Scottish Highland Cattle Judging at the State Fair

Yesterday at the state fair we watched the Scottish Highland cow competition. It was exciting all the way to the end. My cousin and his wife own several cows and had won their county fair and brought their highlands to the state competition.

Highland cattle or kyloe are an ancient Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and long wavy pelts which are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow or dun.

The breed was developed in the Scottish Highlands and western isles of Scotland. Breeding stock has been exported to the rest of the world, especially Australia and North America, since the 1900s. The breed was developed from two sets of stock, one originally black, and the other reddish.

Highlands are known as a hardy breed due to the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and strong winds. They both graze and browse and eat plants many other cattle avoid. The meat tends to be leaner than most beef, as highlands get most of their insulation from their thick shaggy hair rather than subcutaneous fat. The coat also makes them a good breed for cold Northern climates.

Highland cattle have been successfully established in many temperate countries. Their hair provides protection during the cold winters and their skill in browsing for food enables them to survive in steep mountain areas.

First it was the 1 year old Janet and Evelyn to be judged, they came in 3rd and 4th

Janet is here in the front and Evelyn is a blond right behind her.

Cousin Bob is showing a little tension.

Next it was Maudine and Dorothy's turn, they are the 2 year old's.

There were many, many fan's there to route for their favorite's.

The anticipation is to much!

The Blue ribbon winner was announced and awarded to the Swalanders for first prize with Maudine!

After that all blue ribbons winners were judged and again Maudine was chosen as the GRAND CHAMPION!

This is what I still haven't told you, the cows were named after these Swalander ladies, and they couldn't be more proud of their namesakes!

This is back at the barn ! Doesn't it just make you glad all over!

Cheers to Happy !

More to Come

Tomorrow I will post the Scottish Highlander cow judging competition at our State Fair. They are the most beautiful cows! This is Maudine the highlander cow. Tomorrow we will see how she did in the stiff competition.

Your Best Potato Salad

We are going to talk about potato salad. Making your own potato salad, and making it your own. Everyone has there own, my sister has the all time great one, my mothers is pretty great, my brother's is industrial strength, what they all have in common is everyone thinks theirs is the best. That is because everyone makes it the way they like it. This is my theory anyway. Same as Chili or Spaghetti sauce, everyone makes the one they like.

Basic Simple Potato Salad

12 Boiled Potatoes( although I have used reds here, the best are russets) cubed

12 Boiled Eggs, (one for every average size potato) chopped

medium sized onion, (more if you like more) chopped

pickles (the amount you like) at least 6 chopped

lots of salt and pepper

1 cup of mayo

a couple of big tablespoons yellow mustard

mix the mayonaise and mustard in a seperate bowl, it works best this way.....salt and pepper the potatoes before you add the dressing, again, trust me on this, it is best this way too.

You can peel the potatoes or leave the peels on for that rustic look. Mix all together and salt and pepper to taste, now you can start adding anything that you like, olives, sweet pickles, some put pickle juice, celery, celery salt, some even add carrots. Just make it your own

This is mine, pretty plain, but the way I like it. It makes me happy!

Cheers to Happy  !

The Fisher Scone Booth at the Western Washington State Fair

This Booth is under the grandstand at the fair in Puyallup Washington. They have other booths scattered all over the fair, but for some reason the scones are better right here in the original spot.

They mix the scones in this big mixer, you can watch
from windows into the booth.

The scones are made by the hundreds and are ready to go into the oven

These really nice ladies are putting butter and red raspberry jam inside, then in bags to sell to you!

 I would love to show a picture of an actual scone, but someone ate it.

Cheers to Happy !

Amazing Sweet and Sour Chicken

 This is a great recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken. It is gooey and sticky and crispy all at the same time.

very easy to make, take three whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cube

roll in cornstarch and dip in beaten egg, fry in vegetable oil.

fry all chicken until brown (doesn't need to be cooked all the way through, will finish in the oven)

Pour sweet and sour sauce all over chicken and put in the oven, bake for 1 hour turning chicken over every 15 minutes. The last 1/2 hour it gets sticky and gooey.

Very good with plain white rice, now for the recipe!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in cubes

1 cup of cornstarch

2 beaten eggs

salt and pepper

1/2 cup vegetable oil

sauce:

3/4 cup of sugar

4 tablespoons of ketchup

1/2 cup of vinegar

1 tablespoon of soy sauce

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

mix all ingredients for sauce in bowl and set aside.

Dip chicken in cornstarch and then egg and fry until brown. This is messy but worth it. Place all chicken in baking dish in single layer and spoon sauce all over, (will seem to wet, but it evaporates) bake at 325 oven for 1 hour, turning chicken every 15 minutes.

If so desired you can hold back 1/2 cup of the sauce and make an additionl topping for the chicken or rice. add 1 tsp. cornstarch to the sauce and cook over medium heat until thick. you can spoon over rice or chicken.

Cheers to Happy !

Get Ready, Look whats coming!

Oh, the best time of the year is coming! You can feel it in the air, it is fair time and fair time means fall in the great pacific northwest!

this will soon turn into this most beautiful color

Cheers to Happy !

Sunday Churches

I have a fascination with churches. I love to look at them, wonder about them and go in them. I have been known to light candles in them and think about the weddings, baptisms and funerals that have gone on in them. The older the better and the more gothic the better. They make me happy. I have favorites, many, many favorites. I will share some of them on Sundays (of course).

This the the Catholic church in San Francisco. St Peter and Paul's church. It is downtown in little Italy, right next to Washington Park.

The last time I was there, I went in and went up toward the front of the church and lit a candle and was thinking about the family that have died since I was last there.
(very reverently) There were some very old people who were coming in and sitting down, I didn't think to much about it and then I heard some talking and realized mass was starting. whoops! I sat down in the second row and spent the next hour attending mass. (no, I am not catholic) It sure turned into a highlight of the trip for me.

Cheers to Happy !