FRUIT CAKE CONTEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19044, 18 June 1936, Page 15

FRUIT CAKE CONTEST

PRIZE ENTRIES DISPLAYED

METHODS Ol'' Till: WINNERS

Evidence of the interest aroused by the fruit cake cooking competition, irganised by the Poverty Day Powei fJoard and Gisborne Theatres, Limited, ind completed last evening with the announcement of the judges' awards at the screening of the talkie "If You Could Only Cook.-' was given to-day in the number of congratnlatory messages received by winners of the respective sections, and by other prize-winners also. Much interest, has been evinced as to the details of preparations made by the winning competitors in the respective sections. From both winners, the information secured points to a most careful selection and grading of the fruit as i preliminary step, this stage of the (repartition occupying about three hours in one case, and not much less in the jther. The peel was cut to a fine standard, n'ftrl the raisins also cut to reduce individual sections to a regular size; while the almonds were blanched and diced to siy.es approximating to that ol the peel. The fruit was dredged -with part, of the flour allowed in the recipe, md carefully gone over in each case to determine that, no oversize .sectionspassed into the mixture.

Tiie creaming of the butter and sugar was carefully done, and the. addition of well-beaten egg-yolks and flour was made by slow stages to secure, a thoroughly good basic mixture, which wan subjected to a prolonged beating. In folding in the egg-whites, both winning competitors used every precaution to leave no particles unmixed, and, the addition of the fruit was also done by. slow degrees, attention being given to the proper incorporation of the fruit with the mixture.

COpKING THE CAKES In preparation for cooking their cakes, each winning competitor heated her oven to a high temperature. In the case of the winner of the electrical section, the temperature was allowed to drop to 410 degrees before the cake was placed in (lie oven, the lower element being fixed at- minimum heat to offset the gradual loss of temperature through the next four to four and a-half hours. After three hours, the element was turned oft completely, and stored heat was allowed to complete the cooking. In the case of the non-electrical winner, a Regulocontrolled gas stove was used, and the regulator was set at Mark 1 during the process of cooking, the oven being very hot when the cake was Both competitors paid close attention to the iimits of the official recipe. From the point of view of the, organisers, of the competition, the public interest shown has been most satisfactory. Particular satisfaction has been obtained from Ibe fact that by providing the recipe for the competition, it was possible lr, demonstrate the application of a scientific method of conking and oi judging the exhibits. _ It is intended that entries which failed to secure prizes, and which the entrants have not donated to the Hem Materoa Children's Home benefit, will be returned to-morrow. The method of disposing of the donated cakes has not yet been determined, but will be announced shortly. The principal prizewinning entries are now displayed m the window of Messrs. Findlays] premises. and are attracting much attention from the public. .