PUHI — The cake was so good, Cammie Matsumoto of Kaua‘i Community College had to comment to the members of the Hawai‘i Association for Family and Community Education. “You’re welcome to have more,” said Lenore Klass, a finalist in the
PUHI — The cake was so good, Cammie Matsumoto of Kaua‘i Community College had to comment to the members of the Hawai‘i Association for Family and Community Education.
“You’re welcome to have more,” said Lenore Klass, a finalist in the recent Pillsbury cook-off and creator of the Red Beet Cake, Saturday. “I used canned beets for this batch, but the taste is better if you use fresh beets.”
Brian Yamamoto, a KCC natural sciences instructor, said the cake did not even taste like it had beets in it.
“It’s a good way to get people to eat their vegetables,” he said.
Beets are the special vegetable grown for competition at this year’s Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair.
It belongs to the amaranth family of plants and is a close relative of chard. Native to the Mediterranean, it reportedly has detoxifying properties, is high in iron and a great source of folate, essential for healthy fetal development and a healthy cardiovascular system. It is high in potassium, dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, phosphorus and a number of micronutrients.
Leaves and stems of plants are steamed briefly, or stir-fried and eaten as a vegetable. The root is boiled as a hot vegetable, or eaten cold as a salad ingredient. It can also be baked, pickled or made into soup such as cold borscht. It is also used shredded raw as a salad garnish. Young leaves are used as baby greens in a mixed salad.
The FCE members were on hand at the Kaua‘i Community Market held in partnership with the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau and KCC to invite people to submit entries for the Home Economics phase of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair opening on Aug. 26.
“Entries will be accepted during the morning of the 26th, and judging should take place some time after 1 p.m. before the fair opens later that afternoon,” Klass said. “There will also be Open Judging, Saturday, for the special one-crust pie entries.”
Macadamia nuts are the special ingredients for bakers and people interested in entering recipes in the 2010 contest.
Recipes can be in categories including breads, muffins, cookies, cakes and others.
Entries requiring refrigeration will not be accepted.
Bakers entering the special Open Judging Single Crust Dessert Pie contest must pre-register on Aug. 26 and bring their entries to the fair on Aug. 28 by 12:30 p.m.
The Open Judging takes place before an audience and the exhibitor must be present during the judging.
Other categories being accepted for the 2010 Home Show include Machine Sewn items, Needlework, Arts and Crafts, including two special crafts contests.
One class includes Christmas Decor and the other involves Recycled Arts and Crafts.
A special Juniors Only class will include divisions in Lego and Jewelry.
More information can be obtained by visiting the KFCE office at the state building in Lihu‘e.
