Meeting a favourite author

In between a hectic program of attending country shows, a recent personal highlight for Liz was having the chance to meet one of her favourite authors, Diana Gabaldon, during her visit to Australia this month. Diana has sold more then 8 million books, including the wildly popular, award-winning Outlander series. The seventh novel in the series, An Echo in the Bone, was released in Australia in September. A full-house of more than 200 people greeted Diana at her Mount Barker appearance, where guests were entertained with live traditional Scottish folk music, and refreshments, including wines specially labelled for the occasion.

Author heads home...

Liz Harfull will return to her home town for a special Meet the Author event to raise funds for the Christ Church Building fund in Mount Gambier. “We are really looking forward to hosting Liz and hearing about her adventures in writing the book, and being a published author,” says parish council member, Wendy Monger. “Since the book was released she has traveled the State appearing at country shows and speaking at author events, but this will be the first opportunity most people will have had to hear her speak about it in her home town. We are planning to provide a good old-fashioned afternoon tea for the event, including recipes from the book. The local branch of the National Trust is organizing a special display from its collection, and there will be a display of old recipe books provided by various parishioners.”
The event will be held on November 18 at 2pm at Christ Church Hall, Bay Road. Tickets cost $8, including afternoon tea, and are available from the church office, phone 8723 1353. Copies of the book will be for sale (cash only) and signing at the event.

Bloomin marvellous

The annual Penola Show at the weekend turned on a spectacular display of roses, filling most of Rymill Hall with one of the most spectacular exhibitions of cut flowers you would find anywhere. Because of a sudden, unseasonally warm spell, more than a few exhibitors dragged themselves out of bed in the small hours of the morning to cut their blooms for the event. Up for grabs was a $1000 prize for the overall champion rose - not easy to win given the town's reputation for producing outstanding roses and the increasing number and level of competition.

Eggs galore

Keeping your own chickens is obviously a popular pass-time at Callington. Author Liz Harfull counted more than 60 entries in the egg classes when she attended the annual show yesterday to officially open the event - by her reckoning, not far off the total number of houses in the small, historic mining town between Murray Bridge and Mount Barker. Callington holds what is believed to be Australia's youngest agricultural show. Now in its eighth year, the event is growing steadily, with the support of a very active local community and sponsors. Indoor classes grew so much this year the organising committee had to add a marquee to the side of the hall to cope. The event is also drawing a growing number of patrons from Adelaide, keen to experience the traditions of a country show.

Country Hour cooks up a storm

ABC Country Hour Riverland reporter Natalie Oliveri and trainee reporter Amy Spear didn't have much baking experience to fall back on when they took on competing in the first-ever ABC Country Hour cook-off in South Australia at the Royal Adelaide Show on Friday. The challenge? Using the lemonade scone recipe from The Blue Ribbon Cookbook and a selection of 'mystery' ingredients to make savoury scones. The cook-off took place in the kitchens above the CWA cafe at the showground, where kitchen supervisor Lorraine very kindly provided the necessary equipment. Also on hand to offer advice was Joy Bricknell, from Naracoorte - the winner of this year's inaugural State Scone Competition. Author Liz Harfull acted as on-site host for the event which involved three live crosses during the Country Hour. CWA State president Rosemary Crocker judged the scones as soon as they came out of the over, giving the honours to Natalie for scones flavoured with a combination of capsicum, paprika, bacon and cheese. Visit the ABC website for their report.

A rare double victory for Brigitte

Lucindale cook Brigitte Taylor has become only the second competitor in history to win both of South Australia’s top awards for show cooking in the same year. The relative newcomer has surprised a field of seasoned finalists to take out both the prestigious South Australian Rich Fruit Cake Championship and the State Genoa Cake Competition. Brigitte’s surprising double act make it a clean sweep for South East cooks, with Joy Bricknell from Naracoorte taking out the inaugural State Scone Competition, judged during the same session.
Originally from Bordertown, Brigitte started entering cookery competitions in her twenties, and has only once before had a cake qualify at regional level for the top competitions. While she is not prepared to give away any secrets, she attributes her success to “luck” and the influence of her German-born family who were keen and capable cooks and passed on a love of baking. “My Mum got me started with good old-fashioned German cooking,” she said.
Organised by the Agricultural Societies Council of South Australia and sponsored by Sunbeam Foods and Angoves, the rich fruit cake championship started in 1982 and the genoa competition in 1986. In the 23 years since, Watervale cook Jenny Parish has been the only other person to take out both titles in the same year (2002).
Kay Johnson from Moonta was second in the rich fruit cake championship, followed by Carol Houston from Kangaroo Island. Kirsty Pfeiffer, representing the Northern region, was second in the genoa cake section with Gloria Buck from Millicent, placed third. Joyce Neumann from the Murraylands region was second in the scone competition and Nanette Simpson from the Northern region was third.
You can see all their entries in the Goyder Pavilion throughout the Royal Adelaide Show, which runs until September 12.

All in a pickle thanks to Mavis

Mavis Lee's prizewinning recipe for mustard pickles worked like a charm for Lisa Jesse in her first experience entering the Royal Adelaide Show cookery competitions. Lisa followed the recipe and tips given by the experienced show cook who is featured in the Kapunda section of The Blue Ribbon Cookbook, with fantastic results. "I have you to thank for the inspiration in entering in the Royal Adelaide Show with my mustard pickles – and I came runner up in my first attempt! I can’t believe it," she wrote to author Liz Harfull. Open cookery and preserves sections at the show were judged on Thursday and are on display in the Goyder Pavilion until the show closes on September 12.