Creative twists get suburban bakers into winner's ciricle

A little creativity went a long way for some suburban bakers who participated in the Daily Herald's Home Baking Challenge.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding, Chai Pear Pecan Pie and white chocolate and dried cherry oatmeal cookies baked biscotti-style got Nick Brenkus of West Dundee, Pat Shepard of Batavia, and Nancy Smearman of Palatine, respectively, into the winner's circle.

Those three were among more than two dozen bakers and nearly 100 baking enthusiasts who turned out for a baking season kickoff event at Novack & Parker in Mount Prospect. While Food Editor Deborah Pankey, Baking Secrets columnist Annie Overboe and Gail Eisenberg of Gail's Brownies set about the task of tasting and judging the table full of entries, attendees watched baking demonstrations and noshed on appetizers.

Other bakers selected to represent the suburbs at America's Baking and Sweets Show are Barb Knuth, peanut brittle; Heidi Trocha, macaroons; Nancy Nowaczek, fruit cake; Lyn Stanton, marble Bundt cake; Elizabeth Sulzener, lemon pound cake; Lynda Turner, carrot muffins, and Louis Margiotta, butter tart. Their recipes will be judged Friday and Saturday against recipes submitted by bakers around the country.

America's Baking and Sweet Show runs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center.