Bake-Off Results and Recipes

The Company Bake-Off was a total success on Friday. There were so many wonderful goodies and good fun with my fellow co-workers. One thing about us here at Learfield, we know how to have fun and EAT! Our motto proves the having fun part:

"Build the Team. Grow the Company. And Have Fun"

This is Roger Gardner, President and Chief Operating Officer at Learfield and me. He was in right after the judging to sample all the great food and he presented the awards to the winners.

Here are the final results:

Cake Contest:
1st place: Lane McConnell, Carrot Cake
2nd place: Craig Branum, Cherry Delight
3rd place: Paul Roberts, Cinnamon Rolls

Leah's Cinnamon Rolls (3rd Place Cake Division)
by Paul Roberts

Rhode's frozen dough loaves (Bridgeford's brand of dough is best but I can't find it here in MO. Ugh.)
2 cups brown sugar
¼ cup cinnamon MIX all bold items together
2 sticks of softened butter

To make a 13 x 11 pan, thaw two loaves of dough according to package directions.

Roll one loaf of bread dough into a 6 x 11 rectangle. Spread one stick of softened butter across rectangle. Spread 1 cup of brown sugar / cinnamon mixture across butter. Roll dough into a long log. Slide across log at 1 inch intervals and place rolls in greased 9 x 13 pan in rows of four, leaving space between rolls and room for them to rise. Repeat with second loaf. You will have left over rolls, and I usually make a small pan with leftovers.) Cover pan and let rise at least 2 hours, letting rolls double in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Icing:
2 cups of powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons of milk whisked together. Pour icing over warn rolls.

Pie Contest:
1st place: Sarah Hoelscher, Banana Cream
2nd place: Lane McConnell, Pecan-Pumpkin
3rd place: Jason Vance, Strawberry

Strawberry Pie (3rd Place Pie Division)
by Jason Vance

Bring to a boil and stir until thickened:
1 cup sugar
¼ cup of starch
1 ½ cups water
Add:
1 3oz/ strawberry jello
Let cool.
Add 1 quart strawberries, sliced.
Put in baked pie shell and let set in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

Grandma's Pie Crust Crumble:
3 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 cup butter-flavored Crisco Add:
1/3 cup cold water with
1 egg
2 teaspoons vinegar
Mix and roll out. Makes 2 to 3 crusts.

Cookie Contest:
1st place: Pam Smith, Crinkled Molasses
2nd place: Clarice Brown, Chocolate Chip
3rd place: Rosie Dulle

Here are some of the great cakes that were entered. This recipe from Clarice was one of my own personal favorites.

Chocolate Chip Cookie- Cheesecake
by Clarice Brown

1 batch chocolate chip cookie dough,
Or 2 rolls of chocolate chip cookie dough
2 8-oz cream cheese (softened)
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Mix cheese, sugar, vanilla & eggs until creamy.
Set Aside.

Press ¾ of cookie dough till flat in a 12 inch cake pan (spring loaded works well). Pour cream cheese over the top, then crumble the rest of the cookie dough on the top.

Bake uncovered 40 minutes or till just turning brown.

Cook in pan one hour, then refrigerate 1 hour before serving.