How to Eat Soy and Like It!

First off, this isn't a comprehensive guide to soy foods. I am just relaying some experiences I've had with soy products in the hopes that it will help you if you'd like to try cooking them yourself.

If you've tried to cook with tofu and didn't like it, chances are it was you, not the tofu. (No offense and all, but it's easy to screw it up.) It was the way you prepared it, seasoned (or didn't season) it or bought the wrong type for the application you were trying it in. Tofu is not terrible. There was a time when I thought it was. But tofu, it wasn't you, it was me.

If you are a tofu newbie or have tried and failed to cook it properly, I suggest you first try dishes at restaurants. They know what they're doing (hopefully) so you'll know it wasn't your tofu skills if you don't like it. You will notice that their tofu is usually NOT bright white and is usually has much more texture than tofu straight from the box. From this we infer that they must work some magic on it to create the lovely chewy, brown skin, tender (but not dripping wet) innards and delicious flavors that can be found. How do we create that ourselves? We will soon find out!

If you've shopped for tofu, you know there are at least a couple of different types available. Each type is good for different types of dishes. The main categories available in most grocery stores are:

Silken tofu- great for blending into a smoothie to add protein or mixing half and half with sour cream and seasonings to make a low-fat dip!

Soft/Medium tofu-Excellent for crumbling into pasta dishes and casseroles.

Firm/Extra-Firm tofu-The best for keeping its shape in stir fry or when baked as slices.

Stir-Fry and other ideas for Firm and Extra Firm

Number one rule-you cannot just plop the tofu out of the package, cut it up and add it to your stir-fry, you will be grossed out and disappointed. Half of tofu cooking is actually tofu preparation.

If your tofu comes packed in water, you will need to drain that water off and press the tofu to remove even more water. Place the block of tofu between a couple of paper towels and put it into a colander. Put a small plate or saucer over the tofu and weight it down with a can or two of veggies or soup. Leave this set-up in the sink or over a bowl to drain for at least 15 minutes. Then you're ready to cut!

I like my tofu cut into small pieces because it gives more surface area to get crispy and delicious. Larger pieces will result in crispy outsides and tender, juicy insides so go with what you like.

Coat the pieces in cornstarch. Just toss them in a plastic baggie with a few tablespoons of the stuff to complete cover.

Then fry the pieces in a non-stick skillet with a tiny bit of olive or vegetable oil over medium high heat. Don't move it around too much, leave the pieces to cook on one side for a good long time, then flip them all to a new side to create a great crust.

When my tofu is just about done, I like to scoot it over to one side and cook some other veggies in the same skillet. This keeps the tofu warm. One of my favorite things to do with crispy tofu is make a wrap sandwich so I cooked up some onions here.

Then I plop it all onto a burrito and add whatever I have in the fridge, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, mushrooms, sour cream, salad dressings, and salsa are all ideas. Tofu prepared in this way can also be stir-fried with veggies and served over rice!

To add even more flavor to the tofu, you can marinate it before cooking. Tofu, like a sponge, soaks up whatever flavor you put with it. The easiest way it to used a bottled marinade made for meat! But you can also throw together some soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, etc and make your own. Marinated tofu can be fried like above, baked, grilled, so many options!

Another trick to try with tofu is to freeze it! Freezing tofu changes the texture and makes it more crumbly. This "ground meat" texture makes it great for adding to casseroles and such where you don't want identifiable triangle or square shapes in your food. Ok, it's great for when you're trying to "hide" it in things. :)

Soft Tofu Ideas

Soft tofu fits in excellent with Italian food! It's a great substitute for Ricotta cheese but you can't substitute it for ALL the cheese because you still need something with flavor. I love making stuffed shells (when I have spare time on my hands), ha ha) and half cheese (ricotta, parmesan and mozzerella mix), half mashed soft tofu works out great.

Silken tofu is great for using in smoothies! (Soft tofu works too but you might have to blend it a bit more to work the lumps out.) You can either make non-dairy smoothies with just tofu, fruit and flavorings or slip some tofu into your yogurt smoothie to get the soy benefits without too much difference in taste.

Other Soy Products

There are a lot of "fake meat" type products out there, some soy based and some not. These are great substitutes with lower fat! I love crumble-type products for adding to casseroles, spaghetti sauces and tacos. Soy flour can be a great addition to baked goods that adds protein and soy isoflavones. But you can't make baked goods with only soy flour because it contained no gluten. I can usually substitute soy flour for about 10-20% of the white flour in recipes. But here's a tip, when using soy flour in cookie dough, do not eat the dough raw, it tastes terrible! Soy flour is used in a TON of manufactured foods so why not try it in your own kitchen! It's great for thickening sauces and gravy, and I've read that in fried foods, like doughnuts, soy flour reduces the amount of fat that is absorbed by the dough.

I'm no soy expert but being vegetarian I am always trying to sneak more protein into my diet. (I should really try to sneak more iron in too, maybe I'll do some research and write about that too!) I hope this has helped those of you who have limited experience with Tofu and other products like it. And while I'm in the kitchen, I'll show you my new cabinet hardware!
My dear, sweet husband spend most of one afternoon removing the handle and two hinges from each door and replacing them with these fun nickel ones we both like! Here's the before picture:

Book Cover Postcards

Old Reader's Digest Compilations have some wonderful, subdued colors and lovely wallpaper-looking patterns. I used some to create some postcards and thought I'd share it since it's so simple.

Remove the book's cover at the spine with an exact-o knife.

I created a simple document with corner decorations and a line down the center. Use images of old postcard backs for inspiration. Print these out and cut them to fit the book covers.
*UPDATE*
Here it is, the .png fle of the back for your use in creating postcards. It's pretty simple but I hope you enjoy! (Don't forget to click on the image for a larger version.)

A great place to find some lovely, vintage-looking goodies to add to your back is Briar Press, which I found via Design Freebies.

Adhere your printed backs to the inside surface of the cover with gluestick or scrapbook adhesive.

I didn't mind the raw edge (it gives it a bit of a vintage book shop/estate sale feel) but if you'd rather have a finished look, glue a length of coordinating ribbon along the edge.

Grab a cup of tea and you're ready for a little sit and sip. Write a little note to a friend, the perfect evening activity this winter!

How to Host a Cookie Exchange

One of my favorite holiday traditions originated with my mother in law. Every year her women's group from church has a giant cookie exchange and inevitably when we visit for the holidays, her basement is FULL of cookie tins, tubs and containers filled with all sorts of goodies! So, inspired by those wonderful goodies, I started hosting my own. Here are two different ways to organize, the way they do it (for a large group) and the way I do it (for a smaller group) and some tips for hosting your own.

I have been hosting my cookie exchange since 2001. In the beginning, the guest list was usually under 10. With such a small group, I asked that everyone make one dozen cookies for each participant and pre-package them on paper plates or in disposable plastic containers. Everyone also make a spare dozen for eating during the party and those were brought in pretty containers to display on the sideboard. At the end of the night, after warm drinks and watching classic claymation programs on the tivo, everyone goes home with a dozen cookies from each guest, more than enough to share with friends and maybe even make up a few packages for the mailcarrier and garbage men.

My standby recipes for cookie exchange night
Wassail Punch-makes the house smell amazing!
Sweet and Sour Faux Meatballs-I make them in the oven, then keep them warm in a large crockpot so everyone can dig int throughout the night.
Cheeseballs! One year, my theme was cheeseballs of all kinds.

In Wisconsin, the women's group is so large that if everyone made a dozen cookies for each participant, you'd need wheelbarrows to haul them there. And to haul them home for that matter! They do things a bit different. (And to tell the truth, the past couple of years, I've done it this way too since it works well if you're not sure exactly how many people are coming and therefore don't know how many dozens to tell people to make.) Everyone makes a set amount of cookies, I think 4 dozen is a good amount but I think up north they make 8. As guests arrive, their cookies are placed on a table together. Once everyone has arrived, the fun begins. I have everyone introduce themselves and their cookie as we surround the table, each with an empty container. At the signal, everyone starts grabbing cookies and rotating around the table so that everyone gets some of each. You keep going around the table until all the cookies have been snatched up.

Tips:
Have your guests bring recipe cards for their cookie so that everyone not only can make them if they'd like but also know the ingredients in case they have any allergies or have loved ones with allergies.

It's always good, as the hostess, to have some extra plates and cling wrap for people to take their goodies home.

I love paper invitations but Evite is my best friend when it comes to getting people to RSVP because it makes it so easy for them.

Request that when they RSVP that your guests also state what kind of cookie they are thinking of bringing. This keeps you from getting all chocolate chip cookies.

A game of some kind gets your guests to interact with each other, especially if they don't all know each other. Every year we play find the Christmas pickle and those who are returning guests from previous years remember this and it gives them a topic of conversation. The Christmas pickle is a tree ornament that I hide in the tree and whoever finds it wins a prize.

And when the party ends, I love to send my guests home with a handmade favor. I think everyone can use a new ornament for their tree and since your cookie exchange will probably be before Christmas, they'll even get to put it up and enjoy it this year! Here are a couple I've given away, candy cane hobby horses

and polymer clay ribbon candy ornaments.

If you want to have a cookie-themed event but don't want to eat ALL those cookies, consider inviting friends over for a Drop in and Decorate party, the brain child of a wonderful lady named Lydia! We do these at work and the idea is to get together, decorate cookies and then donate your works of art to a local shelter, food pantry or other charity that serves people who could use a pretty cookie to cheer them up. We do this about 4 times a year, because shelters need food all year round, not just at the holidays. Here are some of our spring cookies! Lydia has written a great series of blog posts on how to host an event!

Dot-to-Dot Stitch Cards

In honor of National Sewing Month, I have a project for you! Is it a sewing project? Of course! But it's also a paper crafts project! When I think fall, I think grade school and what's more grade school than a good old dot-to-dot?

There are two sets of two cards each to print out and stitch with your sewing machine. One set includes two popular designs, a cupcake and mushroom, the other is just right for fall and includes a pumpkin and a leaf.

Download card template here.

Fall cards PDF

Trendy cards PDF

Print the PDF on your choice of colored cardstock. Cut the cardstock in half so that you have two cards. (It's much easier to sew if you cut the cards first, then sew.) Don't print this following diagram, it's only for your reference.

Using your sewing machine and thread in your choice of color, sew from dot to dot following the numbers! The numbers are placed so that each is right side up when you are sewing towards it. Stitch with an average stitch length (too long and the detail will be lost, too short and you'll tear the paper) and if your machine has the "needle down" option, turn it on so that you can stop stitching on each dot and rotate the paper to find the next number.

Using a pin, pull your thread ends to the back and tie them loosely to secure.

If you don't like seeing the stitches on the back, cut a piece of matching paper to 5.5" x 4.25" and adhere inside to cover up back of the stitches.

For variety, I've made one card from each set a little more elaborate by sewing the motif, cutting it out and adding other paper and embellishments. Try it out, have fun! And I'd love to see your cards when they're finished!

4-H 4-Ever

This has been a very 4-H few days! I found some great old 4-H manuals at a garage sale. They were on a table full of cookbooks with no price and I totally expected them to cost far more than the 10 cents each I was asked to pay! Bonus, one of them had 4-H meeting notes and a ribbon inside! Mary Ann, the books' owner, made steak kabobs from the outdoor meals handbook. My favorite is Teen-Time Food Fare, where we learn how to go on a date, take a quiz about "Vin, Vigor and Vitamins" and get the recipe for cheese crackers, choco-mint fluff and bacon and pickle spread!

Were you in 4-H? Did you know 4-H even existed? Or that it still exists? Well, I was in 4-H for most of my childhood (ages 9-18) and though we have no children, I am still involved in 4-H. This week I have been grading 4-H Record Books. A 4-Hers record book is like their yearly log of projects. What they accomplished, how much they spent and won, what they learned, what community service they participated in and more! At the end of the 4-H year, they turn their record books in to the county office and leaders like me grade them, award the top record keepers and encourage everyone to keep up the good work next year. Looking through my own record book, you learn that in 1992 I raised a lamb, sold her at auction at 80 pounds and lost exactly $31.50 in the process.

I also teach 4-H dog training classes for 4 months every spring. It's a tough thing for me, because the kids are so varied in age, experience and their dogs are varied as well. Small child + big dog = disaster for the first few classes and if they aren't persistent enough, sometimes it's sad to see them just stop coming to class. Sometimes parents are the problem, especially parents who compete in dog sports and are all about winning, even if it means training the dog themselves. (NOT what 4-H dog training is about! 4-H dog training is much more for the kids than the dogs.) And when July rolls around and we've sweated our way through another dog show, sometimes I am so glad it's over for another year. But inevitably, later in the year, I start thinking of ways I could improve the class, ideas to make it more fun and pack more skills into each lesson. That happened last week, so 4-H is on my brain. I hope each year to improve as an instructor so any tips are always appreciated!

And now, a craft! If you were in 4-H (or Pony Club or FFA or competed in any kind of activity where ribbons were awarded) you no doubt have a surplus of ribbons. I know I did, boxes and boxes of them! I made this wreath and now I'm going to tell you how!

Supplies:
Wire or grapevine wreath form in the size you'd like your wreath to be
Rosette ribbons
paperclips
floral wire or other fine gauge wire

Prepare your rosettes:
No one wants to clip off those wonderful streamers from the ribbons they worked so hard to earn! No worries, you don't have to. To prepare each rosette for attaching to our wreath, we roll up the streamers and paperclip them in back to the cardboard backing. Should you ever want to remove them and display them on all their streamery glory, just remove the paperclips and iron on a low setting to remove the folds.

Plan your layout:
Once you have a bunch of rosettes, practice your layout on your wreath form. See how many rosettes you are likely to need, how many layers you can fit on and how full you like your wreath to look.

Attach rosettes to wreath:
When you have decided on placement, it's time to begin attaching. Secure your wire to your wreath form as an anchor, then choose your first rosette. There are two ways to attach rosettes. If they have a hole for hanging already, you can simply thread the wire through and twist the wire to secure it to your form. This will give your wreath a dangle-y look and it is harder to arrange and re-arrange your rosettes though since they hang where they like. The way I prefer to attach them is to secure your wire to the form as before, then wrap the wire UNDER the cardboard backing all the way around the rosette a couple of times and then securing your wire to your wreath form in a second location. This makes for a much sturdier construction and the flexibility to rearrange by twisting them a bit and snugging the wires. The wire is also completely hidden by this method! These pictures show some examples of how to fold and paperclip your streamers and how the rosettes are arranged on the wreath.

Out of Doors

It was a very orange day in the garden today! A tomato, a pepper and a pumpkin!


And all my hostas are preparing to bloom. This is right outside the back door, in our courtyard area.
This is a recent project, my new compost pile! I had a compost pile at the rental house but having moved in here in February, it was hardly weather to make a new pile here. But everytime I threw away an apple peel or egg shell, I felt like I was throwing good nutrients and next year's compost out the window! What a waste of good soil amendments! So I finally got around to putting some poles in the ground and wrapping it with hardware cloth.

My compost tips:
-My compost pile is about 3 feet square and is made from 4 metal T-posts and 1 roll of 1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth. Cheap and easy!
-I've seen a lot of plans for circular compost piles that are just hardware cloth made into a cylinder. My question for these is, how exactly do you stir the pile if's completely enclosed? I prefer an open pile that I can dig into with a stick or pitchfork each time I add something new. Stirring is important to compost to evenly break down all components.
-Make sure your compost pile is in a shady area. Sunshine will dry it out too fast and bake the organic matter to a crisp, not letting it decompose to a nice, rich compost.
-They (compost experts) say to water it frequently. I think this is a waste of water. A good pile, built in a shady spot, will keep a nice moist interior without your help. Yes, it may take a few more months for your pile to ripen but what do you have more of, time or money for a high water bill? I'll let you decide. (I don't water many things, besides seedlings right after their planted. I am stingy with the water.)
-If you have dogs, either make sure your pile is enclosed, add a gate to the front (hardware cloth panel or wooden pallet) or (if you have a dog like Sully who won't dig too much) make sure each time you add choice bits like melon rind or corn cobs that you bury them down in the leaves and grass clippings.
-Do not add meat, dairy products, sugary items or dog/cat poo. Plants like to eat other plants so keep it limited to veg. matter, and maybe some egg shells if you bury them well to keep the rodents out. If you have chickens or rabbits, their poo is just fine. Plant-eaters' poo=good, meat-eaters' poo=not good. Newspaper is ok if you shred it and don't add too much at one time. Large branches and wood chips will need to be sifted out for several cycles before they will decompose so I try not to add those.
-I keep an old Tupperware container on the counter (think Rachel Ray's garbage bowl) that I put scraps in and take out every day. I like something that is sealable just in case you have ants that crawl in the window screen like we do!

Another recent addition to our back porch is this bench, but it is not new to me. My parents have had this bench since before I was born. They found it at a garage sale, missing on spindle. My dad took the bark off a branch, whittled the ends and stuck it in there. When I mentioned to my mom that I wanted a storage bench for taking my shoes off and storing garden tools, she offered it to me but come to find out, years of being left on the back porch at their house had left it in disrepair. My dad was kind enough to rebuild it and paint it black, just for me! I love having something that has been a part of our family for so long. No, it's not an heirloom from hundreds of years ago, but the story behind it reminds me of what frugal, resourceful people my parents are.

Yo-yo tutorial

I have posted a new tutorial on Instructables for quilting with yo-yos. If you've ever wanted to make yo-yos but never quite understood how to make them or attach them to each other, check it out! I have entered it in the Craft Skills contest so if you're an Instructables member, I'd really appreciate your rating and, later on in the process, your vote.

Chicken Scratch Pattern #10

We've come to the last day of patterns. If you liked the free patterns, I encourage you to visit the Make-Do Mercantile and purchase the summer issue of the Make-Do Mail which contains a pattern for a complete chicken scratch apron, among other wonderful things!

The very last pattern in the series is another border. (Can you tell I like borders?) This one is a little different from all the rest as it uses straight stitches and cross stitches.

Chicken Scratch Pattern #9

It's lazy Sunday here at the Z. household. That means we stay in pajamas all day, eat pancakes, watch what's on the tivo and generally laze about. I am going to cheat a bit and do some work because I have LOTS of ironing to do. But I don't mind ironing, especially when it's vintage doll clothes I snagged at garage sales yesterday! (more on that later today when I snap some pictures.)

Today's first pattern is a sweet little hearts border.
This pattern is, of course, for your own personal use only. And just in case someone has come upon these on the very last day, please see the very first day's post for link to how-to's and more info on chicken scratch.

Chicken Scratch Pattern #8

Saturday's second pattern has GOT to be one of my favorites! Fall is coming up sooner than I'd like to think and this one is just perfect for scattering around any fall decorations you're making. Think brown or orange gingham! Or maybe dark green with yellow and orange floss? Too cute!This pattern is for you own personal use only.

I've been busy in the garden all day! I got a new flower bed mulched and ready for planting next spring and my new compost pile fenced off and started with some grass clippings that my husband provided by mowing the front lawn. Boy, was it a hot one today!

Chicken Scratch Pattern #7

Happy Saturday! I got caught up in apron-making yesterday and forgot to post Friday's second pattern so here it is! Another great border. This one's a cute little skinny border but with an interesting shape.

This pattern is for your own personal use only. And I don't think I've said this before but click on the picture to get a larger printable version of the patterns. I kind of thought that was a given but now that I think about, maybe some people don't know.

Chicken Scratch Pattern #6

Good morning! I am under the wire to get my Vintage Apron Swap Apron done! My very gracious partner has said don't worry, no problem, take your time, it's all good! But if I, keeper of the SwapDex and type A personality extraordinaire, don't get my package out in time I think I may be forced down into a swap-shame spiral! So this is a public warning to my butt to get it in gear! Butt, it must be done before you are allowed to go to the giant garage sale tomorrow with your lovely mother!

And now! On to this morning's pattern! This cute little flower could easily adorn a pocket (on an apron, what else?), the corner of a napkin or string them together and form a flowery border.This pattern is for your personal use only. And if you're just joining us, please see the first post for some background info on chicken scratch and be sure and visit my Brand Spanking New Etsy store, the reason I'm posting these patterns.

Chicken Scratch Pattern #5

Here is the pattern for today, a butterfly flitting away! That dot? Has nothing to do with the pattern and all to do with my photoshop skills. I think I erased a layer there or something. This pattern is for your own personal use only.

Exclusive Chicken Scratch Pattern!

Today's exclusive pattern can be found at CraftGossip! It's an awesome border pattern that would make a nice gathered curtain, tea towel or, you guessed it, apron. A big thanks to Denise for posting such a nice blurb to spread the word!

Stay tuned today for another pattern posted here at CorgiPants. I got a little excited this morning planning my new compost bin and didn't get a new pattern posted before I left for work! But lunchtime will see me posting a new pattern.

Windmill Wednesday! -Chicken Scratch Pattern #4

Oooh, this is a cute one! Windmills, an exceedingly vintage design! It's flanked by a pair of tulips and includes an optional border to go under it.
This pattern is for your own personal use. For more on Chicken Scratch, see this first post which has some tips and links.

Exclusive Chicken Scratch Pattern!

To get another of my free chicken scratch patterns, visit Whipup! This one is a fun one, exclusive to Whipup, not to be found anywhere else!

Chicken Scratch Pattern #3

This one has GOT to be one of my favorites! I love snowflakes, I decorate extensively with them at holiday time (I don't like Santa or religious themes so snowflakes and snowmen it is!) Scatter it about on a pillow? Make some potholders as a gift with a snowflake centered on each one? Of course, it would look lovely on an apron! What wouldn't?
This pattern is for your own personal use only.

For something else that would make a lovely gift for those who enjoy their time in the kitchen, check out the Make-Do Mercantile! Like how I can work that in just about anywhere?

Chicken Scratch Pattern #2

Ok, I just couldn't wait a whole day! So there will be two patterns today! This one is a more traditional border that would look lovely at the bottom of an apron, around a skirt or maybe around a tablecloth! If it's too wide, you could just do a section of it since it's made up of three different sections. It's like three patterns in one!

This pattern is for your own personal use only. And, of course, if you want a pattern for a complete chicken scratch apron, check out the summer issue of the Make-Do Mail!

I just couldn't wait! Chicken Scratch Pattern #1

So, yes, it's a few hours before Monday officially but I just couldn't wait to post my very first in my week-long series of chicken scratch patterns!

Of course, the reason I'm so excited is that I have opened up my new etsy shop,
The Make-Do Mercantile!

You can get my very first drafted-by-me pattern for a pinnie you can make from a vintage pillowcase!

And the very first educational pamphlet and badge set for the Make-Do Marigolds mail club! Which brings us to why I have drawn up these free patterns. In this summer issue of the Make-Do Mail, the craft project is a chicken scratch apron and while I love the pattern I put into the booklet, there are so many cute ones an there don't seem to be a lot available online.

So here is the very first in a week-long series of free patterns. Check back each day for a new pattern! I can see a couple of these birds flying across an apron. Or curtains, wouldn't that look great?

This pattern is for your own personal use.

A bit about chicken scratch
Chicken Scratch is cross stitch (and other simple stitches) done on gingham using the squares as a grid. It is also sometimes called cross stitch on gingham, Amish lace or snowflaking. Although not as well known as cross stitch or needlepoint, you can find more info on the web about chicken scratch then about some of the more obscure needlecrafts like huck weaving and hardanger embroidery. It seems to be enjoying a small revival!

All the patterns I will post this week can either be worked in cross stitches or double cross stitches. I think this one would look great in double cross stitches since it's kind of a loose pattern but it would show up well worked in single cross stitches on a light fabric done in dark floss. The number of strands of floss you use will depend on the width of gingham you use (meaning the width of each square) and your personal preference. I like to use eighth inch gingham and 2 strands of floss for most of my aprons.

Some further reading on chicken scratch:
PDF from West Virginia University Extension Service
Crafttown's pattern for a little tree
Crossstitch.about.com has three little printable patterns
PDF from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
Instructions and heart pattern from Pegasus Originals
Primrose Design's chicken scratch tutorial

Exhibiting at the County Fair

Exhibiting at the County Fair
(or You Don't Have to be in 4-H or Own a Cow to Win Ribbons!)

Exhibiting your craft projects and culinary items in your local county fair is fun, easy, economical and good for your community! I read so many blogs from young (and not-as-young) crafters and culinarians and I often wonder if they have considered their county fair as a fun outlet for their talents. If you've wondered (or never even though of it), I'm here to tell you how easy it is and that you should get off your duff and try it out this year!

Step 1-Where is the fair?
Find out if your county has a fair. Time was, all counties held fairs as a community gathering and a place to exhibit each person's special talents. Across the country, fairs are having a harder time each year getting people through the gates so they can make money and continue the next year. County fair, sounds like a quaint old pastime, and fewer and fewer people want to spend Friday night at the tractor pull or rodeo. (If they only knew the fun you can have there!)

If your county is one that has sadly dropped it's fair, check into your state fair! All 50 states have state fairs and most do not require general category exhibits to "qualify" at any sort of county fair or smaller competition. You extension office can provide you with a state fair book or you can have the state fair office mail one to you, check your state fair's website. Do be warned that unlike most county fairs, state fairs usually require pre-registration so you will need to plan a month or two in advance and get your entry fees in before the closing date.

Step 2-Fair book
Get a fair premium book. This is a list of all classes, entry fees, prizes and rules for each category. You can get them from the fair office (usually located on the fair grounds) or your county's Extension Office.

As an aside, your local Extension Office has a wealth of information on cooking/nutrition, budgeting/finance, gardening/lawn care, animal care, sewing/crafts, emergency preparedness, parenting, and more. Their websites are chock full of gobs of handy info and their print publications are usually available free or at very nominal fees. I LOVE the Extension Office! (It's also where you can sign your kids up for 4-H or become a volunteer like me!)

Crochet doily, second place

Step 3-Recalling projects past
Brainstorm your creations. Don't think you need to create a whole basketful of new projects just for the fair. Most fairs require all items you exhibit to be made since the last fair. Think of all the projects you've completed in the past year! All the recipes you've already tried, enjoyed and would gladly recreate! No need to start from square one. As long as items are not noticeably worn, you can exhibit them so round up your projects from the past year and grab your fair book to decide which class to enter each one in.

What kinds of things can you exhibit? Basically anything you can make! Our fair is pretty standard and has separate categories for fine arts (paintings and photography), needlework/crafts (quilting, knit/crochet, paper craft, jewelry, sewing, etc.), junior division (under 18), produce (fruits, veggies, grains), baked goods, preserves/canned goods/honey, flower arrangements/specimens, and more!

Cookies in a display case at the Champaign County Fair

Step 4-Tips and tricks for new creations
Create a few new items for a few classes if you'd like. I love to be challenged and try new things! The fair book is my idea book for new things I would like to try. Last year I saw the category labeled "Craft item made from recyclables" and ran with it. And won first place!

I'm sure we all do our very best in everything we do, but when creating items for the fair it's important to keep in mind what they judges look for. Creativity and design are important but so are neatness and correct use of technique. Finishing in sewn items is very important. Clean, correctly finished seams, neat or no knots, straight hems finished properly, patterned fabric matched up, zippers inserted correctly. In Cross stitch, neatness is key (our judges use magnifying lenses and inspect the front AND back of pieces). When it comes down to placements, a more intricate crochet doily will beat one made with larger thread or one with a simpler design. In the culinary division, all items are tasted but texture, color, completeness of recipe card and use of proper cooking methods are also important. When exhibiting produce, most class are shown in groups of 3-5 and uniformity is VERY important. For example pickling cucumbers are shown in groups of 5 at our fair. Not only should they all be beautiful specimens free of bugs and disease but they should all be the same color, size, variety and maturity. Planning the planting of your garden is also important so that the produce you plan to exhibit will be in its peak season when fair time rolls around. This can mean starting plants early indoors so that they will have a leg up or planting later for some varieties like lettuces that you would want younger, more tender plants to show at the fair.

Pineapple-kiwi jam, make several and take the very best to the fair!

Step 5-Fair Day
Bundle up your items and head on out! Most county fairs are day-of entry meaning you bring your entry fee and your items and register the day of the competition. Having your entry form(found in the back of your premium book) already filled out will save you time and a headache at the fairgrounds. It is a good idea to bring hangers for any apparel items and quilts Your superintendents will appreciate you saving them space on the tables. Doilies look nice mounted on foamboard with pins. Make sure you food items are displayed on plain white paper plates, patterns or decorative displays are usually not allowed unless the category calls for them. Cover with plastic wrap or in a plastic bag. Most fairs will have these things available in case you forgot. Don't forget a recipe card with each recipe on it. Canned goods must be clearly labeled with the date they were canned.

Cheap or FREE!
Entering your county fair is usually VERY economical. Entries in my county fair's general division are 50 cents each! Add to that the fact that most of the time you are required to drop off and pick up your items early in the morning before the fair opens so you don't have to pay entry each time and you've got a bargain! (And if you earn ribbons, there is almost always a small cash prize to go along with it! I always make at least my entry fees back.) I do encourage you to come back to the fair and pay entry at least once though because if the fair fails to make enough money, it will not be able to continue. And the elephant ear and lemon shake-up vendors aren't open early in the morning so you've got to come back at night to get your fix! Is that just me? It can't just be me! Anyone want to share a fried Snickers bar with me?

Learning experience!
So you don't want ribbons. Why go to the fair? Being judged is a great way to improve your skills. The judges at our fair are experts in their area. They leave comments on each item's tag to help you understand your placement. You can also stick around after the judging (don't approach them while they are judging, it is not allowed) and ask them a question or two, how could you improve your color transitions in your afghan? Is there a better way to finish the seam in your toddler dress? Was it the spices or the texture of your pumpkin bread that could be improved?

What do I do with this stuff?
My favorite part of any project is planning! I love looking through magazines and finding patterns that would be great for the fair. But keep in mind you will be taking these things home afterwards so don't make anything you dont' like or won't get use out of. Make things you like, in colors and patterns you like. Create things you will wear or use in your own size or that someone you know will enjoy as a gift. I make several items each year that I know I will be donating to charity auctions. You can then include the ribbons with the item and as an added bonus, people will know they are bidding on a ribbon-winning item! This is a good solution to categories you would like to try out but maybe you have no baby for your layette or a painted jewelry box just doesn't fit into you decor. As for culinary and horticultural entries, there is a reason large garbage cans are located in the exhibit hall on check-out day. Winning exhibits stay on display for the extent of the fair. Sometimes it's in a hot, humid building with no AC or air flow of any kind. Be sure to take a picture of your exhibit before leaving that first day you drop it off because by the end of the week your tomatoes may be rotten, your pie may have devolved into a puddle of goo and your jam may have a green skin on top.

K.I.S.S.
I really want to encourage everyone to try it out. You don't have to enter 40 categories your first year. Maybe pick one or two classes that fit items you've made in the past year or bake your mother's absolutely to-die-for, never-fail chocolate chip cookies. Get your feet wet, get acclimated to the process and build up from there. Or not. Nothing says you can't take one or two projects each year and keep it simple! I welcome questions or if you have stories about your trips to the fair, I'd love to hear them!

Show us your show stuff!
I've started a flickr group called The County Fair Revival where anyone can post pictures of their fair entries. Get out there and show your stuff and then show us!

Interested in showing off your garden produce? Check out my companion piece, Exhibiting Produce at Your Local Fair for info!