the foam!


Sarah - Zone 5b/6

Link Copied to Clipboard
Seasonal Ticker
Gardening Links
Gardening in February
Gardening in March
Gardening in April


Shop at Amazon and Support AGF
Are you shopping online? Click this link first and A Gardeners Forum will receive a commission for your referral at Amazon.com (shopping through this link to Amazon will not have any impact on your prices at Amazon).
Like Us on Facebook
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics14,312
Posts240,811
Average Daily Posts3
Members16,004
Most Online10,356
Nov 2nd, 2019
Top Posters(30 Days)
Random Gallery Image
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5