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A Taste of Montana

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4-H Food Fair came earlier than usual this year. It seemed the holidays were barely behind us when E asked me to help her think of an entry. This year’s theme was A Taste of Montana. She and I put on our thinking caps and decided that her creamy huckleberry fudge would be a winner. We bought some really cute cookie cutters to cut the fudge into western shapes, hoping this would sway the judges even more.

After an unpleasant Friday evening before Food Fair we headed up to Whitefish the following morning, hoping the overnight freezing rain hadn't made the roads too treacherous. We arrived safely and helped E bring all of her stuff into the mall. The clubs were busy setting up their booths and this is what her table looked like.


I believe it is supposed to represent Montana, but honestly I don't get it.


Food Fair makes for a long day and the candy division wouldn't be judged for hours. David, Mallory, and I went to kill some time at Ski Haus and the grocery store.  Upon checking back in with E, I took some pictures and this is what her dish of fudge looked like on display.


Don't you love the shapes? Buffalo, horse head, cowboy boots, and a steer.
 The three of us left E again and that's when we met Mr. Espinoza. He was in the parking lot waiting for customers under a big white canopy with a sign that advertised HOT TAMALES. Of course the notion of hot tamales absolutely intrigued my husband. We walked over to the tent. Mr. Espinoza obviously understood how to influence potential customers and served us up a hearty sample of his spicy tamales and rice. We stood around the table eating and chatting with him. Besides selling his tamales, he told us he was a diver. Our interest was piqued, and he went on to tell us that he dives offshore for a company out of Fouchon, Louisiana. Of course, I felt a bit of a connection there. After an enjoyable conversation, we bid him adieu and started driving north.

David pulled into the Grouse Mountain Lodge parking lot. Still passing the time, we went inside to see what it was like. I don't know if you've ever done this before, but it can be fun browsing around lodges and hotels. The ambiance was simply Montana. Game mounts and animal hides dressed the walls.


I want that chandelier!

The lobby was comfortably lodge, still decked out in its holiday trimmings.


I love stone fireplaces.


We sat for a short time near the warm fire and watched cross country skiers pass outside of the window.


A Mama and Baby cross-country ski.


E called and said she was hungry. We picked her up and went for pizza. Afterwards, it was time to get back to Food Fair for the candy judging. We waited through cakes. Oh my goodness, would you take a look at this one! Didn't this kid do an awesome job on his hamburger cake?


This cake exemplifies the theme "A Taste of Montana".

Finally it was time for the candy judging. Another club member had made huckleberry fudge also. It was going to be close. The judging was complete and E received a blue ribbon!


E with her fudge in her handmade apron. Isn't she beautiful!

But the grand prize went to this delicious no-cook cream cheese huckleberry fudge.


Samples of this candy were given out at the following 4-H meeting.

Because this post has lots of pictures, making it long, I am posting the fudge recipes to our Facebook Page under notes. Please head on over there if you would like the recipes to the creamy huckleberry fudge or the no-cook cream cheese fudge.

LUV,

Marlene

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