Iowa State Fair Blue-Ribbon Cinnamon Rolls

I don't know about you, but now that the seasons are changing (even though it's still 90 degrees outside!), I'm in the mood for fall baking.  I found this recipe for the 2012 Iowa State Fair Winning Cinnamon Rolls from Two Chicks from the Sticks, who happened to judge the Tone's Cinnamon Roll contest this year.  I actually baked these on a whim.  I woke up on Sunday morning and decided I wanted to knead some bread dough.  What better recipe to try than a blue-ribbon winner?

Oh, did my husband love me for baking up these rolls for him!  I rolled the dough loosely, so the caramel topping oozed into the middle of each roll.  And I noticed right away that the rolls have a healthy dose of cinnamon, which made them unique.  The caramel sauce also sits on the stove for a little bit longer than normal so it gets extra rich and gooey.  I'm sure I'll be baking these sticky rolls up again soon!

Trip to the Iowa State Fair

It was a busy weekend for me -- first, a trip to the Ames straw poll, and then the next day, a visit to the Iowa State Fair with my sister.  We were both feeling a little under the weather, trying to get over summer colds.  So I didn't take many photos.  But I have a few highlights to share with you.

This year's blue-ribbon winner for non-traditional sweet roll was a bacon sticky roll!  Can you see the chunks of bacon?

One of my favorite exhibits was "Can-struction," sculptures made by stacking donated canned goods.  There was a canned-good butter cow and market-weight hog.

We hopped over to the Iowa lamb food stand for a lamb burger (my husband's favorite).

Then we checked out the pampered show pigs, who were relaxing in the breeze of the fans blowing through the swine barn.

 

 We saw blue-ribbon potatoes.

 And waited in a huge line to see the famous butter cow.

The fair was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the butter cow by asking local organizations to paint mini-butter cows, which were placed all over the fair grounds.  This was one of my favorites.

I came home with a few pieces of fresh saltwater taffy.

OK. Several pieces of taffy.

And I brought home the famous chocolate chip cookies in a cup.  Admittedly, this cup was full when I bought it.  I don't know where the cookies disappeared to...