Results are in...

Well, I have to say, this opportunity was a wonderful experience. My first baking contest! (Huge Smile). Tasting and voting took place Thursday afternoon, March 12 from 1-3:30 pm. Results were just announced this morning! However, before I announce the winner, I’d like to share the experience.

First, I was instructed to checkout “chef whites” (yahoo, feeling official now) and then report to the Food Lab at noon. Once in the lab, I was given my paper chef’s hat (I took this home for the kids to fight over), shown the kitchen stations and the locations of various ingredients. So I chose a “kitchen” to work in. After looking through drawers and shelves for my utensils and needed baking equipment, I started making my cookies. That did not take long. See my entry was an easy recipe, great flavor. I spend the most time forming my cookies. At home, this time is good talk time with our children.

There were 4 finalist and the entries were Penizotto biscotti, Chocolate Covered Cherry cookies, Apricot, White Chocolate and Walnut scones and Dipped gingersnaps. Tough competition!

The smells in the lab were mouth-watering. I used a huge oven, it must have been 5 feet wide and it held 5 cookie sheets. Cut the baking-time considerably. (I am thinking I need an oven like this in my renovated kitchen.) Once my cookies cooled, I dipped them in white chocolate and put them on the larger cookie trays for storage. Did that give my entry away ~I made the Dipped gingersnaps! I was slightly confused as the Apricot, white chocolate and walnut scones were not scones. To me scones are triangular in shape. The baker of these, made little mounds of dough and baked them. Funny but they tasted good. I just love apricots. The Penizotto biscotti smelled wonderful when they were being mixed up. That contestant had a lot of prep work to make those. I voted for the biscotti. Hey, I already know my cookies are great – that is why the recipe made it into our “Tested & Approved” cookbook at home.

I am already working on next years’ entry. I am hunting for an unusual, tasty cookie. I might even create my own cookie. Time will tell. Until then, congratulations to the winner! Oh, that was me.

I'll post the recipe soon. These cookies are fun to make with children. They will have a ball rolling the dough into little balls. And they freeze well!