From the food editor: Attention bakers! Enter our home baking challenge
For all you bakers who have been following our savory-slanted Cook of the Week Challenge and wondering "what about me?" - well, here's your chance to shine.
For the second year the Daily Herald is holding its Home Baking Challenge in cooperation with America's Baking and Sweet Show. This year we have new categories and a new sponsor: King Arthur Flour. Given that, each recipe must include at least 1 cup of any type of King Arthur Flour.
Between now and Oct. 20, head to www.dailyherald.com/contest/baking-challenge and enter your best original recipes in the following categories: biscotti, biscuits (sweet and savory), blueberry muffins, butterscotch brownies, carrot cake, coffee cake, lemon squares, oatmeal raisin cookies, pumpkin pie and sandwich cookies. Bakers must be at least 18 years old; entries in multiple categories are accepted.
Baking experts will review the recipes and invite the bakers of the top two recipes in each of the categories to present their treats to a panel of judges Nov. 6 during our Home Baking Event at Novak and Parker in Mount Prospect. Recipes will be evaluated on taste, creativity, appearance and texture.
Winners will receive a prize package that includes goodies from Gail's Brownies and Nothing Bundt Cakes. The top recipe in each category then will compete against bakers from across the country for $750 in prizes - including spa services, bakeware and cooking gadgets - at America's Baking and Sweet Show Nov. 14-16 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center.
Organizers still are firming up the schedule for this year's show, but have promised plenty of vendors, demonstrations and hands-on classes. Stay tuned for details and ticket information.
Bake-off bound: While we still have a few weeks before we know which of the Cook of the Week Challenge contestants will be competing in the Final Four Cook-off on Nov. 3, Rebecca Farias-Insco of Bartlett for months now has known where she'll be that day.
Farias-Insco will be in Nashville with 99 other home cooks at the 47th Pillsbury Bake-Off.
The year 2014 marks the third time Farias-Insco, 51, has entered the mother of all cooking contests, but the first time she has been chosen as a finalist. Her Brussels Sprouts Rueben Flatbread is entered in the appetizer/side dish category.
"I like baking, but I didn't figure this would be the one that would be picked," she said of the recipe that starts with Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough. She said her husband's and her father's love of corned beef and cabbage provided the inspiration.
Since learning she was a finalist at the end of the summer, Farias-Insco estimates she made the recipe 10 times. "I know I should make it a few more times." The recipe cannot be altered when she prepares it on the contest floor and presents it to the judges.
The judges will select one winner in each of the four categories, then the results of online voting will be factored in to determine the $1 million Grand Prize Winner.
Joining Rebecca in Nashville the for cook-off will be fellow Illinoisans Elizabeth Albert of Highland Park, Arlene Erlbach of Morton Grove, and Marie Sheppard of Chicago. Good luck to all!
• Contact Food Editor Deborah Pankey at dpankey@dailyehrald.com or (847) 427-4524. Be her friend at Facebook.com/DebPankey.DailyHerald for follow her on Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter @PankeysPlate.