Get cookin', the fair is on its way

With the Alaska State Fair just two months away, it is time for people to start experimenting in the kitchen to come up with a blue ribbon-winning recipe in one of the many competitions.

Because of the popularity of cooking competitions at state fairs across the country, Joyce Agnew launched www.statefairrecipes.com, which has award-winning recipes in a number of contests from fairs around the

nation.

"I've talked to thousands of winners over the years and I feel a camaraderie with them," Agnew said. "I hope this Web site will bring a connection for Americans who love to bake, cook and compete."

Agnew has coordinated more than 345 contests at 100 state and county fairs. At her Web site, people can find contest information for more than a dozen of the biggest prize money contests at fairs. The new site shares recipes, tips from judges and secrets from winners.

The summer debut of the second phase of the Web site includes interviews with Alberta Dunbar, southern California's most prolific winner who made a SPAM cheesecake on Jay Leno's television show. There is also an interview with Arlette Hollister, who manages more than 10,000 food entries each year at the Iowa State Fair. In a feature story on the site, Mary Bartz, director of Betty Crocker Kitchens, talks about how Betty Crocker comes to life in state fair recipes.

Recipes:

Ginger peachy cake

Softasilk Championship Cake award winner

Jacqueline Brown

-- Tully, N.Y.

CANDIED ALMONDS

21Ú2 tablespoons butter

1 egg white

Pinch of salt

1Ú2 cup sugar

1Ú2 teaspoon ginger

2 cups slivered almonds

CAKE

21Ú2 cups Softasilk cake flour

11Ú2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

11Ú2 teaspoons ginger

1Ú2 cup oil

6 egg yolks

11Ú2 cups sliced fresh

peaches, pureed

11Ú2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons freshly grated lime peel

1 tablespoons fresh lime juice

7 egg whites

1Ú2 teaspoon cream of tartar

GINGER CREAM

2 cups whipping cream

3Ú4 cup brown sugar, not packed

1Ú2 teaspoon ginger

11Ú2 teaspoons vanilla

Prepare candied almonds by heating oven to 325

degrees. Place butter in a 13x9-inch and put in oven to melt butter. Remove when melted. In a bowl, beat egg white and salt until soft peaks form. Slowly add sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in ginger and almonds. Pour over the melted butter and bake at 325 for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool completely.

In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and ginger. Form a well and add, in order: oil, egg yolks, peach puree, vanilla, lime rind and lime juice. Beat until smooth.

In another large bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold peach mixture into egg whites, and pour into ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 325 for 55 minutes, then increase temperature to 350 for final 10 to 15 minutes. Invert pan and cool completely.

In a large bowl, whip cream at high speed until thick. Gradually add brown sugar, ginger and vanilla and continue beating until soft peaks form. Put frosting on cake, and decorate sides and top with candied almonds.

FESTIVE FOCACCIA

1 cup plus 3 tablespoons

water

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups bread flour

11Ú2 teaspoons

Fleischmann's bread

machine yeast

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

TOPPING

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

Coarse salt

Add water, oil, salt, flour, yeast and rosemary to bread machine in the order suggested by manufacturer. Select the doughÚmanual cycle. When cycle is complete, remove dough from machine to a lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest for five minutes.

For dough into smooth ball. Roll to 12-inch round, place on a pizza pan that has been lightly greased with olive oil. Poke dough randomly with fingertips to form dimples. Brush top with olive oil, and sprinkle with rosemary and salt to taste. Cover, let rise in warm, draft-free place until almost doubled in size.

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with olive oil and freshly ground course black pepper if

desired.