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ABOUT KARRI

Hello and welcome...  
It is so nice that you stopped by
Blue Ribbon Favorites
 I'm thrilled you are here.
I'm Karri Perry...
Yes, it's true, my name really rhymes... 
 I get asked about my rhyming name every day, 
sometimes a few times a day... 
...it just depends on the day. 

This photo below is from when things were just 
getting started around 2009.



This is my family when this blog began in earnest.

Here we are in 2022… 
those kiddos grew!!
I probably fed them some delicious cakes and pies along the way. ;)




What is the Blue Ribbon Favorites BLOG all about? 
Well, Blue Ribbon Favorites is about all of the
 little things that I love so much from my everyday life. 
 Sometimes it will be about baking, crafts or holiday decorations
 and other times it will be about furniture makeovers
 or discovering the very best local and Midwestern destinations...

I love celebrating our life together,
 making the most of the big and the small moments 
 we discover along the way,
...finding a way to make the everyday special while
making memories and creating lasting family traditions.

The blog will always be about 
our adventures, hobbies, décor, 
celebrations and recipes
 I love most and enjoy dabbling in.


My decorating philosophy:

I believe that home is an extension of who you are.
 Making your home comfortable, 
beautiful, functional and authentically you is 
sometimes easier than you think.  
I'm a big believer in making the most of everything....  
I love visiting thrift shops, antique stores and flea markets
 for one-of-a-kind finds. 
 I usually have a number of projects "on deck"
  at any given time in our garage... 
there's nothing quite like transforming something old and 
worn out into something useful and beautiful.  

I prefer "new to me" over brand new, most of the time...
I like furniture and artwork that tells a story and has a history. 
  I've found that living well and enjoying life at home 
doesn't have to cost a fortune... 

This is the place we call home, a yellow colonial
 style home in the heart of the Midwest. 
We have (and continue to) lovingly update one room at a time.
  Our house was filled with many wonderful opportunities, 
mostly involving miles and miles of 1980's wallpaper...

I have tried to embrace each area of the house
 and have really worked to make it our own.
 We still have a little further to go...and while 
I am never short on ideas, in fact,
I often have the opposite problem of having far 
too many good ideas.
 (Oh, the agony of making the best decorating decisions)  
Paint chips, fabric swatches...there really can be
too many good choices sometimes.

I love to decorate for holidays and celebrations…
This includes wreath making, Christmas trees, staircases, hand-wired bows, 
tablescapes and so much more.
For a decor quote, please send an email 
(Blueribbonkitchen@aol.com)














Blue Ribbon Favorites ...

Why the name??

Winning the 2009 Ohio State Fair, first place and Best of Show!!
Peach pie
I LOVE a great recipe. 
 I often tweak even very excellent recipes...
I guess I believe that somehow
I can improve on everything...  
I especially love baking... 
(the inspiration for "Blue Ribbon Kitchen") 
Here I am at the 2013 county fair
This was a remarkable day, 
winning my 10th Best of Show ribbon... 
and my 60th first place ribbon 
Competing at the fair has become 
a hobby over the years too.  
I've made so many wonderful friends there 
and met some exceptionally talented bakers and chefs.


2014 Update:  
What a fabulous summer we had. 
 I set a rather lofty goal for myself a few years ago. 

 I wondered...

"Could I possibly win the "first place" AND 
"best of show" 
ribbons for both the cake and pie divisions
in the same year.... ???" 

Well, you guessed it... 
I did win both divisions in the same year. 
 It was so much fun accomplishing what I had set out to do.


2015 Update:

In March 2015 I was selected as 
a winner of  NBC's TODAY Show Pi-Day contest...
So exciting...and quite an honor...

In the fall 2015, 
I had the privilege of teaching a baking
 class as part of the 
"Blue Ribbon Baking Team"
I taught along side a baking competitor...
 and dear friend...and his lovely wife, 
who created the successful OSUe  
Blue Ribbon Baking Series of Classes
offered by Ohio State University extension of Butler County.


At the 2015 fairs:
6 new blue ribbons were added this year
 for: carrot cake, apple pie, cherry pie, 
key lime pie, and strawberry jam and preserves!

If you are keeping track, 
the count is now:
 77 blue ribbons 
and 13 Best of Show ribbons.
...since 2007.


 2016:
In April, 2016, I was thrilled to be invited 
to be a speaker and presenter
at the Fine Foods Show of the 
Cincinnati Horticultural Society's 2016 Flower Show.



After a busy 2016 fair season, 
I'm happy to report 88 first-place finishes to date!!
including winning the
 2016 Gold Medal Flour Cookie Contest at the Ohio State Fair!


Fall 2016, 2017, and Spring & Fall 2018 I had the pleasure of presenting
 at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

If you have never been...I highly recommend it...
(if you love shopping, food and fun vintage finds)
it's a great time and there are 
a few blog posts detailing
all the fun the CL fairs have to offer.




2017 Update:
What an outstanding fair season 
with 11 first place
finishes...
including two Best of Shows!! 
Best of Show Yeast Breads and Quick Breads!!

The local fair brought me to 99 blue ribbons...
(so very close...)

Off to the 2017 Ohio State Fair...
I needed just one more win to reach
the 100 blue ribbons during my 10th year of baking.
...Could I do it??


 We did it!!
This is one very happy and very tired baker...

Win 100 with my favorite pecan pie!!
...and for good measure... 
I added an extra blue ribbon, 
reaching 101 wins with a 
Triple Berry Pie.  
Whew...that was a close one!

2018 Fair Season: 
I added 12 additional blue ribbons 3 Best of Show Ribbons!!

Best of Show: Ohio State Fair-Yeast Breads: Cheddar Cheese Bread
Best of Show Butler County Fair- Pie: Banana Cream Pie
Best of Show Butler County Fair-Preserves; Strawberry Jam

2019 Fair Season:
I earned 9 brand new blue ribbons and 2 Best of Show awards!

A Best of Show Pie at the Ohio State Fair: Blackberry Pie
Blackberry Jam Cake was awarded Best of Show at the Butler County Fair.


That brings us to 122 blue ribbons and 20 Best of Show wins.

 2021 Update:
I took two cookies to the fair and won two more blue ribbons!!
For the week:
11 Blue Ribbons:
Lemon Chiffon Cake
Pecan Pie
Lemon Meringue Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
Cheddar Cheese Bread
Banana Bread
Salted Caramel Turtle Bars
Cranberry-Orange Nutcrackers
Strawberry Preserves
Peanut Brittle
2 Best of Shows:
Cheddar Cheese Bread
Lemon Chiffon Cake
Total to date: 133 Blue Ribbons, 22 Best of Shows. (I’m not counting, are you counting?? )
Along with plenty of 2nd’s and 3rd’s and a 4th for a Chocolate Peanut Butter “Buckeye” Cake which won 1st place (2019) at the Ohio State Fair.
Here’s the best part… most of these recipes are on the blog for you to enjoy.

2022 Update:
This fair season marks my 15th year of competitive baking. Can you believe I’ve been at this for 15 years!?
A fabulous 7 brand new 1st Place blue ribbons were added, along with a beautiful collection of 2nd and 3rd Place ribbons too. The Ohio State Fair awarded the pretty Lemon Chiffon Cake with Strawberry Frosting a blue ribbon… she’s a beauty and has won first place every time she’s been entered, including Best of Show 2021-Butler County Fair. She’s a gem. (Recipe is on the blog)
Here’s a full list of the ribbon winners from this fair season.
Tally to date: 140 blue ribbons, 26 Best of Show wins.

1. Lemon Chiffon Cake-Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream; 1st-county
2. Lemon Chiffon-Strawberry Frosting; 1st place-Ohio State Fair-(Favorite Cake Class)
3. Jam Cake 2nd Place
4. Banana Pudding Cake 2nd Place
5. Strawberry Jam; 1st Place
6. Strawberry Preserves; 1st Place
7. Old fashioned sugar cream; 1st Place
8. Lemon Meringue; 1st Place
9. Cherry Hand Pies; 2nd Place
10. Blackberry Honey-Berry Pie; 2nd Place
11. Caramel Apple Pecan Pie; 2nd Place
12. Coconut Cream Pie; 2nd Place
13. Your Favorite Pie (any flavor) Raspberry-Rhubarb; Third Place
14. Light Rye Cheddar Yeast Bread 3rd-county
15. Asiago Rosemary Yeast Bread; 3rd,Ohio State Fair
16. Cornbread-cracked black pepper and fresh corn; 2nd Place, Ohio State Fair
17. Cranberry Orange Yeast Bread; 2nd Place, Ohio State Fair
18. Cranberry Orange Nutcracker Bar Cookies; 1st Place, county, 2nd Place, Ohio State Fair
19. Sugar Cookies; 2nd Place
20. Iced Oatmeal Cookies; 3rd Place
21. Peanut Brittle; 2nd Place
22. Chocolate Strawberry Fudge; 2nd Place
My takeaways:
I enjoy chatting with my fair friends and fellow baking competitors as much as the actual competition itself. It’s like a family reunion—seeing folks each year at the fair.
Good butter, while expensive is worth the price.
There’s always a lesson to be learned, new ways to improve, and new ingredients to consider. The recipes that came up just a little bit short are FULL of potential… and it will be my job to work toward making those blue ribbon winners too. My baking has improved over the years because I’ve listened to the judges comments and made adjustments… best feedback in the world. If you can accept feedback-even harsh criticism and not take it personally… that’s a fabulous skill set to own.
A good night’s rest and a yummy dinner with all the fixings (that someone else cooks-very key) can fill your soul… and help you get to the finish line.
The love and support of family and friends is priceless… this, I know for sure.

2023: We reached 151 blue ribbons!!
First-Places:
1. Peanut Brittle-also Best-of-Show
2. Yeast Coffee Cake-also Best-of-Show
3. Lemon meringue pie
5. Butterscotch Pie
6. Cinnamon Rolls
7. Chiffon Cake
8. Banana Bread
9. Coconut Cream Pie
Kentucky State Fair
10. Pumpkin Cake
11. Banana Muffins



and...that brings us to today...
Get all of the award-winning recipes 
here on the blog.

And...finally you can catch recipe
 segments on FOX19 in Cincinnati!!
I'll be on the first Thursday of every month!!




That's a little bit about me and my blog. 
Thank you so much for taking the time to read
 Blue Ribbon Kitchen.

I am so happy that you do!!

Wishing you the very best,

Karri

5 comments:

  1. Dear Karri

    I apologize for the blog into but I didn’t know how else to contact you.

    My name is Carrie Walters and I am the Culinary Director & Executive Chef of Dorothy Lane Market in Dayton Ohio. Our friends at Edible Magazine suggested that I check out your blog. I love it!

    I am finishing up our Culinary School's summer schedule and starting to book early dates for Fall classes. We have a bunch of folks interested in learning how to bake and I think it would be so cool to feature you at our Culinary Center.



    We would love to have you come and and share some of your baking skills with our customers who want to learn and have fun while rolling up their sleeves. We have a large social media presence and would love to highlight your blog etc. It’s a great way to promote what you are up to plus get to meet some DLM customers who I am sure would love to get to know you. We do all the shopping, prepping and clean up and most of classes go from 6-8:30 pm. We also will pay you for your time. You can check out what classes we have by visiting our link at http://www.dorothylane.com/CulinaryCenter/ or drop by our Washington Square location and ask for me or our Culinary Center manager, Peggy Neary.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Best-

    Carrie Walters



    Chef Carrie Walters

    Culinary Director

    Dorothy Lane Market

    6177 Far Hills Ave

    Dayton OH 45459

    www.dorothylane.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi IM from Puerto Rico and Will try making your carrot cake.I love baking and cooking as a hobby.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Karri,

    Congratulations for a wonderful gift that God has giving you, it is amazing transforming everything into delicious blessing. I just baked your banana bread and will be giving it away as Christmas token to friends, it is amazing.
    Thank you so much for sharing and hope one day to be able to meet you when we visit Ohio.

    Ana,

    ReplyDelete