On Wednesday, June 24, Karlyn Raine, the Home and Hobby Coordinator presented Carolyn, in front of approximately 100 people, a certificate for the Best of Division (Prepared Mix-Up) plus a large, blue, rosette ribbon and $25.00.
There were many awards presented to many people both men and women, for the various categories in the, “Home and Hobby Division,” located in the Grand Stand Building, East, fourth floor. All the displays are in the same building except in the West end, second floor.
The San Diego County Fair was originally called the Del Mar Fair and has been in existence since 1888. This was organized by a group of San Diegans. The fair at that time, was simple consisting of: people submitting their best baked goods, animals, fastest horse, new ideas, and best citrus fruit. In 1936, the 22nd District Agricultural Association bought land at the mouth of the San Dieguito River for the Fairgrounds. Around the same time, the Del Mar Turf Club leased the racetrack from the 22nd DAA to operate an annual live racing meet.
There are 8 Divisions under the, The Baked Foods and Candy Division. These are Cakes, Candy, Challenged Baking, Cookies, Healthy Baking, Prepared Mix Up, Quick Bread, Pastries and Yeast Breads.
Under the 8 Division there are 59 classifications. The cake Carolyn made was made from a Duncan Hines white cake mix plus her own special ingredients.
Snow Ball Eggnog Holiday Cake
Serves 12
1 Box Duncan Hines White Cake Mix
3 whole eggs
1 and 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup Crisco Oil
2 tsp of Watkins White Vanilla Extract
2 tsp Watkins Butter Extract
2 tsp Watkins Rum Extract
3/4 cup of Crisco vegetable shortening
2 lb bag of Powered Sugar
3-4 tbls of milk
2 tsp each White Vanilla, Butter and Rum Extracts
Mix first 8 ingredients as regular cake and bake at 350 for 35 minutes using 2, 8 inch round pans.
Mix together Crisco, Powdered Sugar, Extracts and Milk.
Add milk as needed to get firm peaks.
Then beat for 5 minutes on medium speed.
Cool cake and fill, and ice, using a circular motion to make snow peaks in icing.
Decorate with holly.
Carolyn won first place two other times in years past. One prize was for a Double Dark German Chocolate Cake and the other for Mince Meat Preserves. The German Chocolate Cake was published in the 2006 Del Mar Fair Cook Book and now she will have this recipe for her Snow Ball Eggnog Cake published in the 2009 San Diego County Fair Cook Book.
The first time Carolyn entered the baking competition was on a dare. She was at the fair with a friend and the friend said to her, “I can’t believe this cake won first place. Your cakes are so much better.” With these words spoken from her friends mouth Carolyn started her tradition of entering a baked good every year since 1988. In that time, if she did not win first place she did win honorable mention.
Carolyn and her granddaughter entered a Ginger Bread House into the children’s completion about 10 years ago and her granddaughter won first place. Talent definitely runs in her family. Her daughter, Peggy, is a, “Specialty Cake Baker,” in Minnesota.
Carolyn has four children two girls and two boys. She has eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren and one on the way. Carolyn grew up in Chicago with her parents and a younger brother (now deceased.) Her parents owned a small, “Mom and Pop Italian Diner. Carolyn and her brother used to work in this restaurant after school and on weekends. She learned at a very early age how to cook and to cook in large denominations.
She is now retired from the Department of Defense, Electronic, Technical Division. Her love of cooking and baking makes her a volunteer, who cooks and bakes, in large volume, at the Skyline Church for the Skyline Singles Group and the Senior Group, in La Mesa, CA.
As a single mom of four, Carolyn started experimenting with baking cakes, on special occasions, birthdays and holiday’s. This obviously started her on her incredible career as a creative baker entering the competitions at the Del Mar Fair.
Carolyn says, “I love to cook and bake and to enter the contest. I love the San D
iego County Fair and I take my grandchildren two times a year. I hope the Fair will be available for many more years.” She takes them on wrist band day which is on every Wednesday and Thursdays. This costs $30.00 plus the cost of admission, but the children can ride the rides from 12 noon until 8:00 P.M. in the Kiddie Land Rides and Fun Zone.
If you would like to enter any of the numerous contests in the many categories, you can pick a catalogue at your local library the first of April or go on line and register. www.sdfair.com/entry. All the registration forms must be in by May 5th. There is a small charge which is different per category. With an entry of two or more items you receive two free tickets to the fair.
I hope there will be another San Diego County Fair to attend next year. What do you think?
