"C" is for Cookie ... It's Also for Cash - $1 Million.

Carolyn Gurtz of Gaithersburg, MD, Earns $1 Million for Her Creative Take on a Classic Cookie in the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off([R]) Contest

DALLAS, Texas -- Everything's bigger in Texas, and for Carolyn Gurtz of Gaithersburg, MD, one thing's for sure - her bank account just got $1 million bigger! Today, Gurtz captured the $1 million grand prize at the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off([R]) Contest for her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies. Bake-Off([R]) awards show host, Sandra Lee, handed over the dough and a complete set of GE Profile[TM] kitchen appliances valued at $10,000. Gurtz was among the 100 best amateur cooks at the country's most celebrated culinary competition, sponsored by General Mills, General Electric, Old El Paso([R]), The J.M. Smucker Company, Eggland's Best, Land O'Lakes, Inc., Fisher([R]) Nuts and Domino Foods, Inc.

Inspired by her love of baking and the great flavor of peanut butter, Carolyn Gurtz's recipe combines Pillsbury([R]) Create 'n Bake([R]) Refrigerated peanut butter cookies with JIF([R]) Creamy Peanut Butter and Fisher([R]) Dry Roasted Peanuts to create as one judge stated, "A new twist on an old classic." Taking the cake - or cookie - in the Sweet Treats category, contest judges agreed that Gurtz's recipe surpassed the 99 other competitors as the grand prize winner for its simplicity and approachability, allowing the home cook to take a convenience product and turn it into an unexpected cookie that bursts with layers of peanut butter flavor. Contest judges described Gurtz's Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies as a delightful taste that combines two classic cookies - a snickerdoodle and a peanut butter cookie.

A homemaker with a passion for baking inspired by her parents, Gurtz still has the mixer her mother bought her more than twenty years ago. Now 59, she fondly recalls the day her parents first introduced her to cooking at age seven. Fulfilling a lifelong dream to reach the Bake-Off([R]) Contest, she literally cried from joy upon learning she'd been selected as one of the 100 finalists. "This is like winning the gold medal," said Gurtz, who has been entering recipes in the Pillsbury Bake-Off([R]) Contest for the past 15 years. This Sunday School teacher and mother of two knew she was on to something when her son smelled them cooking and declared them a "winner" after just one bite.

While a panel of nine judges determined the $1 million recipe, America selected one winner in the 43rd Contest. Consumers logged onto www.bakeoff.com to vote for their favorite recipe among the 100 final recipes. The $5,000 America's Favorite Recipe Award went to Gwen Beauchamp of Lancaster, TX, for her Toffee-Banana Brownies. A confirmed chocoholic with a husband who loves brownies, Beauchamp decided to reinvent a favorite brownie recipe for her entry.

The dough continued to rise as four additional category winners each earned $5,000 in cash and a GE Profile([TM]) Double Oven Freestanding Range with PreciseAir([TM]) Convection and two self-clean ovens for their recipes. The winner in the Breakfast & Brunches category was Pamela Shank of Parkersburg, WV, for her Mascarpone-Filled Cranberry-Walnut Rolls. Niki Plourde of Gardner, MA, captured the Pizza Creations category with her Apple-Jack Chicken Pizza with Caramelized Onion. The winner in the Entertaining Appetizers category was Edgar Rudberg of St. Paul, MN, for his Salmon Pastries with Dill Pesto. The Old El Paso([R]) Mexican Favorites category was captured by Vanda Pozzanghera of Pittsford, NY, for her Mexican Pesto-Pork Tacos.

The imagination of Phyllis Weeks-Daniel of San Diego, CA, was hard at work when she crafted her prize-winning Blue Cheese and Red Onion Jam Crescent Thumbprints. Weeks-Daniel's recipe was deemed most innovative by contest judges, earning her the GE Imagination At Work Award - a complete set of GE Profile[TM] kitchen appliances (total estimated retail value $5,000).

Contest judges were most impressed by the taste combination of ingredients, particularly the sweetness of the SMUCKER'S([R]) Apricot Preserves with the tartness of the crumbled Gorgonzola cheese.

In addition to Carolyn Gurtz capturing the $1 million grand prize for her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies, she was also presented with the $5,000 Jif([R] )Peanut Butter Award. The award recognized the best recipe using at least 1/4 cup of Jif([R]) Peanut Butter.

The finalists, 92 women and 8 men, ranging in age from 27 to 72 and representing 35 states, each won a trip to the contest finals, including airfare, a two-night stay at The Fairmont Dallas, TX, daily event-sponsored meals, a GE microwave with enhanced cooking performance and $100. On April 14, the 100 finalists simultaneously prepared their recipes for judges at 100 GE mini-kitchens set up in The Fairmont Regency ballroom. The contest judges consisted of a panel of nine food experts who worked in jury room secrecy to evaluate the entries based upon taste, appearance, creativity and consumer appeal.

Visit www.bakeoff.com to see prize winners and all the recipes from this year's competition, plus many favorites from throughout the contest's 59-year history. All 100 winning recipes with color photos are also featured in The Pillsbury([R]) Classic([R]) Cookbook available at supermarkets and discount stores now through May 5, 2008 for $3.99.

The Pillsbury Bake-Off([R]) Contest originated in 1949, with the first competition at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The contest was held annually from 1949 to 1978, when it switched to an every-other-year schedule. The $1 million grand prize was first awarded in 1996 in Dallas, TX, to Kurt Wait, who was also the first - and only - man to win top honors in the contest.

About the Sponsors

General Mills is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. Its more than 100 U.S. consumer brands includes Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Cheerios and other Big G cereal brands, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Totino's and Progresso, among others. For more than 130 years, families have trusted Pillsbury to make mealtimes special times. Favorite Pillsbury products include refrigerated cookies, crescent dinner rolls, breads, biscuits, pie crusts and sweet rolls as well as frozen biscuits, breads, rolls, pie crusts and breakfast items. For product information and great-tasting recipes, visit www.pillsbury.com. Log on to www.generalmills.com for company information.

For nearly a century, Old El Paso([R]) has been helping and inspiring consumers to bring fun and flavorful Mexican food to their dinner tables. Trusted to create delicious Mexican meals with mainstream appeal, Old El Paso spices up meal planning. Popular Old El Paso products include dinner kits, taco shells, seasonings and a complete line of Mexican meal components. Old El Paso brings families and friends together for a fun and lively meal. For more information and delicious recipes, please visit www.oldelpaso.com.

GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrial uses innovative technologies and "ecomagination," a GE initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that help customers and consumers meet pressing environmental challenges, to deliver comfort, convenience and electrical protection and control. General Electric (NYSE: GE) brings imagination to work, selling products under the Monogram[R], Profile[TM] GE[R], Hotpoint[R], SmartWater[TM] Reveal[R], Edison[TM] and Energy Smart[TM] consumer brands, and Entellisys[TM] industrial brand. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.

The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. The Company's wide variety of icon brands and products have been part of home-made family meals for generations, and include such trusted favorites as Smucker's[R] jams, jellies, preserves, fruit spreads and ice cream toppings; Jif[R] peanut butter; Crisco[R] oils, shortening and sprays; and Pillsbury[R] baking mixes, ready-to-spread frosting and flour. For more information and delicious recipes, please visit www.smuckers.com, www.jif.com, www.crisco.com and www.pillsburybaking.com.

Eggland's Best is the No. 1 branded egg in the U.S. They are the recipients of many awards, including The Best Tasting Egg Award from the American Culinary Chefs Best for five consecutive years, the Men's Health Top Pick as the Best Eggs in their 2006 Nutrition Awards, The Crystal Egg Award from the International Egg Commission, and the National Health & Wellness Club Stamp of Approval. This year, Eggland's Best became the official egg of the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off([R]) Contest. The distinctive "EB" stamp on the shell indicates that the eggs meet high standards of taste, nutrition and quality. Eggland's Best hens are fed a strictly controlled, high-quality, all-natural, all-vegetarian diet without added hormones, antibiotics or steroids of any kind. Sold in supermarkets throughout the country, EB eggs are also available in cage-free and organic varieties, and are certified as Kosher. For more information, visit www.eggland.com.

Land O'Lakes, Inc., a Minnesota-based food and agriculture company, is a leading supplier of quality dairy products. In 1921, Land O'Lakes began making butter from sweet--not sour--cream. Ever since that breakthrough, the company has been a leading producer of butter and other pure, wholesome dairy products that deliver simple goodness to consumers. Today, the tradition of innovation continues with a complete line up of butter and spreads products. Visit www.landolakes.com anytime for great recipes and meal ideas.

For more than 100 years, Domino[R] Sugar and C&H[R] Sugar have joined millions of Americans in their kitchens to help bake something special and create memories that last a lifetime. Share the joy of baking with family and friends by using 100% pure cane Domino[R] Sugar or C&H[R] Sugar. For classic recipes, baking tips, product information and so much more, visit Domino[R] Sugar's Web site: www.dominosugar.com or C&H[R] Sugar's Web site: www.chsugar.com.

Since 1920, Fisher[R] Nuts has prided itself in providing only the freshest and highest quality nuts. Fisher Chef's Naturals[R] are a favorite with at-home chefs looking for an easy and nutritious way to add flavor and pizzazz to any dish. Today, Fisher[R] Nuts continues its tradition of excellence as a John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS) brand. Fisher[R] Nuts and Fisher[R] Chef's Naturals[R] nuts are enjoyed as healthy snacks and as delicious baking and cooking ingredients, making everyday meals extraordinary. JBSS, Inc. has been a leading processor, marketer and distributor of shelled and in-shell nuts and extruded snacks since 1922. The company's fresh and delicious products can be found in stores and supermarkets under the Fisher[R], Fisher[R] Chef's Naturals[R] and Sunshine Country[R] brand names and under a variety of private labels. For more information on Fisher Nuts, please visit www.fishernuts.com.

About Sandra Lee

Sandra Lee is CEO of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade, a multimedia company focused on quick and simple solutions for everyday living. She began her career in home decorating by creating the highest selling do-it-yourself home decorating line of its time, Kurtain Kraft. The success catapulted the acclaimed Life and Style expert into publishing and television. With 14 books to her credit, she is a New York Times best-selling author and the popular television host of "Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee" on the Food Network. SemiHomemade.com receives 55-million hits annually and is home to a popular online club membership of Semi-Homemakers. She is a popular guest expert for many national TV shows including Good Morning America, Weekend Today and Fox News Channel, and has appeared as the cover celebrity on many national magazines including Ladies Home Journal, TV Guide, Family Circle, and Woman's World.

Sandra is the national spokesperson for Share Our Strength and its annual "Great American Bake Sale." She is a founding member of the Los Angeles chapter of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and has served on the board of trustees for Project Angel Food. Sandra is a generous supporter of God's Love We Deliver and the Central Park Conservancy. She is a participant in Harvard Business School's annual Woman's Entrepreneurships Conference.