2013 Johnson County Fair Recipes

As a long-time baker, one of my goals was to win a baking contest. I tried, unsuccessfully, a few years ago when I entered Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins in the County Fair for a cranberry baking competition. Those muffins were delicious and looked big and fluffy, but didn't even place because "the white chocolate flavor overpowered the cranberry flavor".

A year or two later, I was ready to try again. This time, I tried three recipes to increase my odds : Light Rye Bread made in a bread machine; Birthday Cookies baked in the microwave; and Apple Muffins sweetened with honey instead of sugar. As it turned out, all three won a first place ribbon for their category! The Birthday Cookies even won the Champion ribbon for the whole Make It in the Microwave group! Best of all, though, we have a couple of great new recipes to treat my family.

Apple Muffins

½ c whole wheat flour

1 c all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ c vegetable oil

¼ c honey

½ c milk

½ c apple sauce

1 egg, beaten

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped 

Combine dry ingredients, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Bake at 375^o until golden brown (approximately 20-25).
Servings: Makes 7 to 8 muffins

Birthday Cookies

4 Tbsp light margarine

¼ cup + 1 Tbsp sugar

1 egg

1 cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 container of Betty Crocker Cookie Icing

1 Tbsp multi-colored sprinkles

Cream sugar and margarine, then beat in the egg. Add flour, salt, and baking powder to the bowl, and then beat the ingredients together. Chill for 1 hour. Drop 3 tablespoons of batter on parchment paper on plate to make 3 cookies at a time. Microwave the 3 cookies at a time for 90 seconds. Cool cookies on a wire rack, then frost the cookies. Top the cookies with sprinkles. Servings: Makes 9 cookies 

Light Rye Bread

⁷/₈ cup water

1 ²/₃ cups bread flour

¾ cup Rye flour

1 ½ Tbsp sugar

1 ½ Tbsp dry milk

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp margarine

1 ½ tsp Rapid Rise Yeast 

Add ingredients in the order listed to the bread machine pan. Bake in the quick baking, light crust setting (total machine time: 1 hour, 53 minutes).