City of Bloomington, MN City Programs and Events, 14 Jan 2019

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From YouTube: Holiday Baking with Marjorie Johnson

Description

This holiday season join blue-ribbon baker Marjorie Johnson and Bloomington City Manager Jamie Verbrugge for cookies and conversation. Marjorie will share her love of baking while demonstrating how to make one of her favorite recipes

A

Welcome everyone: my name is Jill Murphy I'm, the Creekside Community Center, Manager and I just wanted to welcome everybody for coming out today for cooking with Marjorie and Jamie. We've got a great program ahead of us. A couple.

A

Just a couple little notes um photography is allowed, but please no flash just to be respectful of our presentation. We will also have time for questions at the end, so Usher's will have microphones to help with the questions so as you're watching the presentation keep those in mind for the end and then to special thank yous.

A

Thank you to Jodi Hoffman and all of her work that she's put in to get for today's program and the Creekside staff and volunteers that have helped support the program and then a special thank you to the Creekside senior memorial trust fund for making a monetary donation for the cookies and cider that we will have at the in the lobby afterwards. So without further ado, I welcome Marjorie and Jamie.

B

Well, we're gonna make I'm gonna teach you how to make my ginger snaps. So we start out of mixing them and if you don't have a stand, mixer! Oh, it's so nice! So because then, when you're sifting all this and see you have to really beat the verse four ingredients, because you want to beat all that air in. So it gets to be a lights intercepts, and so, but if you don't have hey I hope you have an electric mixer or at least two mixer for because it really has to be mixed.

B

Well because this applies to if we're making cookies or cakes. When you have the first four ingredients which usually are the shortening and the sugar and eggs, and maybe the vanilla, if you whip that really so it's really creamy what you're doing is living a lots of air in it. So then you're, catering or cookies rides real good, they're tender and yeah. So the really!

B

But then, once you start adding the phone, all the flour has gluten so and that's why they have cake flour for cakes, because that has the least gluten of all and the bread flour, which is great for making breads that has more gluten than the all-purpose and so their all-purpose you use for cookies, and you can use it for cakes and pies and stuff. But if you have you're making a lot of bread and be well to buy some bread for I have the three flowers, always in my house.

B

You know so now to start this Junior Seau. Oh it's so easy. Even a five-year-old could make it says what you do. We're.

C

Gonna test that today, first.

B

Of all you make the shortening you know, you take your shortening and I like that this, when you buy this Crisco, it comes in in there all graduates. Oh it's so easy, so she cut 3/4 cup for me, but if you want one for the 1/3 or that oh boy, that sure makes it simple I like.

D

C

B

C

Tell me why is it you're using Crisco because I understand, do you use butter? Oh yeah,.

B

No, this is the only recipe in my book that uses Crisco cuz, oh I, think everything tastes better with butter and but one time I was making. So many of them I thought world. Try the Crisco and I found out that it actually was better for two reasons. First of all, butters hired no cost more. You couldn't taste the butter flavor, because all these spices, you tasted the spices and then also butter- has water in it, and so cookies are more after spread and I wanted them to take compact, so yeah.

B

For this one recipe, X 1.

C

B

Was better and.

C

It has to do with the spices right because for most Minnesotans butter is already too spicy right. Well,.

B

No, let's eat butter. Has this wonderful flavor, but spice has overcome it because you taste the ginger and the clothes and all that. So you don't really taste about.

C

It got it: okay,.

B

All right, I'll stop interrupting we're going to add a cup of brown sugar. Oh boy, let's see, maybe you contributed I.

E

B

It in there without spilling it without.

C

Spilling it, that's not a lot of confidence, maybe.

B

Oh, maybe maybe you can take it with oh yeah,.

C

We'll get it in there.

B

C

B

Promise right, yeah.

C

B

Then I I sure I'm gonna, let you use it cleaning. The molasses is I've, never used this. They said you just push up on something, and it goes all.

C

I have to do is.

B

C

So easy a five-year-old, can do it I just.

B

I measure, my oh and you know, like liquids you're supposed to measure them in a glass rather than the cup, because the cup sometimes has this. It goes above and so with the glass and so, but to get it out. If you're, measuring honey or molasses be sure and butter that, because then it then you can scrape it out real good. It comes out yeah, oh and then you can add an egg okay and that's see. Now those are the four ingredients. Okay, now we'll start this Martha.

B

You know, let's see I I might as different than this one.

C

Is it the other side over here? Oh yeah,.

B

But we did we log that.

C

Was there a certain speed that you have to go at what.

B

This is locked yeah. There.

C

B

Go lock the bowling yeah, and so we it beats, beats beats, come back to Jamie and we'll talk. Yeah and I understand we're supposed to be between here. So you better come closer Julian.

C

B

Because then you'll show up I, guess: there's a screen down and just I've.

C

Been told you're a close talker, so I'm gonna get even a little closer, so yeah.

B

Yeah so it takes a while. So let's see, let's put it higher, let's see how we got it over there yeah okay! Now what should we talk about? What would you.

C

Know I want to know if it's, if you actually need the recipes sitting here, because you've been baking for a couple of years, yeah.

B

Do you have these.

C

Things memorized or not well,.

B

I have the recipe is here: I, don't want to give misinformation out and then an excitement, I might say something yeah. You know I like usually I'm, taped and I liked it like I used to take teach microwave classes, and so that was way back in 79. When people didn't understand what microwave did and so I would tape it everything then I go home and listen to it and so to see. If I said what I thought I said, yeah well.

C

You can do that today because we're doing this on Facebook live actually. So, if you have questions a little bit later, you can go back and watch it after it's over.

B

Yeah yeah and I'm going to be on channel 11 Saturday morning with Belinda on the second dollar. There I think it's a quarter to camp yeah, you're on from 8:00 to 10:00 and I'll, be on that second hour yeah and we're going to make cream wafers yeah. So.

C

How long do we let the beating go before we started, adding in the rest of the ingredients? What how long do we let the beater go here before we add in the rest of the ingredients.

C

Do you eyeball all of your recipes or is there some sort of method to this yeah.

B

I wanted to be sure, but you know like on TV, like I I think on the Food Channel has to give, but on the entertainment you get like about five, although they said they give me eight minutes because it can't get into them five, and you know you can't that's why oh I love being on national TV, because they always have these food style. Oh and they are really good cuz. They get paid lot of money, so they really really are good, and so they go out and buy the groceries.

B

And then he measure everything cuz like with Jay. He we always. There was the same for Jay and the same for me, and so they got them all measured and then, of course, we start, and you can't finish anything in five minutes. So then we, you know the hell and you bring up yeah you'll notice that they are always or they like. We.

C

Have a few things hidden under here.

B

Yeah, like I'm on the Homer Coleman family, show now so we we do the Braddock, then we say we put it in the oven and one. Second later we pull out the finished product, so they have them both they're young, the.

C

B

Okay and so now, let's see the flour and we're gonna put on all this stuff: hey, let's mix it together, for you no see I sifted together and they don't have a here about I sifted together and if you don't have a sifter.

C

B

Guess a lot of people don't have a sister I wonder if they still sell them, and but mine is like fifty years old. So then, like Martha Stewart always uses a warrior whisk. So them to that you add two teaspoons of baking soda yeah and that makes them crackle crack on top yeah and then 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt. And then you add the spices. Then you could take out your teeth, something because there's a teaspoon of cinnamon, cloves and ginger. There are all just one peaceful yeah, so we'll put that so.

C

We're making the ginger snaps is this your favorite cookie to make well.

B

Actually my husband and I like he liked all the plain cookies, but believe me if I'm going to have a cookie, I wanna, just all full of calories, I want to know I'm really having this resort, so I like those three layer ones where you gotta, like I, just love the crispy all right, so my cookbook or fudge-covered brownies, oh there's so much better than just plain brownies so like on that crispy date bar there's um cookie base, and you and you bake that for 10 minutes. That's all the baking you do.

B

Then you make the filling you cook butter and sugar and that on the stove and then when it gets thick, then you add nuts and rice krispies, and then you spread that over and then you mix up cream cheese and butter and and powder sugar and make this yummy frosting. And then you push that on so then you get a three layer treat yeah, but because now especially we're supposed to nobody is supposed to have more than 30 grams of sugar yeah all the females males they let you have 40 grams, but the third. It.

C

Really is an unfair world, isn't it it's.

B

About six teaspoons of sugar, and so when I see I, usually bake everything so I know how much sugar I have so then I know how many tablespoons our teaspoon is, and so like say, I have eight tablespoons. Well, that's that be 324 teaspoons of sugar, three teaspoons in a table. So if you made 24 cookies, you'd have one teaspoon sure. But you know what I do I always make mine very small, because.

C

B

Don't know is somehow I'm.

C

Glad you're talking about this, because this was one of my questions. I know I know it's not polite to comment on somebody's appearance, but you don't look like somebody. Who's been baking a lot I.

B

Know like people will say if I would make those sentiment rolls because I mean I'd be like 200 pounds. Well, if I didn't watch it I sure would be too but see. I.

C

Mean her husband do.

B

He was a dentist and we were different. He was six feet tall and I'm under five feet, yeah, but you know that difference made made it really great because I when you're small, like on you, can't reach anything above the first shelf and so I hadn't had.

C

To marry at all man, yeah.

B

$60 so I married a girl man, and so then he say he passes the kitchen and I'm driving us to. He said what do you want and I said: I need that from saying with the greatest cities? Of course he could, but because he isn't there every minute of the day I invested in instep shoes, I bet, I could have more steps or I could go into that. Guinness Book of Records cuz I got him from 6 inches to 6 feet.

B

C

B

Kind of mix it like this, because we don't have a sister here.

C

So did your dentist husband have a sweet tooth Marjorie? Is that.

B

Way, no not exactly see like he likes all the plain cookies like. Oh his favorite was those rolled sugar cookies. He can have them all because they're good but I, don't think they're worth my teller ease. I want something so I know like I'll. Take a fudge brownie every time. Yeah, so I never ate any of his and he didn't care much for mine. So it went real good. Yeah I just need a little ok. Now we got that mixed up now, we're gonna add some of it.

B

Let's see I'll, let you and see if you can add it without spilling all.

F

C

B

What my wife says to, let's.

C

See if we can do this without spilling yeah.

B

C

That was my daughter that just snorted out there, while she was laughing.

B

C

B

C

B

Will put it on very slowly because, like yeah very, very slowly cuz, um because I told when I was with Jay on The, Tonight, Show and I said put it on really slowly or it's just go. So of course he puts it on fast. He thought that was funny because it went everywhere and his audience laughs, and so he liked it if his audience laughs because he's a comedian so I think that's why he had me so many times.

B

I was on finally 21 times before so ended and because I was a perfect straight man like I, didn't know what he was gonna say he didn't know what I was going to say, but whatever I said or answers question he was so good at Bravo. He could think of something funny and the audience laughed and then he loved it if they always like well.

C

I don't know we're gonna entertain people today, because I thought I was the straight man yeah.

B

C

You're, the straight man and I'm, the straight man I, don't know.

B

Mixer toy yeah, it seems like see how simple is very simple and see if you have the stand. Mixer, it's doing all the creamy, while you're measuring cuz at home, you'd have to take out the baking powder measure and take out the salt and take out of yeah. So it's uh so.

C

I'm curious about the steps: why is it we put the cinnamon in, but we haven't put the close.

B

That that's, why I have you here? Oh my god,.

G

B

Should have told me sooner, I didn't know.

B

Okay, now we gotta beat it again. Thank heavens you're here they.

C

Would have been cinnamon stamps.

C

The Crisco is enough to have the moisture in there. Yes,.

B

And then, of course, we got that one egg which yeah, so they don't have any milk lawrencium. So then, when that finally gets done now, then we'll make balls and roll them in the sugar. Okay.

C

B

You taking you and then you can use a spoon too. You can use your hand or you can put the ball in there and go like that, and then.

B

Down then you put them on a cookie sheet and not grease, because we don't want to miss.

C

B

And there's enough, they don't seem to stick yeah so.

C

You don't need paper, I know what.

B

I love, I, love, those Arabic sheets, I know some people don't, but before Arabic sheets were invented, I had cookie sheets of the same size, so I'd put to put one and then a second one in that, but because see you want to create that error.

B

Now they are baked, and so oh especially like, if you're making spring cookies or one of those who don't want to brown on the bottom, it doesn't Brown and oh I love it for coffee, cakes because say I'm, making a coffee cake and there's filling in it and I say you do that tearing where you cut through it well, some of this is bound to come out on the cookie. It doesn't burn. If you have one cookie sheet, it gets so much. It might even burn this way.

B

It does cook out, but you can just scrape it off and eat it down. So it's fun yeah when you're the cook, you get all these samples to eat. So how long do.

C

We let go okay.

B

C

It up, we probably.

B

C

B

Mixer here, let's see, can you take the whoa? Maybe we could just take something like this.

B

C

I get to try it yeah.

B

Now you take say, take I need a tiny bit more yeah. Okay, now take about you know a spoon like if, like I make mine, small I, see my recipe says the size of walnuts, ya, know and see yeah, and then.

E

Yeah we rolled.

B

It in a bowl, yeah, yeah.

E

B

Can you can just stop so.

C

How tightly should I be rolling it? Oh.

B

Just so, it makes a nice thing. Let's see we need, though, we need a cookie sheet.

C

Okay, so we put it in the sugar yeah.

B

You put it in the sugar and roll it in the sugar or you can roll with your fingers yeah. But if you want you yeah and see that see, they don't want to bakes it all that sugar makes it all quickly on top, would you want it to be that way? Yeah, let's see, Dre don't win here. Let's see here's our finished product yeah, so.

C

What part of Minnesota marjory are you originally from.

B

C

B

C

What part of what part of Minnesota are you originally from I'm.

B

From Oh I grew up in Minneapolis action.

C

B

And then, when we build a home, we built it in Robbinsdale, which is the first suburb of Minneapolis.

H

B

And so that's and it was perfect cuz Robins there was a very nice small town and then the big city there's only ten minutes away. You just go down 38 to get to 94 and 10 Minister in Minneapolis yeah. So every and then another thing we are we're only about 10 minutes from the hospital. So it's probably a good place that.

C

Was good planning yeah.

B

That's thinking ahead, you know one of my friends was there one time I found out, she was there. So I walked up. I am where our house is just a few blocks from the drive, Memorial Drive, and so if I walk the hospital, it's 30 minutes and then home is serene. Isn't so I get my hour of exercise or.

C

Exercise going to the hospital yeah.

B

Yeah yeah, so it's nice, so she was really surprised when I, when I come into her room yeah. So so.

C

I see a problem already is my seem to be a lot bigger than yours. That's.

B

Okay, except when you're making them try to get them, say you're, making at home trying to get them the same size, and if you want to be more small, just try to make them whatever size your one, because otherwise the small ones will be over baked or if you take out for that than the other ones yeah any any cookie make try to make it the same size, yeah so right, yeah. So.

C

You grew up in Minneapolis, yeah.

B

C

Taught you how to bake, or did you learn.

B

My mother taught me how she was this wonderful, Baker and so I baked my first cake when I was eight, and so we had I made a chocolate cake in the loaf Daniel and we had had a piece so then the door there was a knock on the kitchen backdoor, and so my mother went to it and then I heard her say: Oh George. You must come in and taste this cake that Marja me. You never believe how great it is.

B

Well little me boy, I mean I was just beaming from ear to you, because I had done something. My mother was so proud of me and I done his good job. So I thought boy I'm just going to keep doing this all the time and that's exactly what I did yeah and you know what I think about housework where there were six of us and thank heavens I was the one that like to bake them. Oh so iris and.

C

You got out of the house because you.

B

Know what I feel about housework? It's a necessary evil. You have to do it, but the next day you have to do it again and I just hate wasting all that time. So, but right see when you cook, of course they eat it and then you have to. But it was such fun right.

C

They do it and it made everybody happy.

B

C

Doesn't make anybody.

B

Clean and then when I was in seventh grade- and you know I guess they don't even have a, we had cooking classes, and so everything we did I would the home and ask my mother: could I make it at home in sure she and then one time we always had to go to church and then Sunday school in a safer Church. So this one Sunday I said to her saying: would it be okay if I stayed if I stayed home and made the dinner and then I skipped, church and I'm?

B

So sorry, she said yes and I thought. Oh, my gosh. She first of all she's gonna. Let me make the dinner and second, but because it was so important to go to church. We I only need to do it a couple of times yeah.

B

C

If you didn't, she thought it was more important that you learn how.

B

To bake and cook them to learn to her that I go to church and stay home and make dinner for young yeah. So, and you know, because I like to bake so much and one the Reubens well I got on local TV. The way back in 94 way.

C

Back in 94, 1974, 74, okay, yeah.

B

And so so then in 1996 rosie was gonna start her new show. She.

C

B

Gonna 1990.

C

O'donnell yeah Rosie.

B

O'donnell she was going to start it in the fall. So so then I'm when I was talking to the Susan back and forth. I guess she knew I could talk a lot, so she said, would I, you know, demonstrate for other thing, I said sure so anyway, when after so then, when one of them, we were at Rockefeller Center and everybody paid 350 dollars to come taste this food and there were searching people in there that represented 13 States for the United States. The.

C

Best bakers from around the country right no.

B

Just a minute no yeah yeah from all over yeah the 13 states from the United States young. So we had. And so then we were with one of the famous chefs and so then we gave them one of our Blue River recipes and then he worked it into zone its menu. So he did my Orange Bowl nut rolls and then they had like fried chicken and all that sorry and see. Because then everybody who pays that 450 could go to her searching stations and taste the whole dinner and.

C

That was a that was a fundraiser for meals.

B

On wheels wheels on meals which beard had started, and so these chefs wanted to carry on for him, and so this was the 13th one and because it was a certain teenth one, it was Ferrars across the states. So then I got so then at the safe here they get a call and they said who Lynn in your fair, wins blue ribbons and would like to would be good for this program. So they came.

B

My name cool I was so good, and so then I got a call from Susan and she explained about it and then she said. Would you like to go and I sent her a would so it was a paid trip to New York to participate in this, and I was able to take my husband. So it was really nice for peace and everything for us, yeah and so and that's.

C

When you became famous.

B

When I did that thing for the wheels on meals, rosie was just start, it was June, 19, say 1996 and Rosie was starting her program in the fall, and so one of her producers, because they're all looking for things that be on her show and he saw it so then he got in touch and got me on that show you know, and so then I was on cuz. He had seen me and father I'd be good for Rosie.

B

So then I was on that show and then Rosie liked me in the audience like me and everybody liked me, and so then I was on for the six years until she ended your show yeah. How.

C

Many times were you on with Rosie.

B

C

Many times were you on with Rosie.

B

We were I was on twice a year with Rosie, so I was on ten twelve times and now.

C

How many times? Because you've moved on after Rosie yeah.

B

When Rosie quit her job because she just quit well, then all the producers had to find new jobs, and so some of them went to California cuz Wayne Brady was starting his new show and so there so then those producers. They called me and said: we'd like you on his show. So then I was on his show and then it was toward the tape right from September to about April.

B

Well, though, the show goes to me, and so then I was on the one time and and the freezer said we'll have you back on the fall? Well then, until we save us, she called and said we gotta have you on again and then she had said the Sunday and I said: oh, that's, Easter Sunday and it's my daughter's birthday and we were gonna go out and celebrate would any other day work and then she went back and she said no.

B

The executive producer said we absolutely have to have it, because it's the only opening left before the shows, and they said we have and so then I so I called Marlene and I said well. Please.

C

Your daughter, yeah I,.

B

Called and said, plans have changed, we'll have to do it some other time and so.

C

Oh, you didn't, you didn't take her with you.

B

Oh no, oh I I took leave with and so then so then I went to that and yawn. So oh my gosh, it was, and that's just so much fun to be or do alright.

C

So after Wayne Brady, then you really got your big break because.

B

That was C I was on his show for two or three before and then he cancelled his show, and it was such a good joke. People would say the whole family could listen to it, because there wasn't all this swearing and all this urging and but then I can see. Why? Because my friend who lived in Iowa couldn't see me and I had so many lived in Spokane Washington. Well, the their stations didn't carry it. So no wonder they didn't have a wide audience yeah. So then his news campaign yeah if.

C

You're not in my way, you're not anywhere right when I.

B

Had been on those two times, you know then I found out why they had ad me back about a couple weeks later, I got his call, and the fellow says I'm the attorney for the wing of the studios and wanna sign you to a contract and I agree, and so they said yeah and we promise we'll have you on at least 20 times next year. So I said: okay, fine I'll do that and so then I was on, but I actually was on 23 times in that year. So the other two may have 25 times.

B

I had been on this show. So then, when his show ended that wasn't too far, I didn't do anything in tool Phi and then until six rosie was back on the view. I think this was the second view and she's always leaving whenever she he's on and you gotta catch her fast, and so she asked me does every show she's always on. She always asked me to come and be on her show.

B

So we were doing some kind of a yeast Oh and she says super medium I think she threw the dough over her shoulder, I think, but anyway, back in California I found out that they told me later this producer she was, she said, I came upstairs and then I saw my assistant was watching and I got a good signal. So she said I clip went into my office and turned on in the program.

B

Well, she liked what she saw, and so then she got her assistant to find my name and my telephone and I mean every almost and so then, when we got back, this was the next day this been the thirteenth I was on her shows the 12th of December in 2016, now I'm in 2000.

C

2006 actually.

B

Yeah and so then so then we came home the next day on 13, so I went I, said Lee I'm gonna see what emails I got so I ran into the family, room and, and so I came running out. I said: Lee, you're, never gonna believe this I got an email from The Tonight Show and they said they want me to call them.

B

So if you have voicemail and when you put up the receiver go doctor thought so you know you got lots of messages, so I thought well, listen to all the message and then this we Ansel, who was the loser there on human interest. She was on the phone and she said: I saw you on the view, I think you're, fantastic and I want you on The Tonight Show, and then she wanted me. She said if they can make the arrangements. I want you on next week.

B

Well, there was the 13th, and then you know Christmas is just and then I was my new merrily and her family were coming and I hadn't done. A biggie and I had planned to bake for 7 days and so I thought.

B

Oh I said: ok but I'll be there, but I thought: oh boy, hope she canterbury and so then she came back and they said no travel arrangements couldn't be made that fast and so then I was on January 6 and that started Helen than that time you see, I was I, I did them, we did a pie yeah, we did a pie and so.

C

Let's stop this story for just a sec, we're.

B

C

Come back to Jay when we sit down over here: okay, let's finish up with the baking so yeah.

B

What happens now you bake those at 375 for 8 or 10 minutes and whenever they give a time check the shortest time, because you can always add minutes, but you can't take them away. So if you bake you cookies, they're a bit tough they'll get over bait, they will get dry, so I always check boy, I really check so.

C

Are these ones that you got.

B

C

They're soft right.

B

Yeah they should be.

B

Don't break your teeth all.

C

Right any other tips related to the gingersnaps.

B

Higher coverage all.

C

Right, let's go over here and Saddam.

B

I

B

C

We come back to Jay how about just a nice round of applause for Marjorie for her baking. Thank you, I! Don't.

B

Know why I don't remember what are we talking about when we stopped so.

C

We were talking about Jay, but we'll come back to Jay I, don't know so. You started baking as a young shy yeah right. So when did you actually start getting recognized for your baking because you.

B

C

A fair amount of success at the State.

B

Fair I think it all started at the State Fair and then by the time I was on The Tonight Show yeah I had one over a thousand blue living spies and I.

C

Was in blue ribbon so.

B

Yeah and so I think that all started yeah.

I

B

Then once like Rosie had me on first, you know because her one of her producers had saw me on wheels on meals, things in New York. Then she had me and then she continued and then when that happened was Wayne Brady and then there was Tonight Show. Then it was the view and then it was the talk. And now it's home, our home and family show yeah. So.

C

Let's talk about the blue ribbons for a second okay over a thousand of them all right, like over a thousand blue ribbons. All right, so I've been told that the judging at the State Fair is pretty political. That's.

B

True, but the thing is what I like they don't know your name. What, if they didn't like your words, they didn't like the way you're part there or something yeah, so I.

C

Wouldn't know about that.

B

I are just a number and so I like that, because there's just a number: they don't know who it is, and so it can be sold fair and so, but there are some.

C

Really is the process? It's it's, not political, no,.

B

It's a fair process yeah, so its Baker best and I would say to everybody: don't try out a new recipe. I like I, never tried. I tried our new during though during a year, I'd practice all year and then I write in my cookbook. You know good, and this is absolutely wonderful. Don't ever make again you know, and so the ones that were really outstanding then I would enter those at the fair and so every year. Oh boy practice does make perfect I practice, em, bro and then I had my husband died.

B

We had three children, so I was always cooking for the five of us, so yeah. So there was a lot of baking of me and I loved. My favorite that my mother made, which I liked was, we called him. Caramel rolls are called sticky, buns and all kinds of things, but oh boy, I like those and that's one of the things I make one that's one of my treats yeah, but if I have a caramel role, that means I can't have chocolate that day, I can't have ice cream that day, I can't their baby.

B

Let you know there's 365 days in the year, so it isn't hard what I I think when I do it? What do I really want today? Well say it was a hot summer day and I, then I should go for a little ice cream would taste good, but oh.

I

B

Got a box of chocolates I, love, chocolates and so now I been eating. Some of those dark, and my very favorite is those turtle things because I like chocolate, nuts in caramel and so then there's that caramel and then the pecans and then covered with chocolate. Oh boy, they are so so good yeah.

C

So Marjorie do actually eat any real food.

B

Yeah I actually I do like. Oh that's, you know, that's why I keep so healthy. You should see my breakfast I make oatmeal the old-fashioned type and because I don't want to make it every day. I make enough right for about whole week. My carol takes 4 cups of water and 2 cups of you know. We should make 4 cups of oatmeal, and so then the first day, of course, is warming, but then the next day, I just take it out of the refrigerator, and you know get my I.

B

Have this I wash this one every day because I like this one, it's got a I, don't know what they call it. A bus got a little handle on this rule. I'm.

C

The wrong person to ask I have no and then.

B

And so then I put it all in there and put it in the microwave, oven and warmer for a minutes, then I take it out and I deliberately make it thicker than it should be, because I want to have that milk I drink two glasses of skim milk every day, and so then I get it the right consistency we mount for then boy, then I just start adding things well the old meal alone, as it drives your cholesterol down so many things, but then I add two tablespoons of ground flax and that has that omega-3 and ground.

B

You have to grind it, though, because your body can't take those seeds and get all those nutrition, so user ground and then because I, just love them and then they're so good for you, I can't put in two tablespoons of sunflower seeds and then since died and watch dr. oz I, like dr. oz, I, don't know if any of you watch them and about I mean maybe six or seven years I forget how long ago he talked about chia seeds, how wonderful they were so now.

B

I, take a tablespoon of the chia seeds are full of calcium and iron and fiber, and so we need all those things right.

C

I think we've decided a strong.

B

Name when I get done OC before I, add them by the time I've kept the the ground flax in the freezer part of the door, then ever use Cody and so back to the microwave for a couple minutes and then then, what I do I add a cup of blueberries and your blueberries are one of the power foods and I love, blueberries and so I use fresh blueberries and then when they were, and then in the summer you know sometimes like some sir, has there's a dollar-fifty of pine.

B

So then I buy a couple crates and so easy to freeze move larry's. All you do is put them on a cookie sheet and look and see that there's you know no, nothing, there's no monfils, and then you free put the sheet with hair. Several is so they don't wanna fall on your refrigerator freezer and then, when they're frozen, they you just gather my pencils. They're frozen, not come together, and so then you're so easy to dish out a couple burgers and so now.

B

Finally, they're coming from Chile I hope the Chile people you know, know how to grow them right because I don't know from overseas. Sometimes they're, you don't have the health rules we do, but now you can get them for joy, so yeah, so I can have a cup every day.

C

Right, like that's the key to your long life, blueberries and chia seeds, yeah.

B

In flour and then straw, these strawberries are so good too, and so then you know it seems like I must eat more fruit than the oatmeal there's all once I got a lot of oatmeal. If there's no food left so then I take if I got strawberries, I put, and then you know what I found I didn't have strawberries to put eaten more boobers but you're supposed to eat all kinds of different ones, because everyone has different, you should. Oh it tastes. Wonderful, no meal is red.

B

Grapes I, take the grape and I cut it crossfades three pieces or cut it down the center too. Oh boy, that really I guess cuz. Grapes is a little sweet boy. That's my middle name, I, just dessert and sweets. I, really like that yeah! Oh, you asked if I, oh and so do I every healthy after I had my oatmeal, which takes me all day to eat, because the ball is up to here by then, and so then I eat are on four and one of the things no matter.

B

Even if I add two tables, those left I don't eat one bit afterwards, but if you're home you just put a cover on in this morning, a my.

C

Tomorrow and.

B

So but then for lunch, wizard, it's kind of a combined lunch and supper I sort of have it like three or four o'clock in the afternoon then I broiled salmon and you know Covey- has these frozen salmon fillets they're about like goin pound but they're when they're on sale or any nine dollars a pound and salmon can be like twenty dollars, a pound, so I buy when I go to cup.

B

I buy I got more than one freezer, so I, just flicked I can tell you why so many of them so I put it in in in the freezer and then when, especially when my kids come, they came Marlene and Stephen come over once a week. So then I always give them dinner or lunch whatever time they happen to come. So then I draw the big one and I'd roll it all on broening things. So any fat and the really is very low fat.

B

That was true and yeah, and so then I have it the next day and the next day, and then, if they're still them, then I freeze it. So how.

C

Many freezers do you know yeah yeah,.

B

And then I, when I have for the three four days, yeah I have sweet potatoes. Oh boy, sweet beers are so good. I have a baked potato now on man, but on sweet potatoes. You don't need anything and a sweet. You don't need anything, you know uh nothing and but it boy when I have a baked potato. It's a surprise. It was a big day for data. How just a half a teaspoon of butter.

B

It was the room temperature it just you know your variances and the same with vegetable I always keep some butter out for the day. So it gets the room temperature because then you use less because then, when I put some on my cook vegetable, it melts immediately and then a little bit like a half an inch does the whole thing. So, although I use butter and and of really all that does taste buttery yeah. So oh there are so many ways you can cut calories yo. So.

C

Back on your blue ribbons, why your blue ribbons? Okay, we're gonna talk about the blue ribbon somewhere? How many different recipes have you won blue ribbons.

B

Well, I in my cookbook I'd put a hundred and four, but the thing is I also enter the Anoka fair, so I can win ribbons mmm safe here in the honey's, so I got a lot of places and because every time you make it it's new, you can the next year you couldn't like my sour cream coffee cake. That's a no I, love that and it makes why I like it. It makes you know so then you can hand in the whole one.

B

But then you still got one for your family, geez yeah and then, if you're not interfere, you got one and say so: you get company and then and they come over well there you can drag out that coffee cake and by the time you get the cross, he made. You know bait things. Don't take long to defrost you in there. Isn't it frost at ten seconds yeah because boy, you all know, if you put something in too much, you can get hockey pucks out of any other things that yeah all.

C

Right: let's go back to Jay Leno! How do you end up on The Tonight Show, what you ended up on The, Tonight, Show, right.

B

Yeah and so why.

C

Did Jay like you so much? Oh.

B

Yeah and Jay liked me because I was the perfect straight man because for Jay he wanted his audience to laugh. That was the whole thing, because on the weekend he goes I he worse all week would work. There's a night show. Does he still does this work every weekend, he'd go out and do comedy. You know one of the hotels I understand he worked. He lived on his Tonight Show but saved all the other ones that he made yeah. So he probably has lots of money in the bank. Did.

C

He ever so did he ever take you to his stand-up acts when he would go to Vegas or something like.

B

No, no I only saw Jay, oh and so the first time I and I hadn't watched that night show cuz we used to we'd WCCO, and so then you just kind of keep it on and for the news, and then it was Letterman, so I'd seen his program and so I really hadn't seen his show and oh by the way. When that woman called that producer called me and then I went and heard her message she said: I saw you on the view, I think you're, fantastic and I want you on this night.

B

You know see and so yeah, and so then I was on. Like I guess, I told you that I she wanted me for December and it didn't work out. So it was on January yeah and then on January. We did this fight and Jay would always invite. There was only two guests in the music, so this night it was Carrie, Bradshaw and I had never I had never never knew anything about Terry.

C

Bradshaw's, the quarterback in the NFL for those.

B

Of you who aren't football family, had we had the two pies, and so we were going to decorate him and then I said to the producer. I expected it to be whipped cream in a bag where you press it and I said you know, Jay won't be able to do it. It'll probably make a mess. She said great. He wants to make a mess cause, they are so laughs and but then they gave us some ready whip and so I said Terry. He said: Terry come over and help him so I said here.

B

Are you can do my pie, so he starts to decorate the pie, then all once he aims it at Jay and sprinkles that and then they and then I had this red silk dress on which I just strike finita and boy. These charges are up for sale and so I thought I.

B

Don't want a that whipped cream on me, so I stepped aside and then they kept and then all once Terry took up the pie and was going to smash it in Jay's face so Jay when I ran off the stage and when he came back to her they kind of settled on so then Jake huh Jay comes to me. He puts his arm around me and says: fear there, Marjorie I'll protect you from that Terry. Well, he had whipped cream as if everywhere I was whipped, cream everywhere and I thought.

B

I should charge him for dry cleaning, but it was my first time and I wasn't going to make any waves. So I didn't, say anything yeah.

C

All right, I could sit here. I could sit here and talk to you all day, but I. Think some of the folks here would probably like to ask you some questions. Where are the microphones wandering around so we've got a couple. Microphones, we've got one there. We've got one here, so we have a question right down here. First, you can go ahead. I'll read question until the mic: yeah go ahead.

H

B

Yeah I sure would what.

H

B

H

B

You know what those what's.

H

It all has to be.

B

A certain consistency you put it down, it doesn't go down or oh yeah, so if yeah, if you make it and it seems too soft- maybe you need a table from the flower. It's amazing what one tablespoon of flour does to it: oh yeah and so I practice. I put it into practice. You before I take the sheets so that I got it down yeah and once you get the system, then it's yeah, but Danna they're kind of tricky.

B

But if you got the dough just right and that Oh young, my husband loved those for it, so my daughter did you yell, but they're playing so so.

C

Your your tip is a little bit extra flour.

B

Yeah in case the dough was too soft and the thing about flour, because you know, if you ever make bread recipes, you'll say you see, it says two to two and a half or two: you have it's, because bread can, flour can be so dry. But if your voice and your house has got amount of moisture, it can be moist and that's why it makes the difference. Maybe you need that have a cup, maybe you want, but with the cookies that you'd be just like a tablespoon or something you know.

H

B

Boy, you know if you have like I, stirred up some dough. The other day I was going to make cream wafers cuz I'm, demonstrating a lot with Belinda, and it had so much butter in and I had. It was just so then I had a letter for a couple of hours. Yes, because if there's a lot of butter, sometimes 15 your half hour is plenty yeah, because you'll know, if it's so strong, then just put it on your counter and do some read or something for the next half did.

C

We have another question over here. There we go.

J

Hi Marjorie, we met the other day at golden fig anyway. I've never made Ginger Snaps before, but I've used them to make sauerbraten gravy. If you just crush up your Ginger Snaps instead of adding flour, it makes a wonderful gravy and I wondered if you ever tried this.

B

C

The question is: have you ever taken the gingersnaps and crumbled them up to make a sauerbraten gravy? Is that what is it you made? Sauerbraten gravy out of gingersnap.

B

Never have done that. No, no, no I I guess I just make the cookies and that's it no I have no. You.

C

Don't reuse your cookies right.

B

Hey you like to cook but I, see as I like to cook, but I love to bake, so yeah so and I just love how much my microwave them! Some people don't like to microwave ovens, and then somebody told me that they weren't as popular now I did lost without mine.

B

First to warm my coffee, because I started out with with this coffee in the morning a cup and then I have a few sips and I'm reading the newspaper I, don't wanna, take it's already cool so back to the microwave I'm sure that I warm that cup of coffee at least 10 times before it's done, and also my oatmeal, because I forget to eat I get to introduce and what I'm eating I have what I'm reading eyes just to eat yeah. So that's why it takes me a long time got.

C

Another question over here in the front row: yes,.

B

F

A little earlier discussion about the proper number of freezers I have a chest. Freezer and refrigerator. Freezers is that too many or too few so.

C

He has a chest freezer and two refrigerator freezers. He wants to know what the right number of freezers is.

B

You know what why I got so many freezer: okay, the first time I had one freezer when I entered like oh five things, ten things and I try to use everything up to have room.

B

Well, then, when I started to enter like 25 things, I found that one freezer was not enough and old, baked things just read so beautifully if we wrapped them very good, and so we got another freezer and then when finally, I was entering like 50 things there and 50 things out of at the nOCA and then about 20 and honey I had like about a hundred and twenty things in my freezer, so the thing is I didn't want to give all that away.

B

I would have to give it away because sooner or later, in the fall was over. I had to stop baking and like the list, we would say I'd say to do things after the fair and then it you know this. Gold honor and the papers grew higher and higher and higher, and so I knew and we would love to eat those all fall. So I said to leave. It was my birthday. This is probably about oh I may mean 15 20 years ago and I said to him.

B

You know what I would like for my freezer. I really would like. I went for my for my birthday. What I really would like for my birthday is a freezer, so we've got another freezer so right now we have three. So as so was fine because I could I could I gave to my neighbors and all our friends, but then there was a lot enough so that we would have something to eat when, because all once in September there was no baking so about say and November, because I had so many papers to read.

B

I had laundry to do oh and longer doing yeah.

C

How many, how many different outfits do you wear in a day that you have so much laundry? How many? What? How many outfits do you wear in a day, if you have so much laundry to do? Oh well,.

B

You see I, don't do the laundry, but once when I do do the laundry I like during the State Fair we'll just keep putting the extra sheets extra towels in the basement, so finally I hope they lasted, but so they won Saphir boy. There were lots of because I had all these sheets to do all the towels to do, and then some of our clothes and luckily we had enough clothes. Oh we didn't, but other than that. Nowadays, I were a neighbor in the kitchen and I have a lot of aprons.

B

If I haves a terrible habit of wiping my hands on the apron and so boy and I I'm kind of like Julie she's Julie. Oh, she spilled a lot and I kind of score up all.

C

Right so you got your answer. Three freezers is the right number, so good, all right now, Marjorie, you I think.

B

Though one freezer would probably be enough for the ordinary person, it's.

C

Not an ordinary person I can tell that right if.

B

You like to bake and don't want to give it all away. Two is better yeah, so.

C

Did you get a freezer for your birthday? Yes,.

B

I sure did all.

C

Right, let's talk about birthdays because you have a pretty big one coming up, yeah.

B

And you know what now I'm giving talks on how to be healthy and happy and I feel that I'm a thority on the spot, because I have nothing wrong with me. I have I, never and I and I definitely don't want all comers like everybody doesn't well. I still have the same, not saying how much it was in the beginning, but anyway I didn't lose any of it and oh yeah, because we held you know heart attack.

B

No, you don't have to have a heart attack and strokes and oh everything that if you eat healthy, so believe me, I've, read and I've exercised. You got there there's about four things you have to do, and so, when I give my talks, I tell them the four things and then like I ain't, never have had I see all these fields advertised like the leaves and so on others. Both only am I leave. I could take one a day or so. I have never ever had the heads up I have actually been pain-free.

B

All my life and I think it's because the way I lived and so next year on August 9th I will be 100.

B

My neighbors down the way go to the wife three nights a week, and so they come pick me up. I was so glad because a winter believe me I, don't walk outside when there's ice or snow, because my wonderful life would end. If I said you couldn't you couldn't go on TV in a wheelchair, or we.

C

Have any more questions where's, the I'll? Do the breakdown here go ahead.

C

What would you.

B

So I tell everybody who bought the book would say what should I start with first well, the easiest and the simplest one.

B

Is that gingersnaps, like I said, even though five-year-olds would make it, and so I would say, yeah start with and be sure like I think if you have children and and you want them to really like cooking being and being in the kitchen with them and see that the first thing they bake haste out, it turns out wonderful because then they're gonna like it and then they're gonna, doing them to sink when they go up and in high school. If you got a job, they can make.

B

The dinner and dinner would be ready, so the other, the mysticism as Michelle so yeah I, would say sorry and yeah. You can't go wrong with that with a simple one: yeah I would do a simple one in juniors now boy and if you're lucky to have a stand. Mixer, if you don't, then the child probably would love to send. Oh and you know what when I was at when I was working at Sears, decorating, microwave Gigi, microwave I ever down, it was maybe beating eggs or something I was going to show magical cakes.

B

So I had this electric mixer. So in this electric, but instead of learned, I was going like this and and the one of the salesman said Marjorie, that's electric you don't have to use, but I guess I was going to help it along and so I was sorry. I forget that they do the work yeah.

C

Let's go over here we got another question: I.

I

Saw you at the Cubs store on highway 136 the number of years ago and I wanted to tell you something, but you just kind of smiled at me that you thought I recognized you and I thought she wanted your privacy. So I'd like to tell you now that you're one of the reasons I'm proud to be from Minnesota yeah.

C

She said she's proud to be from Minnesota in part because of you how nice I was thinking about this. You know: there's Bob, Dylan yeah,.

B

C

B

C

Mondale Yeah.

B

C

Jessica Lange, oh yeah, I, put you in the top five.

B

That's good yeah, you know I, like I, get these things on my website, I'm on Facebook and they I look to see what people say and luckily you know I I'm glad I'm, just a little celebrity, because I wouldn't like that paparazzi following me around oh my gosh, and then they they write you up in those scandals and they say and they reduce. Oh thank heavens nobody's following me and nobody writes me up so I like being a little one. So.

C

Between you and me, and about 300 people, is there something that you're doing that you don't want people to know about with the paparazzi following you.

B

Oh really not, but you know they can invent things like those things that they're not true, maybe there's a green. They might say that I talk fast, but who knows and I do, but who knows what they would say. Scandal.

C

B

C

Have other questions let's see, let's come over, let's actually go back there in the corner, we'll get some of the folks in the back of the seating area.

D

Hi Marjorie, my name is barb I'm wondering. Are you brand specific like do you only use Land, O'lakes butter or C&H sugar, or do you just bake with anything? No.

B

Case people didn't hear what.

C

She wants to know if you stick with one single brand, if you're like a wholly owned subsidiary.

B

Of land, oh no I am thirsty. I grew up in the depression and you're thrifty. What's ever on sale, that's the one that I bought, because now it's butter, it has to say AAA, and so that you know that if it says they ain't that everybody's brand is as good as the other one cuz there's regulations on it. Yeah.

C

B

C

Have any of these like Betty, Crocker or Pillsbury, or any of the Land O'lakes? If they ever approached you and said you know we want, we want to have you do marketing for us? No.

B

They never have no well.

C

That's a missed opportunity, isn't.

B

G

Marjorie just wanted to let you know that being from Robbinsdale, you would be so proud. Robbinsdale middle school now has a home economics class.

C

So she said: Robbinsdale middle school, yeah.

B

C

Has a home economics class, oh.

B

C

And I'll tell you I, don't know how exciting that is for everybody else, but I wake up in a cold, sweat thinking about Home Economics, because I had a really bad experience in middle.

B

That's good because and now like I graduated as a home, economist and I, don't think there is no that I think it's something about living everyday living or something it's just different job. So boy things change, I've,.

C

Got another question.

E

Over here hi Marjorie, my name is Joyce and my daughter's and I have been following you at the fair for decades and we go in the honey building and the creative activities building. And we look and we say: oh here's Marjorie Johnson, she got another blue ribbon there and- and my question is- is there's another person. That's won a lot of blue ribbons, her name's Elaine, Janis and I'm wondering if you're friends with the Elaine Janis at all cuz she's won a number. You know a lot of blue ribbons. I heard.

B

C

Elaine Janis has.

B

C

A lot of ribbon.

B

Oh yeah, are you friends? Are you rivals? No, and you know what is funny. We really are friends and, like we said, I I met her at one of the Bake off's I had seen her name on that list all the time, but then we both ended up with one of the big loss and so I met her but yeah, and so and surely we are friends even though we're some visitors- and we were saying on the list- winners- this like one of her nasally first, the other would be second.

B

The next year would be vice versa and yeah, and so and then one year, our friend Stella, who is nothing a bake-off, couldn't get. Oh, she was really annoyed. She had entered some kind of a. Maybe it was a quick read or maybe it was I forget what it was, but she actually got first and we got second and third so voice. You really feel that she had a ride when she beat down at one, but both of us all.

E

Right, well, you be entering this year and.

C

The fair will you be entering in the fair this year. Well,.

B

You know when I wrote the code book they decided. I was a professional and I argued with him. I said all I did was give every one of my secrets and hints awake. So you know like they say, no good deed goes unpunished, and so they said that I couldn't do it. I couldn't talk, and so.

C

You can't enter any more I can enter.

B

Honey, so I enter honey and if they have a special contest in creative I can enter that. But I don't like to answer spam or whatever other things they have now and then they'll have like General Mills has had some bread and some cookies and stuff. Then I will enter, but now last year they didn't have any ago yeah. So so.

C

Regarding Alain Janis, the other, the other person who enters the contest, there's no truth that you did like a Tonya Harding thing with a rolling pin across her knee sir. They.

B

Probably would have said that you know savor there's some you're unbelievable story would have been no I know we. We really are friends and I call her up ever so now during the during the year, I call her up and ask her how she is and she's had some health problems and so and then her daughter has had some health problems, so I call and find out how she is and everything yeah we're really yeah we're really good friends.

B

It's amazing because she was entering the fair, like I entered and sent me for I understand she started in 64 about, and then she entered the Anoka. Why I entered the nOCA she had entered no kaffir of since then too, and so then I think it was. Let me see I wonder it was in the 80s or 90s I said to her. How how can you enter to fairs I'm so busy one?

B

She said well, when you enter the note the County Fair they only take off take part of it and you get to keep the rustle and I was trying to perfect my angel food cake.

B

So I was an old boy: I'll enter an age of food, cake, I'll have 3/4 of it to take home, and then my family loves it and then I could see what they said, and so that's what I did and I practice and took the nice, and you know what I don't know was the next year or the next year, when I entered my angel food cake in the State Fair I did take the Blue Ribbon and then they have a sweepstake for the person who who, like they have the butter cakes and then they have like eight cakes, which are chiffon is fun.

B

Stuff and I did take the sweets. Take on that. So then, when they get the two sweepstakes, then they decide. Who is the best of a sweep, take away even together, sweepstake you're competing with all the blue ribbons everybody's good, but some one person can see and then so the sleep state for the sean's or for the angels food that and then the butter cakes they decided. Who of the two Suites?

B

Am I darling if I didn't get that so that you are got the blue room and the sweet sake immigrants, so I guess I learned how to make I was practice. Yeah all.

C

Right, we are going to wrap up shortly. I have two last questions for you. What is your favorite thing to bake? Well,.

B

I love to make homemade bread. Oh if you ever have a slice of toast on homemade bread. You know bread is so wonderful, but there's something about toasting that slice. That makes it even now to this world more! Oh boy, your and you have a sandwich with it. You really feel like you're eating and now because I want to eat healthy I always use I use a lot of whole wheat bread.

B

But then, if you use half whole wheat and use bread flour because whole wheat is more than so, then if you still get a nice light loaf pan, you know what I found out and I didn't know in 2009 I won in a bread contest that was down in Kansas, so I went there and found there was something called white. Whole wheat flour, I never even heard now it's in the stores, but what it is.

B

They had grown this wheat that had all the good properties some whole wheat, but it, but it was a lighter holy. So now, when I make my rolls I common rolls, which I just love, I, use, half whole white, whole wheat and then half of the bread flour, yeah, and so then that still makes a nice Ariel, because if you're not used to whole wheat, everything so dense and stuff, so I don't think. If you want your family to eat him, don't try all whole wheat at once. Try it out.

B

You know bread and a half a week, so they get used to the taste and yeah. Alright.

C

One last question: who's your favorite celebrity you've met Jay, Leno and Rosie O'donnell and Wayne Brady and Belinda Jensen.

B

Who's, your favorite, oh well, you know every single one of them is so wonderful because you see they're so down to earth. You can talk to them. Just like I'm talking to you. There is no ego, no big ego and I think because the men were comedians and they got booed on stage and everything else and were silent, they're so used to not being great that they take it all in their stride and no ego.

B

So it's so nice that Youngjae was so friendly and so nice yeah, the first time I mean I, was going to be on the producer said to me now: Jo come down to your dressing, room and say hello, so the first time you're on stage it won't be when you see him and I understand that on Liberman's show the first time you saw on this one on the stage, which would be hard if you hadn't, even met the person before so he does that and so every time, even though he does stop by and say hello and goodbye.

B

Well then, one time I had a lot of gifts, because I have my own dressing, room and I could have my friends so we're chattering and making everybody. You know once the show's over boy, the crew and everybody they exit fast because they want to get home and so I had all these people and we're talking and laughing, and so then Jays leaving any ducks just head into my room and said: hey quiet in there quiet down, don't you know, people are trying to sleep.

B

So he's always the comedian yeah.

C

Good, how about a nice round of applause for Margery Johnson? Thank you for being.

B