A newlywed bride who couldn't even make biscuits from a box. Her neighbor who baked 40 gingerbread houses. A teenager who learned to cook from her prize-winning grandmother. All became blue-ribbon winners at the North Carolina State Fair, and their stories and many others are told in this mouth-watering book.Is it skill or luck that makes a winner? Amy Rogers drove thousands of miles about North Carolina, visiting the kitchens of the state's best bakers and candy makers to find out. All of them willingly shared their stories and their secrets. More than a collection of recipes, this book contains tested hints, tips and shortcuts that all can use to de-mystify the best of Southern cooking. Recipes vary in difficulty from cupcakes that children can easily make to elaborate, special-occasion cakes and breads. Even novice cooks can use this book to create their own prize-winning delectables.
