Fair Time

Today was the day for fair entries and as usual I felt inclined to give another try to my baking/canning skills.
This year I decided to try my hand at Popovers, Raspberry Jam, Whole Wheat Bread, Chocolate Chip Cookies and of course an Angel Food cake.

For the most part everything was going along without problems. I baked the cake first and it got nice and fluffy and high. It might be a little more moist than it should be but the flavor and texture and volume were perfect! Next I tried my hand at the wheat bread.
It seemed like it was doing good too but i put plastic over it so that the bread dough wouldn't stick to the towel and it stuck to the plastic instead. I carefully pulled the plastic off but it messed with the bread anyway. When the bread was finished baking I let it cool for a little bit and then cut it open to see what it was like. It was a new recipe and I wasn't impressed. The texture was too coarse. So I made another loaf and added more flour to the recipe so that I could knead it and it turned out wonderful! I am hoping for a Blue Ribbon on that one.
Next I tried my hand at the popovers- they came out looking fantastic!!! I was so elated because it can be a real challenge to get them to turn out nice. I thought for sure that they would win a prize but when I tried to get them out of the pan - the pan had a death grip on them! It almost took a chisel to get them free(jk) but I did have to use a knife to cut them free. Needless to say those were not going to the fair. I tried my hand at it a second time and greased the pans real well. I used the same recipe and thought for sure that all would turn out well. It did as far as being able to free them from the pan but this time they turned out heavy and did not rise. More practice is needed!
The Chocolate Chip cookies turned out soft and cakelike. They taste really good but I have a lot of competion so we'll see how they fair.I'm not expecting them to go very far- except perhaps down our bellies:) MMMM.
The Raspberry Jam I made with Ball Pectin. I've never been a fan of the Ball brand and this year has been no exception. I get better results with Certo but if I used the Ball pectin and things worked out I could win some more canning jars and supplies so I gave it a shot. It has good flavor and color but I think it is too weepy. Perhaps the jar that I chose will stand up better but yet not be gummy when it comes time to spread it. I really don't think that jam is going to go very far either. It will surprise me indeed if it does anything except look good on the shelf!
Anyway tomorrow will be the day of truth as they are judging the entries tonight.
SO here's to keeping my fingers crossed!