OXNARD FINALIST HAS A CHANCE TO WIN $1 MILLION IN PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF.Byline: Natalie Haughton Daily News Food Editor Jeanne Walker is both nervous and excited - and understandably so. Come Saturday, the Oxnard resident will travel to Dallas, where she will compete against 99 other finalists for $1 million in the 37th Pillsbury Bake-Off The Pillsbury Bake-Off is a cooking contest, run by Pillsbury Company from 1949 to 1976, annually, and biennially since.[1] History The Grand Prize in the first contest—then called the Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest . Come Monday, the contestants will be working at their assigned stoves in a ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel, cooking up their recipes (which can be made up to three times) for a dozen judges to sample. "I have one chance in 100 to win $1 million - that's better odds than the Lotto," Walker said in a recent interview. "I've never been so close to winning $1 million." This is the first time as a finalist for Walker, who first entered the Pillsbury Bake-Off in the late '80s. However, 20 cooks have been there once before, and eight others have made the trip twice, meaning this is the last time they can compete in the contest. Unlike some of her contest counterparts, who are obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with entering recipe contests and have won big prizes, Walker enters only those contests for which the products or ingredients required "appeal to me and spark my creativity." And in Walker's case, that translates mostly into desserts and treats. "I first started entering recipe contests in 1984 - but seriously in 1988," said Walker who dabbles in photography and also enters photo contests. To date, she has won a $100 second prize for her Carrot Pecan pecan: see hickory. pecan Nut and tree (Carya illinoinensis) of the walnut family, native to temperate North America. Occasionally reaching a height of about 160 ft (50 m), the tree has deeply furrowed bark and feather-shaped leaves. Crunch Pie (recipe follows) and four honorable mentions (one for a brownie recipe that she shares) in the monthly Better Homes and Gardens magazine recipe contest. Walker said that she already had planned to enter the Pillsbury Bake-Off even before she heard about this year's $1 million grand prize. "I entered because I like to be creative," she added, noting that she sent along five recipes (including a casserole, pie and snack bar) that she developed just for the contest. "Part of the reason people enter recipe contests is wanting 15 minutes of fame. "Everyone who enters the (Pillsbury) contest thinks she would like to go to the Bake-Off," she said. "But you never really think it's going to happen to you." So when the phone call from Pillsbury came in December, Walker was caught totally off-guard. "I was up to my elbows in dishwater dish·wa·ter n. Water in which dishes are to be or have been washed. dishwater Noun 1. water in which dishes have been washed 2. ," she recalled. "The phone had been ringing a lot that day, and I was kind of irritated ir·ri·tate v. ir·ri·tat·ed, ir·ri·tat·ing, ir·ri·tates v.tr. 1. To rouse to impatience or anger; annoy: a loud bossy voice that irritates listeners. when I answered the phone. " 'Is this Jeanne Walker?' asked the woman on the other end of the line," who said she was from Pillsbury and had some questions about Walker's Bake-Off entry. "I thought I had messed up, but I wasn't sure," said Walker, who was getting the idea that maybe she was in the running. "She asked me questions about how I came up with the recipe. And then the woman said, 'If you haven't already guessed, you are a Bake-Off finalist.' "Oh my God," responded Walker. "I was really stunned stun tr.v. stunned, stun·ning, stuns 1. To daze or render senseless, by or as if by a blow. 2. To overwhelm or daze with a loud noise. 3. ." "My wonderful husband (Terry Hanley), a truck driver, was really happy for me," she said. His response, "Hurry up and win the million so we can retire." If Walker wins the big prize - $50,000 a year for 20 years - she plans to buy a new car, help her mother and son and donate some money to her church. It also would be welcomed by Walker, who was laid off in June from the trophy shop where she worked. Walker's recipe that made it to the finalist stage is in the quick treats and snacks category. Rules prohibit revealing the name or ingredients in the recipe (which will appear in next Thursday's Food section). When Walker develops contest recipes, she first envisions the dish in her head. She noted that she's won prizes for recipes that she's only written on paper and never actually made. "I tried them after they won - and they've worked," she added. The recipe she is using in the Bake-Off finals "is the only recipe of those I entered that I had actually tested before I sent it in." Walker attributes her success to having done lots of cooking and reading lots of recipes. "I get inspiration from magazines, newspapers, cookbooks and eating out," she said. "People say I'm a good cook with desserts and goodies," said Walker, who has been honing her kitchen skills since age 7 (when she made hard, inedible cookies). Walker is known for her several varieties of chocolate and white chocolate white chocolate n. Cocoa butter combined with milk and a sweetener, often flavored with vanilla. Noun 1. white chocolate fudges, which she gives for gifts and to her husband's colleagues during the holidays. Walker will not be taking any cooking equipment or supplies to Dallas, although she may tuck in some pictures of her family. "The only thing I have any trepidation trepidation /trep·i·da·tion/ (trep?i-da´shun) 1. tremor. 2. nervous anxiety and fear.trep´idant trep·i·da·tion n. 1. An involuntary trembling or quivering. about is the stove, because they supply electric stoves for cooking and baking, and I'm used to a gas stove," she said. But since she can make her entry up to three times, she figures she can adjust the time and temperature after her first attempt, especially if it doesn't come out perfectly. Walker is hoping to avoid any cooking disasters like ones she's had in the past, when bread dough didn't rise, or she forgot to put eggs into the pumpkin pie pumpkin pie traditional dish, especially at Thanksgiving. [Am. Culture: Flexner, 68] See : America filling. "It's just kind of neat to be in the middle of the Bake-Off this year," she said. "I like the excitement." PECAN CINNAMON ROLLS 2 packages (1/4 ounce EACH) active dry yeast 2 cups very warm water 1/2 cup honey 5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 to 3/4 cup (1 to 1 1/2 sticks) margarine, softened 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup chopped roasted pecans Ground cinnamon Powdered Sugar Glaze glaze, in pottery glaze, translucent layer that coats pottery to give the surface a finish or afford a ground for decorative painting. Glazes—transparent, white, or colored—are fired on the clay. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water, then add remaining water. Stir honey into mixture. Add 2 1/2 cups flour and beat with wooden spoon until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place 30 to 45 minutes until light and foamy foam·y adj. foam·i·er, foam·i·est 1. Of, consisting of, or resembling foam. 2. Covered with foam. foam . Mix in salt and oil. Stir in remaining flour, a little at a time, until dough comes away from sides of bowl. Dough should be slightly sticky but easy to handle. Turn out on a floured surface and knead knead tr.v. knead·ed, knead·ing, kneads 1. To mix and work into a uniform mass, as by folding, pressing, and stretching with the hands: kneading dough. 2. 10 minutes. Roll into a 12x12-inch square. Spread with softened margarine. Mix brown sugar and nuts together and sprinkle evenly over entire surface. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon. Roll up carefully and seal edge. Cut into 12 (1-inch) thick slices. Place in a greased 9x13-inch pan or 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. Cover and let rise about 1 hour, until doubled. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Frost with Powdered Sugar Glaze while still warm. Makes 12 rolls. POWDERED SUGAR GLAZE: With an electric mixer, beat together 1 pound powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon margarine, softened, 1 teaspoon vanilla and enough milk, added a little at a time, to make a good spreading consistency. CARROT PECAN CRUNCH PIE 2 cups pureed cooked carrots 2 eggs, beaten 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened sweet·en v. sweet·ened, sweet·en·ing, sweet·ens v.tr. 1. To make sweet or sweeter by adding sugar, honey, saccharin, or another sweet substance. 2. To make more pleasant or agreeable. condensed milk condensed milk: see milk. 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice Pumpkin pie spice is a spice mix commonly used as an ingredient in pumpkin pie. It is also often used in smudge stick ceremonies. Ingredients Pumpkin pie spice typically contains some combination of the following spices. Dash salt 1 unbaked un·baked adj. Not having been baked or cooked, especially in an oven: unbaked bricks; an unbaked pie crust. 9-inch pie shell 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter OR margarine, melted 1 cup chopped pecans In a large mixing bowl, combine carrots, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, pie spice and salt; mix well. Turn into pie shell. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, melted butter and chopped pecans. Sprinkle evenly over pie. Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 25 minutes. Remove foil. Continue baking 20 to 25 minutes longer or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack See wiring rack. . Makes 8 servings. TOTAL INDULGENCE BROWNIE BARS 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter OR margarine 6 ounces semisweet sem·i·sweet adj. Having a small amount of sweetening: semisweet chocolate. Adj. 1. semisweet - having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness bittersweet chocolate 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup evaporated evaporated reduced in volume by evaporation; concentrated to a denser form. milk 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 2 eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 jar (8 ounces) caramel ice cream topping (3/4 cup) 1 1/2 cups white chocolate pieces 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces OR chunks 2 jars (3.5 ounces EACH) macadamia macadamia (măk'ədā`mēə), name for the nut of the Macadamia ternifolia, an evergreen tree native to Australia, but cultivated in Hawaii. The nuts, also called Queensland nuts, are eaten roasted or raw. nuts, coarsely chopped In a 3-quart saucepan, combine butter and 6 ounces semisweet chocolate; heat and stir over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar, evaporated milk and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with wooden spoon after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to chocolate mixture beating until smooth. Spread 1/2 of mixture in a well-greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Drizzle with caramel topping. Sprinkle with white chocolate pieces, 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces and nuts. Spoon remaining batter in small dollops on top. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Cool. Makes 36 bars. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo (Color) Jeanne Walker of Oxnard will be competing in Dallas as a finalist in the 37th Pillsbury Bake-Off. One of her favorite recipes is for Pecan Cinnamon Rolls. Michael Owen
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