State Fair 2013

This year I decided to enter my baked goods into the Minnesota State Fair Competition. I'm not entirely sure I was ready, yet, I knew if I didn't try, I would be missing out on something wonderful, so on the last day when registrations were due, I entered 2 items into the gluten-free categories.

In Septermber of 2013 I began baking gluten-free (and other free) desserts and my love for this way of cooking, allowed me to bake for more people and say "yes, that still is a tasty dessert!"

I've been working on my Oh, My Friendship Bread recipe for the last few months and trusted it was ready to be "judged". And my Pineapple Upside Down Cake has been such a fan favorite, I get to bake 130 of these mini cakes for a friends' wedding in September.

 

Until I entered, I didn't know that the items are actually dropped off and judged a week and a half earlier than when the State Fair opens. So that morning, I woke up early, full of nervous excitement and baked my two entries.

 

Being at the State Fair before it opens is exciting. There is an energy about it, knowing soon it will be flooded with thousands of people, great music and so many things on a stick! Standing in line I met amazing people who just like me were entering their items in for the first and did this because they just love to bake!

Some went on to say they had tried out 19 different adjustements to their recipe for the perfect cookie. Others said they baked more than one of the same item, just incase the other one wasn't quite right.

Me? I baked 1 of each and went from there. I learned that no matter how much prep or practice or critques, as long as you are doing it with love, nothing else matters!

 

The winners are announced on the first day of the fair and as I looked for my name, I didn't see it. I'll admit I was a little sad. You don't enter a contest hoping to lose. After a few tears and words of support, the pride that I did this started to shine. I stepped outside of my comfort zone and did something I would have not done before out of fear.

 

 

After the fair was over, I received my critque slips in the mail. I scored 84 points out of 100 and recognized that for only having baked gluten-free for a year, that it was pretty amazing!

 

I'm glad I did it! I'm proud that in taking the step forward to open my food to critque that regardless of what was said or what others thought, I enjoy baking, love what I make and love to share it!