FINAL FOUR: Lori Wiktorek of Aurora
Age: 49
Occupation: Legal assistant
Faced: Carrie McCulley in Round 1 and Jeff Zilch in Round 2
Favorite ingredient: Olive oil
Cooking style: “I consider myself a self-taught cook. I refuse to be intimidated by things in the kitchen. I act like I know what I’m doing and have fun.”
Challenge outcome: Her green-tea pork chops with cranberry-apricot stuffing impressed the judges. In Round 2, judges liked her inventive use of Spam, as well as the juicy-looking turkey leg.
Grilled Game Day Pizza, Grilled Spam and Havarti Sliders with Baby Beets and Apple Orange Marmalade Slaw and Apple Cider-Brined Turkey Legs
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.comLori Wiktorek of Aurora talks about her dish with Daily Herald Food Editor Deb Pankey during the Daily Herald Cook of the Week Cookoff finals, held at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.comLori Wiktorek of Aurora removes her chicken from the pan the Daily Herald Cook of the Week Cookoff finals, held at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg Wednesday.
Wiktorek of Aurora prepares her chicken and pasta dish for the finals.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com ¬ Lori Wiktorek of Aurora, one of 16 contestants who will compete in the Daily Herald's third annual Cook of the Week Challenge.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com ¬ Lori Wiktorek of Aurora, one of 16 contestants who will compete in the Daily Herald's third annual Cook of the Week Challenge. Olive oil is her favorite ingredient.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com ¬ Lori Wiktorek of Aurora, one of 16 contestants who will compete in the Daily Herald's third annual Cook of the Week Challenge.
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