Kitchen Jam

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From the exhibitors page of the 2009 NJ State Fair, here are the official results for the canning and jamming competitions at this year’s fair — and a shout-out to all of the entrants and prize winners in every category! Keep preserving the seasons in jars, so that you’re ready for next year’s fair — August 6-15, 2010 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta NJ.

Section I – Canning

Class 1) Canned fruits
First: Jim & Sue Armstrong, Stanhope
Claire Demetroules, North Arlington

Class 2) Canned vegetables
First: Jim & Sue Armstrong, Stanhope
No Second
Third: Jim & Sue Armstrong, Stanhope

Class 3) Canned tomatoes –
(a) Whole tomatoes- no entries
(b) Tomato-based sauce
First: Jim & Sue Armstrong, Stanhope
Jim & Sue Armstrong, Stanhope
No Second
Third: Dawn Dembrowski, Newton
PROFESSIONAL
First & Second: Neil Nederfield, Lafayette
(c) Tomato Juice- no entries
(d) Tomato-based BBQ sauce
First: Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
Second: Jim & Sue Armstrong, Stanhope
No third
PROFESSIONAL
First: Neil Nederfield, Lafayette

Class 4) Canned pickles
(a) Cucumbers
First: Shawna Bengevenni, Wantage
No second or third
(b) Other vegetables
First: Bill Forgerson, Wantage
Second: Shawna Bengevenni, Wantage
Third: Jerri Powers, Newton
(c) Dill
First: Jerri Powers, Newton
No second, third
(d) Bread and Butter Pickles
First: Carol Oesen, Wantage
Second: Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
Third: Shawna Bengivenni, Wantage
(e) Watermelon Rind
First: Shawna Bengivenni, Wantage
No second or third

Class 5) Relishes -
(a) Salsa
First: Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
Second: Robin Hanak, Sussex
No third
PROFESSIONAL
First & Second: Neil Nederfield, Lafayette
(b) Pickle Relish
First: Shawna Bengevenni, Wantage
No Second or Third
PROFESSIONAL
Second: Neil Nederfield, Lafayette
(c) Other
First: Jerri Powers, Newton
Second: Kelli Puryear, East Orange
No third
PROFESSIONAL
First & Second: Neil Nederfield, Lafayette

Class 6) Jellies -
(a) Grape
First: Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
No second/third
Honorable Mention: Claire Demetronleo, North Arlington
(b) Other
No first or third
Second: Judy Nylen, Branchville
Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
PROFESSIONAL
Honorable mention: Raj Sinha, Sandyston

Class 7) Jams -
(a) Low or Sugar-free
First: Judy Nylen, Branchville
Second: Judy Nylen, Branchville
No third
(b) Strawberry
First: Carolyn Kent, Newton
Linda Pierson, Lake Hopatcong
No second/third
(c) Other
First: Sharon Spangenberg, Layton
Shawna Bengevenni, Wantage
Second: Linda Pierson, Lake Hopatcong
Third: Claire Demetroules, North Arlington
Judy Nylen, Branchville
Honorable Mention: Dotty Valkema, Sussex
PROFESSIONAL
First: Neil Nederfield, Lafayette

Class 8 ) Preserves –
(a) Low or Sugar-free- no entries
(b) Other(Special Award)
First: Claire Demetroules, North Arlington
Second: Shawna Bengevenni, Wantage
Third: Judy Nylen, Branchville

Class 9) Conserve
First: Judy Nylen, Branchville
Second: Judy Nylen, Branchville
Third: Judy Nylen, Branchville

Class 10) Fruit Butters
First: Kelli Puryear, East Orange
Second: Dotty Valkema, Sussex
No third

Class 11) Marmalade(Special Award)
First: Claire Demetroules, North Arlington
Second: Judy Nylen, Branchville
Third: Judy Nylen, Branchville
Honorable Mention: Judy Nylen, Branchville

Class 12) Chutney
First: Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
No second or third

Class 13) Mustards – no entries

Class 14) Vinegar-
(a) Fruit
First: Patricia Vasto, Parsippany
Second: Nancy Doyle, Secaucus
No third
(b) Herb- no entries
(c) Other- no entries

Some state fairs are much larger than others — and California’s state fair is a big one (the website url is even named www.bigfun.com.) It’s so big that I’m afraid it would take several blog posts to recognize by name all of the competitors and winners from the 2009 California State Fair’s competitions in Canning, Jams & Jellies, Fruits and Soft Spreads. So for this very big state fair, here are the links to the official competition results.

Big shout-outs to all of you home jammers and canners in California; now it’s time to get ready for your 2010 state fair.

California State Fair Jam & Jelly show results (19 page .pdf)
Pickle-Relish-Sauce-Salsa show results (8 page .pdf)
and Fruit & Soft Spreads results (5 page .pdf)
2009 Fair Dates: August 21 – September 7
official website

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Judging for the Iowa State Fair C&H Classic jam, jelly and marmalade competions was held August 9, 2009, prior to opening day of one of the largest state fair in the country which ran from August 13-23, 2009. Entries were judged on flavor, consistency, appearance and food safety in preparation.

Jam Results: First Place Overall and the Sweepstakes Award went to jammer Rod Zeitler of Iowa City, IA, who placed or won his class in 14 of the jam categories. Kris Miller of Ankeny, IA was honored as Second Place Overall and Reserve Sweepstakes winner. Third Place Overall went to Patricia A. Morris of Winterset IA. These are the complete official jam competition results from the Iowa State Fair site:

Apricot
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Kris Miller, Ankeny
Blackberry
1) Shelby McCreedy, Atlantic
2) Kris Miller, Ankeny
3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Honorable Mention) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
Blueberry
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Kris Miller, Ankeny
3) Meg Boulton, Des Moines
Cherry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Meryl A. “Oney” Johnson, Coralville
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Fig
1) Kris Miller, Ankeny
2) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs
3) Meg Boulton, Des Moines
Gooseberry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Mary Burr, Iowa City
3) Kris Rash, Denver
Peach
1) Shelby McCreedy, Atlantic
2) Sharon Crees, Des Moines
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Honorable Mention) Andrea Spencer, Gilbert
Pear
1) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs
2) Andrew Schmitz, Waukee
3) Linda J. Heiken, Adel
Pineapple
1) Kris Miller, Ankeny
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs
Wild Plum
1) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
2) Cathy Stahlman, Ames
Plum (other than wild plum)
1) Kris Miller, Ankeny
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Black Raspberry
1) Mary Burr, Iowa City
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Kris Rash, Denver
Red Raspberry
1) Kris Miller, Ankeny
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Rhubarb
1) Meryl A. “Oney” Johnson, Coralville
2) Karen Heege, Des Moines
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Rhubarb-Raspberry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Kris Miller, Ankeny
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Rhubarb-Strawberry
1) Patricia A. Morris, Winterset
2) Mary Burr, Iowa City
3) Linda J. Heiken, Adel
Strawberry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Louise Piper, Garner
3) Mary Burr, Iowa City
Three or More Fruits
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Sweet Sauces/Topping (for ice cream and other desserts), half-pint jar
1) Cathy Stahlman, Ames
2) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
3) Linda J. Heiken, Adel
Sugar Free
1) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs
Two Fruits Other Than Named Combinations
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Kris Miller, Ankeny
3) Frances Edleman, Webb
Jams Other Than Named (except freezer jams)
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Denise Hiller, Runnells
3) Kris Miller, Ankeny
Youth Entries (ages 12-17)
1) Rachel Hollingsworth, Urbandale

The C&H Canned Marmalades competition judged Tuesday, August 11. Rod Zeitler of Iowa City emerged as both First and Second Place Overall winner, while Robin Tarbell-Thomas of Centerville earned Third Place Overall. Zeitler and Thomas tied for Sweepstakes honors in the marmalade competitons.
Additional official results for the marmalades competition, from the Iowa State Fair website:
Grapefruit
1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Darlene Hollingsworth, Urbandale
Orange
1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville
2) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa
3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Peach
1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa
Tomato
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville
Three Citrus Fruits
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville
Marmalades Other Than Named
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa
3) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

Jelly Competition Results: Terri Sinclair of Cumming won First Place Overall in the C&H Classic Iowa Canned Jellies competition judged Monday, August 10 in competition at the 2009 Iowa State Fair. Louis Piper of Garner earned both Second and Third Places Overall.
Rod Zeitler of Iowa City won the Sweepstakes award, and Reserve Sweepstakes was a tie between Louise Piper of Garner and Cumming’s Terri Sinclair.
Additional official results from the Iowa State Fair website:

Apple
1) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa
2) Penny Murphy, Des Moines
3) Mary Burr, Iowa City
Blackberry
1) Terri Sinclair, Cummings
2) Louise Piper, Garner
3) Brenda Becker, Pella
Blueberry
1) Darlene Hollingsworth, Urbandale
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Cherry
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
3) Shelby McCreedy, Atlantic
Cranberry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Louise Piper, Garner
3) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
Elderberry
1) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
2) Sandy Barnard, Cedar Rapids
3) Kathryn Brenneman, Riverside
Grape
1) Mary Burr, Iowa City
2) Darlene Hollingsworth, Urbandale
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Honorable Mention) Patricia A. Morris, Winterset
Pepper (food coloring optional)
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Denise Hiller, Runnells
3) Karen Heege, Des Moines
Herb Jelly Other Than Named (food coloring optional)
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Sally Kilkenny, Granger
3) Mary Burr, Iowa City
Peach
1) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
2) Louise Piper, Garner
3) Darlene Hollingsworth, Urbandale
Honorable Mention) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Black Raspberry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Louise Piper, Garner
3) Penny Murphy, Des Moines
Red Raspberry
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Meryl A. “Oney” Johnson, Coralville
3) Louise Piper, Garner
Honorable Mention) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa
Rhubarb
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
3) Linda J. Heiken, Adel
Honorable Mention) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Strawberry
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
3) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa
Honorable Mention) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Combination of Fruits (two or more)
1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
2) Louise Piper, Garner
3) Mary Burr, Iowa City
Honorable Mention) Darlene Hollingsworth, Urbandale
Wine
1) Terri Sinclair, Cumming
2) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs
3) Meryl A. “Oney” Johnson, Coralville
Jellies Other Than Named
1) Louise Piper, Garner
2) Denise Hiller, Runnells
3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City
Youth Entries (ages 12-17)
1) Rachel Hollingsworth, Urbandale
2) None Awarded
3) None Awarded
Honorable Mention) Emilie Skartvedt, Des Moines

Congratulations to all of the participants and winners in the Iowa State Fairm Jam, Jelly and Marmalade competions!

Did you or someone you know win a ribbon at the county or state fair for their jam, jelly, marmalade, pickles or other canned goods? Contact me, and we’ll give them a shout-out here at Kitchen Jam!

After posting the winners of the classes at New York State Fair’s Canning & Preserving competions, I wondered what kinds of categories other jammers and canners across the country could find at their state fairs — and who was winning these categories in 2009. Thanks to the wide reach of the Internet,  many of the answers to my questions are only a search query away.

Alaska is so large that it has two divisions to its atate fair – one in Fairbanks, and another in Palmer. So without further ado, let’s give a shout-out to these winners of the canning and preserving categories at the Alaska State Fair (Palmer), which ran August 27 – September 7, 2009! These official results were taken from the Alaska State Fair website.

Canning Division Champions
Division 01: Junior, 12 and under: Parker Caldwell of Wasilla, AK
Division 02: Junior, 13 – 17: Kenny Larson of Palmer, AK
Division 03: Jelly: Becky Menefee of Palmer, AK
Division 04: Preserve: Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
Division 05: Conserve: Nicole Bendle of Wasilla, AK
Division 06: Jam: Tanya Shanks of Palmer, AK
Division 07: Juice: Cari Lester of Wasilla, AK
Division 08: Syrup, Sauce, Blossom Honey: Sherry Whitstine of Wasilla, AK
Division 09: Sugar-Free: Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
Division 10: Chutney, Relish: Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
Division 11: Vinegar, Oils: Sharon Horwath of Wasilla, AK
Division 12: Pickles: Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
Division 13: Vegetables: Cheri Thomas of Eagle River, AK
Division 14: Fruit: Gloria Gale of Palmer, AK
Division 15: Dried Food: Arthur Mueller of Palmer, AK
Division 17: Seafood: Elaine Martin of Wasilla, AK

Canning Special Awards
Best of Show Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
Judge’s Choice Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
Judge’s Choice Gloria Gale of Palmer, AK

Ball Fresh Preserving Special Award
(Fruits, Adult, First Place) Gloria Gale of Palmer, AK
(Fruits, Adult, Second Place) Gloria Gale of Palmer, AK
(Vegetables, Adult, First Place) Cheri Thomas of Eagle River, AK
(Vegetables, Adult, Second Place) Gloria Wilson of Wasilla, AK
(Pickles, Adult, First Place) Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
(Pickles, Adult, Second Place) Judy Lavigne of Anchorage, AK
(Soft Spread, Adult, First Place) Michelle Hamrick of Anchorage, AK
(Soft Spread, Adult, Second Place) Janice L. Anderson of Anchorage, AK
(Fruits, Youth) Kenny Larson of Palmer, AK
(Vegetables, Youth) Kenny Larson of Palmer, AK
(Pickles, Youth) Hayden Scalis of Anchorage, AK
(Soft Spreads, Youth) Angus Shaw of Wasilla, AK

C & H Sugar Special Award (entry using C& H sugar, Judge’s Choice)
(Open, 1st Place) Robbie Johnson of Anchorage, AK
(Open, 2nd Place) Janice C. Anderson of Anchorage, AK
(Open, 3rd Place) Tanya Shanks of Palmer, AK
(Junior, 1st Place) Emma German of Palmer, AK
(Junior, 2nd Place) Kenny Larson of Palmer, AK
(Junior, 3rd Place) Parker Caldwell of Wasilla, AK

Congratulations, Alaska jammers and canners!

Do you know someone who’s won a ribbon at the county or state fair for jams, jellies, relishes, pickles or anything else jammed, preserved or canned? Send me a link to the state site, and I’ll give them a shout-out here at Kitchen Jam. And of course, if anyone would like to share your special state or county fair recipes, please contact me at gaelen2 at yahoo dot com.

On Tuesday, I updated my New York State Fair winners post with the names of the first-place winners in the Canning and Jam & Jelly Culinary competitions.

Today I have Kathy Wood’s 1st Grand Prize winning recipe for Red Pepper Relish, which won the Fair’s overall Labor Day cook-off to earn best dish overall for 2009. Congratulations, Kathy! Here’s a link to the video from the winners announcement on Canning Day, which was broadcast on Syracuse9WSYR: video

9WSYR also published Kathy’s winning recipe on their site:

Kathy Wood’s 2009 New York State Fair Grand Prize Winner:

Red Pepper Relish

6-8 large red bell peppers; cut in ¼ inch dice
8-10 tomatoes, seeded & diced
2-3 large onions, chopped
6-8 cloves garlic, finely minced
2-3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely minced
3 tablespoons kosher salt
2 cups sugar
1 ¾ cups cider vinegar
½ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
1 tablespoon dried oregano, lightly crushed
1-2 bay leaves

Directions:

1. Mix red pepper, tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapenos and salt in large bowl. Allow to stand for three hours. Drain thoroughly, but do not rinse.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Let boil for 10 minutes.
3. Reduce heat to medium, stir in pepper mixture, and cook until peppers are translucent but still crunchy, about 30-45 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and cool until warm. Remove bay leaf.
5. Return relish to a low boil.
6. Ladle hot into clean, hot, one-pint jar leaving 1/2” headspace.
7. Release air bubbles, clean rim and threads, seal with a new scalded lid, and a threaded ring.
8. Process 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.
9. Yield: approximately 4 pints.