A’iight, bread geeks:  warm up your kneading hands….entries are now being accepted for the 2011 National Festival of Breads.  Sponsored by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Fleischmann’s Yeast, & King Arthur Flour, the Festival bills itself as “America’s Only Amateur Bread-Baking Contest”.  Prizes include cash, trips to the festival competition in Wichita, KS, and a grand prize trip to King Arthur Flour’s Baking Education Center in Norwich, VT.  A quick review of past winners indicates that America’s amateur bakers definitely have yeast-baking chops:  you can enter in categories ranging from quick & easy to whole grains, ethnic baking, rolls, and more.

I generally don’t enter food competitions, but this one has piqued my interest.  Maybe a classic king cake?  Or some sort of filled focaccia?  Or really righteous dinner rolls, with a fusiony twist?  Grilled naan?  Who knows what sort of thing will emerge from my overly-yeasted brain in the coming months:  the deadline for entries isn’t until February 7, 2011.