"Cooking with Betty"
State Fair-winning recipes
Betty Jacobs

Enjoy these prize-winning recipes from the State Fair: Blackberry Jam, so easy and only three ingredients; always a winner, my mom's Pear Relish; Sweet and Sour Meatballs; and an all-time favorite and winner, Almond Cake.

Enjoy!

Blackberry Jam

4 cups blackberries
4 cups sugar
2 ounces blackberry liqueur or brandy (or substitute blackberry fruit juice and one box of Pectin, following directions)

Combine all ingredients in large, deep saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until thick, about 25-30 minutes. Ladle into sterilized jars. Seal.

This is a Blue Ribbon winner.

Pear Relish

1/2 gallon (8 cups or 8 large or 16 small) pears, peeled and ground
1 quart (5 or 6 large)onions, ground
6 large green bell peppers, ground
2 1/2 cups white vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 tablespoon turmeric
1/2 tablespoon celery seed
1/4 cup salt
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves (tied in bag or placed in a metal tea bag)

Grind peppers and onions. Scald, then drain. Combine peppers and onions with ground pears and all other ingredients. Bring to a boil and boil for 7 minutes. Ladle into sterilized jars.

Makes 6 or 7 pints.

For hot relish, add 4 or 5 ground jalapeno peppers. This relish is so good with pintos, ham and other foods.

It was a first-place ribbon winner at the State Fair and County Fair.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 pound mild sausage
6 tablespoons parsley
2 cups bread crumbs
2 tablespoons chopped onions
2 eggs, well beaten
salt and pepper to taste
butter or margarine for frying

Sauce:
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
3 to 4 drops Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 green peppers, cut in chunks
1 large red bell pepper, cut in chunks
1 large can pineapple chunks, undrained

Combine beef, sausage, parsley, bread crumbs, onion, eggs, salt and pepper and shape into small balls. Saute in butter. Drain.

Combine cornstarch, vinegar and sugar. Cook until clear. Add remaining ingredients and pour over meatballs in greased casserole dish (or use cooking spray).

Cover and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve hot. Makes a lot of meatballs. Easy to cut in half, or freeze them.

Almond Cake

1/2 teaspoon salt
8 egg whites
2 cups ground almonds
6 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 1/2 cups sugar

Beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Gradually fold in remaining ingredients. Bake in greased 8-inch springform pan at 350 degrees for one hour.

Cream cheese icing:
1/2 stick butter
8 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon amaretto
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 box powdered sugar

Cream all ingredients until smooth. Apply to top of cake.

So good, and a Best of Show winner.