Fair will put cooks to test

You can admire the handiwork of fellow cooks starting Friday at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

Judging for the baked goods and other food entries begins Friday morning before the gates open at 8:30 a.m. They will be on display until the fair ends on Sept. 19.

There are five nationally sponsored cooking and recipe contests this year. Two are for kids, including the Spam Kid Chef of the Year and the Gold Medal Cookie Contest. Adults will compete in the Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship, Fleischmann’s Yeast for special occasion breads and the Hidden Valley Family Friendly Food Contest.

At 6 p.m. on Monday the Tiers of Joy Cake Club will host its cake decorating contest in the Home Arts area.

And there are plenty of food demonstrations if you need more to whet your appetite. There will be bread making, butter churning, flour grinding and corn cleaning displays each day. There is also wood stove candy sampling. Those events will be held in the Steam and Gas Area and begin with bread making at 9 a.m. each day.

Canning and food safety experts from the Spokane County Cooperative Extension office also will hold court each day in the Ag Building to answer any questions. Most days someone will be available at 10 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. Double check the schedule for a specific time.

Don’t miss the exhibits of fruits and vegetables (read: behemoth pumpkins), canning, honey and more.

There will be plenty of fair food on hand to keep you fortified during your browsing.

Also, check out our ongoing coverage of the fair beginning this Friday on the cover of IN Life and continuing on Monday with a story about what you can do with your kids at the fair.

Look for a fair schedule at www.spokanecounty.org. Click on Spokane Interstate Fair.

Community cookbook competition

Tabasco maker McIlhenny Co. is holding its 15th annual Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards.

The awards are designed to honor cookbooks that raise money for charitable causes while preserving local culinary history. Winners will receive contributions to their charities if they win — $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $750 for third place. Six regional winners will get $500 each.

Cookbooks published for fund-raising by nonprofit organizations in 2003 or 2004 are eligible to enter the awards. Entry details, rules and forms are available at www.tabasco.com or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards, c/o Hunter Public Relations, 41 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10010.

Groups just interested in finding out how to publish an award-winning cookbook can write for a free booklet. It includes suggestions from judges on organizing, writing and publishing a winning cookbook. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Compling Culinary History, c/o McIlhenny Co., Attention: Sheryl Dartez, General Delivery, Avery Island, LA., 70513.