I recently participated in the annual Fall festival on Friday, October 26th, with a goal in mind to win it! I knew what I was going to make when I signed up for the bake-off and decided not to share my idea with the event coordinators. Although, the decision to make a second baked good was an option that I contemplated often. Cream puffs and french macaroons were probably a little much, but I didin't know who or what my competitors were baking. To bake 2 different things or to just settle with what I know and make it awesome?
Upon making the french macaroons, I decided to only make 5 different flavors. Those flavors were pumpkin, green tea, cinnamon, chocolate, and white chocolate. I later thought, who or what am I up against? Are my competitors in this to win it as I am or are they baking for the sake of baking? When I started baking, I wanted to show them what I got, what my skills are, what my creative capabilities are. So, I thought maybe adding another flavor wouldn't hurt. Adding that extra flavor would probably be the one that would make me win, and that last flavor was strawberry.
It took all day to bake all 6 flavors! It's a good thing that I made the ganache and buttercream a day ahead! It was such a challenge, but worth it! Once I finished the baking process, I filled the cookies with their designated ganache or buttercream. I then stored them in the fridge and let them sit overnight. The next morning, the day before the event, I thought that they looked pretty, but I wanted to do more with them but didn't know what. I remembered Halloween being around the corner and thought about drawing on the tops of the cookies with a Halloween theme to it. I wasn't sure if food coloring was going to bleed through the cookie and make them soggy, so I tested the idea with one cookie and to my amazement, it looked awesome! It was both appealing to the eyes and taste buds that's for sure!
On the day of the event, I presented my large batch of cookies, approximately 120+ cookies, to the baked goods table and labeled my baked goods with a number 3. The event coordinators had no idea what they are! In fact, no one knew what they are! I told them that the cookies are called french macaroons and they come in different flavors. They were so pleased with the presentation, abundance, and variety that they couldn't wait to try a flavor. They loved it! The resident judges and children were so happy with my cookies that my baked goods were the first to go! There were other great baked treats, but I must admit, my cookies stood out among the rest.
An hour after the tasting and judging commenced, the ballots finally came in with results. After carefully listening to the other winners of different categories, the baking category came up and my husband and I listened very carefully for my number. YES!!! Number 3 won the bake-off category!!! I was so happy! All that hard work payed off with monetary prizes, gainful recognition, and friends.
Remember that extra flavor I added? Well, seemed like strawberry was one of the favorites that probably helped me win! ;)
Tah-tah for now and happy cooking!
Lorie
Upon making the french macaroons, I decided to only make 5 different flavors. Those flavors were pumpkin, green tea, cinnamon, chocolate, and white chocolate. I later thought, who or what am I up against? Are my competitors in this to win it as I am or are they baking for the sake of baking? When I started baking, I wanted to show them what I got, what my skills are, what my creative capabilities are. So, I thought maybe adding another flavor wouldn't hurt. Adding that extra flavor would probably be the one that would make me win, and that last flavor was strawberry.
It took all day to bake all 6 flavors! It's a good thing that I made the ganache and buttercream a day ahead! It was such a challenge, but worth it! Once I finished the baking process, I filled the cookies with their designated ganache or buttercream. I then stored them in the fridge and let them sit overnight. The next morning, the day before the event, I thought that they looked pretty, but I wanted to do more with them but didn't know what. I remembered Halloween being around the corner and thought about drawing on the tops of the cookies with a Halloween theme to it. I wasn't sure if food coloring was going to bleed through the cookie and make them soggy, so I tested the idea with one cookie and to my amazement, it looked awesome! It was both appealing to the eyes and taste buds that's for sure!
On the day of the event, I presented my large batch of cookies, approximately 120+ cookies, to the baked goods table and labeled my baked goods with a number 3. The event coordinators had no idea what they are! In fact, no one knew what they are! I told them that the cookies are called french macaroons and they come in different flavors. They were so pleased with the presentation, abundance, and variety that they couldn't wait to try a flavor. They loved it! The resident judges and children were so happy with my cookies that my baked goods were the first to go! There were other great baked treats, but I must admit, my cookies stood out among the rest.
An hour after the tasting and judging commenced, the ballots finally came in with results. After carefully listening to the other winners of different categories, the baking category came up and my husband and I listened very carefully for my number. YES!!! Number 3 won the bake-off category!!! I was so happy! All that hard work payed off with monetary prizes, gainful recognition, and friends.
Remember that extra flavor I added? Well, seemed like strawberry was one of the favorites that probably helped me win! ;)
Tah-tah for now and happy cooking!
Lorie