High Five

I am writing this from a slightly different seat. Instead of my usual comfy, aerodynamic Terry® gel saddle, I am perched proudly in the winner’s seat! YES! My High Five Bars won the 2007 Duncan Hines Festival Baking Contest!

I can hear you asking “The what?????” You mean you have never heard of the Duncan Hines Festival? That’s a pity. It is Bowling Green’s annual celebration of one of our most famous sons – Mr. Duncan Hines. We’ve celebrated with the baking of the world’s largest brownie (in about 2001). We have the annual Duck Race, although I have no idea what ducks have to do with Duncan Hines. And, for the last few years, we have had an annual baking contest. Like the Pillsbury Bake-Off®, contestants must creatively use the sponsor’s products to create a delectable new recipe. The Pillsbury Bake-Off® attracts thousands of entrants, national media, and awards a large cash prize. It could be considered the Ritz-Carlton® of baking contests.

The Duncan Hines contest, by comparison is more like a Motel 6®. It’s homey, friendly, small, and basic. Event organizers, the Bowling Green Junior Women’s Club, leave “the light on for you” with their low-key approach. Finalists receive a friendly notification phone call, and you can call the club president anytime with questions. When finalists arrived at the judging with their prepared recipe, we all chatted and then proceeded to help and compliment each other’s creation. That’s my kind of contest.

The recipe evolved from an idea at last summer’s family reunion. My daughter, Emily, along with one of the best cooks I know, my sister-in-law Jennifer, suggested a cake or brownie capturing the taste of a Take 5® candy bar. During the remaining summer months and into fall, I took their idea and baked. Family and friends tasted, tasted, and tasted. Weight Watchers and the American Dental Society owe me a big thank you for contributions to their business growth – excess calories and sugar are hallmarks of my winning recipe.

My thoughts in the week between my notification phone call and the judging can be summed up in three words: two-hundred dollars. The grand prize, and co-incidentally the almost exact price of a dress I wanted to wear to my son’s wedding in October. A dress I would never have purchased. Fame – who needs it? Accolades – overrated. But two-hundred dollars - that I could sink my teeth into! I’ll admit it, dollar signs danced in my head.

Diabetes could have been acquired in just walking past the display of the seven finalist’s creations. Chocolate Indulgence and Banana-Praline Cheesecake were just two of the creative gastronomic beauties that my bars were competing against. Mentally, I started to review my closet and re-think just what I might wear to that wedding. I heard the judges laughing as they tried the entry preceding mine in the tasting. When the tray of High Five bars disappeared behind the wall where the judges were working I heard nothing. No laughter, no sighs of delight, no “pass that over here so that I can have more”. Was that a good sign or portent of bad news? I started thinking about which of my friends might loan me an outfit for the wedding – or – could the mother of the groom wear jeans? Nice jeans?

Well, you know the end of the story. I heard my name announced as the winner and received my check. I’ve already ordered the dress, and the smile on my winner’s face is sure to last a while. At least for the month of August – that’s how long High Five Bars will be the featured dessert at Mariah’s Restaurant, a locale fine dining spot. So, if you are in Bowling Green, or can visit this month, stop in at Mariah’s for dessert. Trust me – it’s worth the drive – after all, a panel of judges said so!