Jefferson’s premier State Fair baker, Marianne Carlson, won first place overall, the Sweepstakes Award, and a $200 gift card in the King Arthur Baking Company yeast bread contest judged Friday, Aug. 12, at the Iowa State Fair.
She placed first, second or third in eight separate divisions to claim the Sweepstakes Award. She placed first in the caraway rye, egg, mixed grain and raisin divisions; second in the French bread and potato divisions; and third in the oatmeal and in the yeast bread other than named divisions.
Entries were judged on flavor, appearance and texture.
The next day, Aug. 13, was a big day for Carlson.
In the Comfy Coffee Cakes competition was judged, she won first place and a $100 cash award. Entrants were challenged to bake an award winning scratch-made coffee cake and accompany the cake with a story relevant to the baked creation. Entries were judged on taste, appearance and story.
She won first place and a $250 cash award in the Bud Elwell’s Old Fashioned Fudge competition. Competitors were tasked to make a traditional fudge that does not contain marshmallows, marshmallow cream, peanut butter or other flavorings. Entries were judged on taste and texture.
In the Hesitant Baker competition Carlson placed second and won $100. Bakers were to create a sheet cake with homemade frosting and include a story about the cake. Entries were judged on taste, appearance, and the story.
The Tribute to Bessie competition was also judged Aug. 13. Contestants were tasked with baking a one or two crust pie that featured one or a combination of blueberries, marionberries, blackberries or loganberries. Entries were judged on taste, creativity and appearance.
Carlson claimed second place and $100 in that competition.
Carlson demonstrated the diversity of her kitchen skills in the Eorfins Best Homemade Hot Sauce competition, also judged Aug. 13. Carlson received a $750 cash award for her efforts. Entries were judged on taste, texture/appearance, aroma, and the use of “heat.”
Carlson claimed first place overall in the fruit pie class of the Machine Shed Pies competition judged Aug. 15.
In the fruit pies class she placed first in the two crust fruit other than named division and third in the lattice top cherry and rhubarb-strawberry divisions.
In the cream pie class she took first place in the chocolate cream division and second place in the one crust cream other than named division.
Entrants were judged on crust quality, filling, appearance and originality.
