The funny thing about looking for recipes on the internet is there’s no guarantee they’re any good.
I write recipes, photograph them, put them on the blog, and you just have to take my word for it that they're tasty.
Regular readers may have tried a few dishes with some success, so they start to trust me. Others arrive to this site after asking google for something in particular; for them deciding to make my version is a leap of faith.
Sometimes I get feedback on my recipes, like the lovely email I received last month about mock chicken spread, hi Jan! Comments help too, Annaleis made my tomato paste last week (tomatoes must be cheap in WA at the moment) and wrote to let me know it was delicious, thank you.
Occasionally it’s nice to get some official validation.
The Royal Queensland Show opened yesterday. I’ve loved the Ekka since I was a kid. Massive shiny roosters crowing in close proximity, bulls being blow-dried, the mixture of wonder and disgust on the faces of first time visitors to the lambing display. It’s just about my favourite day out for the year. You know what else I love about the Ekka? They consider cookery to be one of the fine arts.
In 2012, while in the depths of sorrow from the loss of David, Bearhands encouraged me to focus on my love of cooking. He set me a number of challenges, including entering my pickles in the Royal Queensland Show. That year my mustard pickles came second in the novice category. There was much disbelief and high-fiving. Then in 2013, I won the category. My blue ribbon win meant I was no longer considered a novice.
This year, up against the big boys in the open category, I entered mustard pickles and cucumber pickles. Time flew, life happened and before I knew it I was late. By the time I got to making them, my pickles only had twenty days to judging. Mum delivered my entries for me last Friday. When the lady asked if she’d be collecting them at the end of the show, Mum said she would; preferably wearing little blue bonnets. The lady laughed. I wasn’t confident.
Then on Thursday night, Mum phoned. Dad had looked up the results on the internet. I’d won both categories. Cue squeals and me doing the running man in the kitchen. Bearhands thought they’d won lotto, but he wasn’t disappointed when he learned the real reason.
After the celebrations died down, Bearhands suggested we should go on the show circuit. When I pointed out that would make us carnies, he shifted his attention to selling my prize-winning pickle recipes to the highest bidder.
Incidentally, if you’d a food company on the look out for a great pickle recipe, you should get in touch with my agent!
It's not looking like I'll make it to see them for myself, so if you’re passing by the pickles at the Ekka, will you please snap a photo and share the picture with me?
Jodie@FreshHomeCook says
Well done you! What a fantastic achievement Amanda!! I always loved going in to see all the cooking entries at the show. All those beautiful cakes & cookies made me happy!
I may, or may not have been doing something akin to the running man just last night while unpacking my new kitchen gadget. Must be a foodie kind of thing! 🙂 xx
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
I'm pickled pink for you lovely - not literally but maybe later! I hope someone takes piccys for you - would be great to see! And I hope someone pays you big bucks for you recipe and you go global... x
Bec @ The Plumbette says
Yay Amanda! I am a huge Ekka fan but won't be going this year with a 4 week old bub! Enter again next year and win and I will totally take pictures and tell everyone I know who made these pickles! I once tried to make jam and it turned to taffy. I'm impressed with anyone who can jam and pickle! 🙂
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Thanks Bec. Congrats on your latest production, much cuter than pickles! xx
SIL says
Big Congrats!
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Thanks SIL. xx
middleagedmama1 says
Darn I wish I'd read this before I went to the Ekka yesterday! I took photos of cakies and teddies, dolls and quilts, but must admit I didn't even think to take a pic of pickles!!!
Seana Smith says
Go the pickle lady. I've never been to the Ekka but my mum is still entering things at the local Flower Show in her village in Scotland and I am still chuffed that I won best sponge in the Under 12s category back in 1973!!
Johnny says
Congrats on the win... it must feel great but are you going to be generous and reveal your recipe? Is your mustard pickles runny or thick as what do the judges want? I'd loved to get the recipe LOL I did hear that lots are not happy with the Ekka Cookery this year - some winners were in the wrong sized bottles and some in wrong sized cake tins and the tomato sauce was as black as the night and not red as it should be ... all a big schmozzle. BTW is anyone willing to share around pictures of the cake jam preserve section as it's great to know what the judges look for.
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
I didn't make it to the Ekka this year Johnny, so I couldn't tell you about the jars/tins, sorry. As for the recipe, I'll be keeping it to myself for a little while longer. 🙂
Johnny says
Any chance of relenting and revealing the Pickles recipe?? 😉
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Not today Johnny! 🙂