And the blue ribbon, for the third year in a row goes to Hazel Wand.

Year after year Betsy came home with the red ribbon in the high school baked goods (cake division) at the Wisconsin State Fair. This was Hazel’s final year of eligibility, her senior year.

Next year there would be a new Blue Ribbon Baker.

Both Betsy and Hazel had entered cakes with the identical ingredients: a chocolate layer cake with black walnut frosting.

Why had Hazel’s cake won? What made hers different, better?

Knowing that Hazel could not enter again, Betsy forgot her shyness and asked to compare recipes. The girls sat down and Betsy went first, describing her selection of ingredients, where she purchased them, what temperature, how many strokes of the spoon, etc.

Hazel said that is exactly the same as hers, except that between the forty-first and forty-second stroke of the spoon she added her secret ingredient: spit. She spit into the batter for good luck.

I make my own paper.

I make my own paint.

I spit into them for good luck.