2008 Show - 11 October 2008

There was a wonderful turnout for this year's show with entries ranging in size from 1/10 oz to 271lbs and an incredible array of decorated pumpkins. Thanks very much to everyone who helped including the Evans family for refreshments, Jaqui for selling raffle tickets, Andy for all the paperwork, Wendy from Kenyons for judging (a very difficult task), Ian for some heavy lifting and everyone who brought prizes for the raffle and who supported the event by entering and coming along on the day. All the overheads and prizes were sponsored so your donations which totalled £184.75, go straight to our village playgroup.

Pictures

There's an album in the photo gallery. If you have any more pictures to add to the album please contact Jeremy (tel 720459).

The following week was the Bear and Ragged Staff Show. You can see pictures here.

Results

We use first names only in these results. Our judge, Wendy from Kenyons, had a very difficult task becuase there was such an excellent lot of entries. She wants to congratulate everyone who took such time and trouble to make the wonderful array of decorated pumpkins.

Class 1 Heaviest Pumpkin age 6 or under

Archie	9lbs		Oliver	14lbs	2nd
Simeon	4lbs 8oz		Ben D	12lbs 8oz	3rd
Daniel	29lbs	1st	Ella	3lbs 12oz
Ben A	5lbs 8oz		Oliver & Benjamin	8lbs

Class 2 Heaviest Pumpkin age 7-11

Freddie	7lbs 8oz	2nd	Charlotte	9lbs	1st
Freya	6lbs 8oz	3rd	William	0lbs 1/10 oz

Class 3 Heaviest Pumpkin age 12-15

James

0lbs 1/2 oz

1st

Class 4 Heaviest Pumpkin age 16 and over

Wendy	38lbs	2nd	Graham	3lbs 3oz
Mary Jo	6lbs	3rd	Jeremy	271lbs	1st

Class 5 Decorated Pumpkin age 6 and under

Longparish Playgroup, Holly, Jessica, Abigail (1st Prize), Oliver (2nd Prize), Ben A, Poppy (3rd Prize), Eve, Amber, Daniel, Ben D

Class 6 Decorated Pumpkin age 7 and over

Lilly, Tia, Charlotte, Ysobelle, William, Daisy, Barney, Alison, Oliver, William, Charlotte, Harvey (3rd Prize), Scarlett, Matty (1st Prize), Molly (2nd Prize).

Most unusual Pumpkin

George with a green and yellow gourd

Prettiest Pumpkin

Mary Jo with a lovely orange one

Recipes

Here are the recipes for this year

Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Warm, hearty soup is the perfect meal for cold winter days. You can make a huge pot of it at the weekend and make it last all week. Serve it piping hot and thick with chunky slices of fresh multi-grain bread, and you can't beat it. It'll help keep all those winter bugs at bay!

Ingredients Makes about 8 - 10 mugs

1 leek roughly chopped	1 onion roughly chopped
1 carrot roughly chopped	olive oil
1 pint chicken stock (or veggie if you prefer)	Black Pepper to season
3 teaspoons garlic paste	half a cup of milk
1 - 2 teaspoons curry or balti powder (secret ingredient)	1 medium sized pumpkin (2-3lbs or so) - scooped out and cut into cubes.

Method

Create a standard soup base by splashing olive oil in the base of your pan, and adding the leek and onion and garlic. Saute (i.e. heat/fry) for about 5 minutes until it starts to brown and soften. Add the carrot and pumpkin and water and bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer.

Add the chicken stock (vegetable stock if you want a veggie soup!). Don't add it all at once - add about half, stir in and taste after a minute or two. Add more stock if required. Next add a spoon of curry powder. Again, taste before adding any more, you mustn'tadd too much and two spoons should be plenty!

Simmer the soup for 45 minutes, and once the time is up, allow it to cool for 10 minutes, then use a hand blender to puree the soup. Stir in the milk, and add black pepper (and more stock if required) to season, tasting to check. Don't over do it.

Serve with big chunks of fresh bread and snuggle up in front of the fire. Perfect!

You can see a video recipe for a posher soup with croutons here