March 12, 2026
A recipe by Proston Show Society life member Del Blanch has been included in a new cookbook which features prize winners from local shows around Australia.
The “New Blue Ribbon Cookbook” is the third in a series about country cooking and country shows prepared by author Liz Harfull.
Liz put out a call in early 2024 for stories and recipes for her latest book.
The Wondai Show Society nominated Del because of the commitment she had shown to show societies across the South Burnett over many years.
Del, a former secretary of the Proston Show Society, is a regular entrant in culinary competitions at local shows.
“I received many more nominations than space allowed,” Liz said.
“In deciding who to write about, I wasn’t looking for the most successful cooks or those who had been competing the longest.
“My focus was people with an interesting story to tell, who have displayed a genuine love of country shows and cooking, and a generosity of spirit, either as volunteers in their community and to their show societies, or their willingness to share their knowledge and secret tips.”
Del’s recipe is for “Kentish Cake”, a family favourite handed down from her mother (see below).
It has won a number of show prizes, including Champion Cake at the Wondai Show.
Author Liz has spent almost 20 years travelling around Australia attending local shows and interviewing show cooks and judges.
“One of things I champion through my writing are traditional recipes in danger of being lost, because people are just not making them as much anymore,” she said.
“The Kentish cake is rarely seen these days outside Queensland, where it appears in quite a few show schedules.
“My volunteer test cooks loved this cake and several have told me they have been making it regularly since.
“I had a team of around 30 volunteer test cooks who put every recipe through its paces once I had written it down.
“Writing the recipes was often a long process because many of them were not written down, or at least not in full so anyone could follow them, and I was also keen to incorporate as much of the cook’s knowledge as possible, to help ensure success for those who give them a try.”
The “New Blue Ribbon Cookbook” is published by Allen & Unwin.
Footnote: Murgon’s Edna O’Neill and her recipe for Afghan Biscuits was featured in Liz’s first book in 2014.
- Related article: Edna’s Recipe For Success
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The Recipe!
