BZ'Lancaster Fuming, Saturday, January 17,1998 Best Of The Best Chocolate Cakes In State LOU ANN GOOD l4mcaaler Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) —With 62 entries from across the state in the Greatest Cocoa Cake Contest, what are the chances of two best friends ending up in the top three placings? Shrieks, tears, hugs and gasps broke out when Belinda Myers of Daliastown was proclaimed first place winner after her friend Judy Ulrich of York placed third. The two have entered competitions together before, but to qualify for the state contest, each needed to place first in a local fair. Judy placed first at the York Fair and Belinda at the South Mountain Fair before meeting again for the bake off. Second-place winner was Julie Raup of Montour County. Belinda’s prize is a weekend trip for four to the Hershey Resort and Conference Center in Hershey. An expectant crowd gathered in front of die 62 chocolate cakes that were being judged last Saturday during the Greatest Cake and Coo kie Contest held at the Pennsylva nia Farm Show. While the lop three cakes are held for display during the Farm Show, the remain der are sliced and distributed to the waiting crowd. All of the cakes and cookies have been selected as previous blue ribbon winner at-a local fair. So when tasting begins, this is no ordinary run-of-the mill cake. Each is a culinary and visual delight One square layered cake was wrapped in gold ribbon like a present. Another was heart shaped, and another shaped as a basket and topped with fresh flow era. Cakes with basket weaves, some with chocolate flowers or Dairy Farm Wife Bakes Best Apple Pie In State LOU ANN GOOD lancaster Fanning Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) For seven ycanJudy Knee bone’s goal has been to bake the best apple pie in the state and take home the $lOO prize from the annual contest held at die Pennsyl vania Farm Show. This year perseverance paid off. Judy’s pie was proclaimed the best of die best from 54 entries that first needed to take first place at a local fair before being eligible for state competition. “I’m always in the kitchen,” said this daily him wife, who loves to bake and can for her hus band Bob and children Shawn and After seven year* of antarlngtha annual Blue Ribbon Ap|»*. .jaatatthar. nsylvania Farm Show, perseverance paid off for dairy farm wifa Judy Knaabona, whoaa pia was proclaimad baat In tha state. Second place want to Sherry Caahdollar, canter, and third to Michelle Davis, left. Behind her la Jacquelyn Evaritt of tha Depart* mant of Agriculture. Russ Redding, right, handed out tha ribbons for tha Department of Agriculture. butterfly shapes, some with cher ries, nuts, caramel, butterscotch, some drizzled with chocolate and others piled high with-frosting showed that there is more than one way to bake a prize-winning cake. First-place winner Belinda Myers had decorated her cake with intricate lattice-work trianges. But she is confident her win came from the taste and not just appearance. “It’s the black raspberry filling and liquer,” she said. “Judges like that taste," she said confidently. For the local contest, Belinda cooked the Mack raspberry jam herself to prepare the cake filling spread on three layers. But, when state competition came, Belinda discovered she had used all her homemade raspberry jam. Fortu nately her grandmother had some frozen raspberries for her to make a new batch. She and her husband Andy have two children who raise show beef cattle. The expert cook won the apple pie contest at the 1989 Farm Show. It was the first ribbon for Julie Raup who entered die state com petition for the second time. The dark cocoa cake with light colored frosting was decorated in a basket weave and topped with nuts. “The secret is moistness,” Judy said of the third-prize Bavarian Tone made with black coffee, oil, and milk to keep it moist. “And the icing is light and fluffy made with heavy whipping cream and cream cheese.” Although Judy and Belinda often vie for the same prize, they said the competition doesn’t hurt their friendship. "We’re just like one big family and help each other out,” Belinda Shelly. The Kneebones live in Banger, Northampton County. Judy’s pie took top honors at die Blue Valley Farm Show, which qualified her to enter state competition. The waiting for Judy and the other contestants was nervewiack ing. Competition begins at 10 a.m., but judging continued for more than three hours. “The competition is so stiff because there are so many great pies here,” Judy said. That fact is confirmed by the vast array of pies, many with artis tic and elaborate crusts, some had dough cutouts that were painted or intrir cut There were Out of 62 entile* In Hershey’s Greatest Cocoa Cake Contest best friends Belinda Myers, right, and Judy Ulrich, left, took first and third places respectively. Julie Raup, center, placed second. ■ Here are the top three recipes in the contest sponsored by Pennsyl vania State Association of County Fain and Hcrshcy Foods. Belinda Myers’ Chocolate Cham bora Cake First Prize Cake; V> cup Hcnhey’s cocoa 3 tablespoons oil % cup butter, softened 3V5 cups cake flour I teaspoon salt 2'A cups ice water 1 cup Mack raspberry jam with pies baked with strawberries, pecans, caramel, lemon, lime, and raspberries. Last year Judy came close to winning by placing second. Unlike many other regular contestants who enter the same pie recipe each year, Judy always made up a new recipe. This year’s basic apple pie was tapped with a caramel topping sprinkled with pecans. An apple sliced in half was plopped in the center for eye appeal. Judy prefers using Macintosh apples because “they are sweet, soft, and easy to test for doneness,” she said. “I don’t like lots of spices—just cinnamon,” she said. She credits her mother and 4-H seeds Vi cup Chambers liquer VA cups sugar V* cup brown sugar 3 eggs TA teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoons vanilla Icing: %cup butter 1 cup cocoa '/> to 'A cup , 2 tablespoons CljaSwhtm liquer 5'A cups confectioners' sugar For cake: Blend oil aijd cocoa to make a paste. and brown sugar. AfldtißjpßlV la« and cocoa paste. Cram untir involvement with helping her develop cooking skills. In other competition, Judy pieced first in her division in die Fashion Show. She also won several ribbons for baked goods that she had entered. “My husband said that we might as well make it worthwhile if we are coming anyway." Judy said. Her parents lake care of the daily while the Kneebone family partici pates in tbe many activities the Farm Show offers. It was a tough call for judges Roxanne Price, Patricia Powtey, Wilma Jane Fcrster, and Brad Flick. In fact, when the scores were tallied, second and third-place winners were tied and judges needed to recast their votes. Taking second place' was Sherry Cashdollar of Mars, Butler Coun ty. Her Nutty Caramel Apple Pie won first {dace at the Butter Fair and Agricultural Association ear lier this year. It was the third year Sherry had entered. Her secret for baking a prize winning apple pie she revealed is in using four or five varieties of apples—at least three should be used she said. “Apples should be as fresh as possible, although at this tune of the year that is difficult,” she said. After several experiments. Sherry braided die edges of die crust with two strands of dough to hold in the pecan and caramel top ping that she placed on lop of the pie. The family needed to drive five hours from their home to the Farm Show the day before. On the way, her daughter accidently threw a pillow on top of the pie. After a few minutes of panic, a relieved mother found the pie showed no light and fluffy. Gradually add flour, salt, and baldng soda alter nately with ice water until blended well. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans lined with waxed paper. Divide cake mix evenly between! the two pans. Bake in a 325 degree* oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center corner! out clean. Cool. Place one layer on dollied cov ered board. Split layer in half.| Brush 'A cup Chambers Liquer on cake. Spread 'A cup raspberry fill-; ing. Place other half on top. Repeat? (Turn to Pag* B 3) signs of being hit by a pillow,) Sherry also baked a cake to brinf for competition. Her five-year-old daughter also loves to bake and won a best of show in bread baking compctitka at the local fair. Third place and $4O went B Michelle Davis of Lancaster County who qualified ft her hontaj town New Holland Farmers Fail, It was the second time, Michelle entered. Last year, she placed h the top twenty finalist selection Michelle said that she begd baking when five years old. F# competition, she perfected h| grandmother’s crust recipe n adding creative touches. Si dipped sliced apples in a candid sugar mixture to garnish the top of the pie crust ! “It took five tries before it work ed because the mixture kept hint cning,” Michelle said. , Her unusual pie filling include cranberries, white raisins, w orange juke. ) The Pennsylvania Farm She* Tenth Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Col test was sponsored by the Pcnni* vania Association of County Ft* The Pennsylvania Apple Maikt ing Program, and the Pennsy Waif Department of Agriculture. § Here are the top three rccipf I Jody* Kneebone’s Apple PH First Prise * Croat: I 2 cup flour I 1 hewing teaspoon salt Hcup shortening 3 tablespoons butter I 5-6 tablespoons ice water I Sprinkle of cinnamon and sdf (Turn to Pag* B 5) i
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