Amateur chefs should don their aprons and get their cooking supplies ready for three baking contests as part of the Jacktown Fair, which will open with the annual parade at 6:30 p.m. July 17 through Wind Ridge.

The contests will feature desserts, such as apple pie, angel food cake and treats made with Hershey's cocoa. Judges will select the best entries on the first day of the fair. The winners will receive cash prizes and a chance to compete in state contests held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Angel food cake

For the fourth annual Angel Food Cake Contest, participants must prepare a cake made from scratch using eggs that have been approved by the Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program. A recipe must be submitted with the cake, along with the PEQAP symbol from the egg carton.

The contest is sponsored by PEQAP and Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.

There are two main types of cakes - butter and foam (egg leavened). Angel food is a classic example of a foam cake, and it is completely fat free.

The baker of the first-place cake will win $30. For second place, the prize is $25 and for third, $20. The winning cake will be eligible for competition at Pennsylvania Farm Show in January, where the winner will receive $500 for first place.

Cakes will be judged on the following points:

n 30 points for flavor (smell, taste and flavoring)

n 25 points for inside characteristics (texture, crunch and lightness)

n 20 points for overall appearance (surface, size and color)

n 15 points for creativity

n 10 points for topping, icing or decoration.

Creativity is an important part of the judging process. Angel food lends itself very well to a variety of toppings and icings.

Hershey Cocoa Classic

For the Hershey Cocoa Classic, Pennsylvania residents of any age can submit a cake that must be layered, made from scratch and frosted. At least a quarter-cup of Hershey's cocoa must be used and listed in the recipe. The contest is co-sponsored by the Hershey Company and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.

If the frosting is chocolate, Hershey's cocoa also must be used and listed in the recipe. The cake should be submitted for judging on cardboard, with a recipe listing ingredients and preparation instructions. Entrant's name, address and phone number must be printed on the back side of all the pages.

Refrigeration is not available at the fair or farm show. Entries that require refrigertion after baking must indicate so in the recipe. Those entries will not be sold, auctioned or distributed for consumption after judging for safety reasons.

First prize is $25; second, $20; and third, $15.

Pennsylvania children and teens, between 8 and 18 years old, can submit a plate of six, made from scratch, cookies, brownies or bars for the Hershey Baking Chips Contest. At least a quarter-cup of Hershey's baking chips must be used and listed in the recipe.

If the entry has icing or drizzle, and that frosting is chocolate, Hershey's cocoa must be used and listed in the recipe. The goodies should be submitted for judging on doily-covered cardboard, with a recipe listing ingredients and preparation instructions. Entrant's name, address nad phone number must be printed in the back side of all the pages.

Refrigeration rules listed above apply.

The young chef who bakes the best snacks will earn $20. Second place is worth $15 and third, $10.

Both of the Hershey's cocoa contests will be judged based on the following criteria:

n 30 points flavor

n 25 points moistness and crumb texture

n 20 points overall appearance

n 15 points consistency (size and shape)

n 10 points creativity

Jacktown Fair's contest is a preliminary competition that leads to the selection of the final Hershey's Cocoa Classic blue ribbon winner, a competition held each January at Pennsylvania State Farm Show. First-place winners at the farm show will be awarded a grand prize of $500 for the winning cake recipe and $250 for the winning cookie, brownie or bar recipe.

Apple pie contest

For the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest, pies must include at least 60 percent apples in the filling. The contest is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.

The pies will be judged on overall appearance; crust color, flavor, texture and doneness; filling consistency, doneness and flavor; and creativity.

The best pie at the state Farm Show will win $160.

For more information on entry requirements, call Melody Burns at 724-428-3617, or obtain a Jacktown Fair Premium Book at Burns Tire Service in Waynesburg.

Home