This is my second year as a finalist in the California Raisin Bread Contest and I’m still just as nervous going into the baking round as I was the first year.  This is the fourth year the contest has been held and it is STILL growing.  100 entries and 37 finalists.  Next year, the CA Raisin Board is looking for YOUR entry.  They are really pushing the marketing.  They want professional, commercial, artisan, student, retail, and bakers from all over to submit their creative ideas for using raisins in tasty, tempting raisin concoctions.  Mark your calendars. Save the date.  Make sure you get your entries in by August 2012 for next years round. Be a part of this AMAZING, fun, event.

As I waited in the hotel lobby this morning, I began to feel so out of my league.

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These folks were heavy into the baking industry and my little niche barely scrapes the surface. Still, I was already a winner. I was a FINALIST and I made it to Kansas. I have some BIG marketing plans for my little mini loaf and I’m going to pull out all punches in tomorrows presentation.  Keep your fingers and toes crossed.  If I’m one of the winners, there will be a whole lot of raisins around our house…even MORE than we have now.

It was a day of enlightening lectures

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How would you define THAT little critter?  A para-cat-ASS?  A cat-ass-keet?  Go ahead, take a stab at it.

Moving on, the presentations were informative.  We learned about flour, raisins, marketing product, social media for marketing, it was an all around great day, finishing with a tour of the American Culinary Institute baking area where anyone who had overnight doughs or pre-preps to make, could do so.

We finished with a wonderful meal, complements of the Board, at Whiskey Creek Steakhouse. 

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They were kind enough to accommodate my “no-meat” preference with a dish of baked tilapia with steamed broccoli and rice.  The salad was no slacker topped with grated Parmesan.

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I’m looking forward to tomorrow because this is a great group of people. Everyone is helpful and wants you to produce the best product your recipe can produce. 

Tune in for the FINALE at the California Raisin Bread Contest.

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