This has been one of my busiest weeks of the year, with several cooking contests in the evenings. I got my first ribbon of the season with the blueberry contest. I made a Blueberry Breakfast Parfait with vanilla Greek yogurt and homemade blueberry compote. It is really easy to make. I found some individual serving cups with lids, which meant I could make each one perfect for judging with a garnish of a mint leaf.

It is always a thrill when your name is called as a winner. This time I got third place. The other winners looked really yummy this time, especially the winning scones. Would you like the recipe? Click on this link for a pdf – Blueberry Breakfast Parfaits

The Eggs competition was fierce, and the winning dish was not that far off from mine. I did a Japanese Frittata with pan cooked mushrooms in soy sauce and spices, with eggs added. The whites cook first, then the yolks are gently broken to create a marbled effect. I added bacon, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, then served on Jasmine rice. It was delicious, and we ate the rest of it between that evening and breakfast the next day. The winning dish was much the same flavors, but the eggs were hard cooked and then marinated in a soy sauce blend with spices and served over noodles. Download a pdf of this recipe – Japanese Frittata.

After the dishes are turned in for judging each day, contestants have an hour or so to walk around and enjoy the fair. We went out to get a corn dog and were surprised to see that none of the vendors had normal size ones anymore. They only had foot-long corn dogs and wanted $12 for one. Uh, I don’t think so!! Everything was so overpriced, some vendors charging $5 for a bottle of water! Ridiculous. So, no more fair food for us! So, back to the exhibition hall to look at the other competitions. Here is the quilting division Best in Show. It was extraordinary! Pieced, appliqued and submitted by Gwen K, it was quilted by someone else. I don’t know who as that name isn’t on the placard, just the category of “Quilted by Another”.

It was applique and piecing with beautiful custom quilting. The center has feathers in the star points, curlicues in the green border around the house, pebbles in the background.

The borders all had custom quilting around the appliques with ruler work, echo quilting, feathers and pebbles. Gorgeous!

My friend, Lois, made this interesting three-dimensional look in bright colors. The piecing on this is complex and very well done. She won second place in Wall Quilts.

Another friend, Barbara, won a third place for her amazing applique work.

I kept coming back to this astounding fox done in gemstone style. I don’t know the maker, her name isJudy B, but I don’t think she is in the guild. Just look at the quilting in it, each facet is quilted with a different design. It won first place in wall quilts. This is the one that beat my bee quilt, yes, deservedly so!

This miniature was amazing, with applique on a quilted base, made by Carole R, who spells her name like I do. There is a lot of hand embroidery on this one.

Fellow guild member, Jan M, did this amazing bear. Art quilting like this has my attention right now.

Another interesting art quilt by Barbara D, I love the silhouette work here.

This adorable wall hanging by my friend, Alice, won Best of Show in the Crafts division sewn items.

Apple displays from the orchards had their own competition.

The pumpkin growing competition winner was 110 pounds.

I went outside after one of the competitions to take some night photos of the ride lights.

Although I won’t get on any of these, the lights were pretty. One of these may become my entry into the photography competition next year.

The next cooking contest was Friday evening, the Amazing Dairy Appetizers competition. I made Goat Cheese and Bacon Tartlets. I used the little phyllo shells you can get in the frozen foods section. The judges didn’t pick these, but between the other competitors and My Sweet Babboo, we ate all of them that evening. They were delicious. Here’s the recipe for you – Goat Cheese and Bacon Tartlets

I cooked a large pot of apples on Friday with brown sugar and cinnamon for the Saturday’s competition.

I had made the pudding on Friday as well, and just needed to assemble the components into the trifle. Cinnamon graham crackers were layered with the cooked apples and vanilla pudding in individual serving cups. They won third place. Interesting to note that both the recipes I did in these cups with lids were ribbon winners. Here’s that recipe – Apple Trifle

So, that is the Mountain State Fair, in the books for 2026. What have you been up to this week?

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