It was a typical Indian Summer day yesterday but it was also the first night of our county fair. I entered again this year as did Tim and Tracy. But I will talk more about that later on.

I first want to tell you about the fair. They have the usual carnival rides, the Merry Go Round, Ferris Wheel,Round Up , ect.  It looked like fun but at our age the rides were out so we just hung out at the exhibits.

They had all sorts of exhibits from the Farm Bureau, Anti Abortion, Political, Emergency Safety, Sheriff Department, 4 – H, the public schools . As well as the usual fair exhibits. The Public School exhibit was quite interesting and it showed that we have quite a few very talent students here in old St. Mary’s County.

But now let me tell you about the competition exhibits. The Best in show in the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Building went to a 452 pound pumpkin. It was large but I think it was to mis-shapen to have won best in show but it did. Someone had made a decorative entry of a teddy bear made out of several different sized pumpkins. Others had made elephants out of gourds many talented ideas. It was fantastic to see so many entries. The Fair seems to be making a come back. There are far more entrants the last two years than when I first started entering the fair 3 years ago. The photography entries were great so many talented people it must have been hard to judge. I know I never would have been able to. The home arts and crafts exhibits and entries were just fantastic.So much talent in one very small county I just can not get over it.

Now finally my category the home canned baked goods exhibit. Tim entered his canned tomatoes and Tracy tried her hand at sugar free peach preserves. I entered my  Chicken Vegetable Noodle Soup. I honestly did not know what to expect this year. I had not seen so many entries so early during the drop off since I started entering the fair. But I told Tim and Tracy good luck in their respective categories and we all dropped of our items. We  arrived at the Fair yesterday and they wanted to rush to the home building but I figured we might as well check out some other areas first seeing as I did not expect any of us to place this year but loll and behold my Chicken Vegetable Noodle Soup did place. I received the 2nd place ribbon this year. I could not believe it. Tim look like the proud poppa  of a new born son.   Tim nor Tracy did not place but the had fun and that is the most important thing.

Here is my recipe for my second place winning soup. Hope ya’ll enjoy it.

CHICKEN VEGETABLE NOODLE SOUP:

6 cups of chicken stock

1 onion chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

2 medium carrots washed and peeled, sliced

2 medium potatoes washed,peeled and cut up into 1 inch cubes

1 cup lima beans

1 cup  green beans

1/2 cup cooked peas

1 cup noodles cooked as per package directions

2 teaspoons sage

1 teaspoon garlic

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon white pepper

Place the chicken stock, onion, celery  carrots ,potatoes and spices  in a stock pot and bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer covered till potatoes are tender. Mean while cook the noodles as directed on the package. Add the remaining vegetables continue cooking till all vegetables are heated through. Add cooked noodles and heat another 5 minutes or till noodles are heated.