Cooking Contests

47TH PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF CONTEST 2014

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 pillsbury bake off, 47th, starwberry, tart, hazelnut spread


 I have heard of the Pillsbury Bake-off since I was a little girl.  My mother always bought the books and we went through them,    admired each recipe, but never really thinking that average people made it to this contest.

In 2006 I became interested in entering  contests and truly have been very honored to be chosen as a finalist for the Pillsbury Bake-off  3 times.  According to the rules for this, a person may only attend 3 times. 

I attended in 2008  Mascarpone Filled Cranberry Walnut Rolls mascarone filled cranberry walnut rolls        

 I attended in 2010  Peanut Butter Toffee Cheesecake Brownies23430_1400047604040_1354572_n

This is  my final journey to the 47th Pillsbury Bake-off Contest. My recipe was Strawberry Mascarpone Hazelnut Chocolate Tartsmhct 2014

Early last year, the contest rules were posted on the Pillsbury web site.  There were 4 categories you could enter.  I did enter a                few recipes in each one.  In June, I received an email stating that I was a potential   finalist.  After a screening process that all finalists go through, I was confirmed as a finalist.

Bake-Off Finalist Cover Photo   

10303986_766158323450798_3426967293235146488_nThe following months were filled with completing forms, media events, a photo session, hotel and travel arrangements, getting the lists of ingredients and equipment completed and lots of practicing my recipe.  My husband was able to attend with me this time so there was also shopping for clothes for both of us.  A facebook  page was set up for those of us going to the bake-off, some that had been there previously, and ones who hope to get chosen in the future.  There is so much support and well wishes from everyone.                  The excitement just continued to build.

The bakeoff was being held at the Omni Hotel in Nashville Tn this time.  Pillsbury treats each and every finalist as royalty.  They were so helpful with questions or concerns.  Each finalist was given a Visa gift  card and a  new microwave before we even went.  When we      arrived, our hotel was beautiful and all of our lodging and meals were covered by Pillsbury.  We also received gift bags with gifts from each of the sponsors. 

This is a picture of the hotel as we drove up to it.

photo (1)Looking out our window in downtown Nashville

050When we arrived to register, the hallway was filled with excited people, the Doughboy, and a wall of the finalists recipes on a silk screen.

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076We then attended an orientation and a sneak peek at the grand ballroom that had been transformed into the contest site with 100 mini kitchens.

BO_47_minikitchens1Group picture of the 100 Finalists

Finalists-at-the-Bake-Off Next came a reception with our sponsor grocery store. Mine was Kroger.  They gave each of us a card with a gift card enclosed.  Afterwards was a dinner in another room that had been transformed with different stations for foods, drinks, and a live band playing country music. This was so much fun and a great time to connect with old friends as well as meeting new ones.

The next morning was breakfast and the actual bakeoff!!

The finalists were led into the room by a girl playing the fiddle and the Doughboy!!!  A live band was playing country music inside. We danced our way around the room to our assigned kitchen units.  The hostess for the event was celebrity Chef Carla Hall from ‘THE CHEW’.   PLEASE NOTE THE FIRST FINALIST COMING IN….. she is a wonderful lady 89 years young!!  So this goes to show you are NEVER too old to pursue your dreams and as grandparents….you can do this too.  

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   We cooked and baked our hearts out, sampled each others recipes and talked to media, sponsors, bloggers and other invited guests.  It was a whirlwind of fun and crazy activity.

131We had a few free hours that day so my husband and I walked around Nashville.  It was such a beautiful, clean town with so many   interesting things to see.

The evening concluded with a Blue Carpet walk and pictures with the Golden Statue of the Doughboy, another very fancy dinner, and then the awards. For the first time in the history of the bake-off, America is helping to chose the 1 million dollar winner.  The judges chose the 4 category winners and they were placed on the Pillsbury Facebook page for voting.  The winner was announced on The Chew on December 3, 2014.  I am so happy to say that one of my friends, Beth Royals won the million dollars!!  She is such an awesome lady and so deserving.

I was not one of the category winners but this whole experience was nothing but a win!! I have met so many people that are now a part of my life and true friends.                                                   

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 This post was linked to Grand Social on Grandma’s Briefs.

Fall

AS THE SEASONS CHANGE………FALL FUN

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AS THE SEASONS CHANGE.........FALL FUN and the activities our family gets involved in.It is  hard to believe that  2014 is going so fast.   AS THE SEASONS CHANGE………FALL FUN is about to begin. It is one of our family’s favorite times of the year.   We are lucky enough to live in a part of the country where the  seasons change and we get to see the real beauty of what God has created around us. Continue reading AS THE SEASONS CHANGE………FALL FUN →

Activities To Do, Toyroom

THE TOYROOM AT GRANDMA HONEYS HOUSE

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The toyroom is an area between 4 walls where special memories are made.  You watch your grandchildren grow, share secrets, give hugs and sometimes break up fights.

As a grandparent, I feel it is very important to have a space in your home that is designated for the grandchildren.  Depending on the space available, the toyroom may be just a section of a room or it could be a whole room.  My own grandchildren area has changed over the years.

When my first grandson was born, I purchased a baby bed, a swing, and some baby toys.  I set this up in a guest bedroom.  After a year, our needs changed so I converted the room to a toyroom with the baby furniture in it. We soon added more grandchildren so, again, I changed the room.  I put a toddler bed, a baby bed, and a twin bed plus the toys, into a different guest bedroom.  The children loved playing in there when they came to visit.  After about 3 years, I started working from home so one of the bedrooms needed to be converted to an office.

The “toyroom/playroom” was now moved to an extra bedroom we have in our basement.   It has been here for about 10 years and has provided many hours of fun.

Creating a space for your grandchildren does not have to involve a lot of expense.  I painted the walls, added some inexpensive curtains, painted some shelving units, purchased paper posters, and added plastic covers over the electric receptacles. My toyroom is set up in zones for different activities.

I went to a store that sells used children items, Once Upon A Child, and found this kitchen set with a washer/dryer and ironing board for only $35 total!!!!  It is a heavy plastic and the children of all ages, boys and girls, have loved playing with it.  This was my favorite purchase. I like it better then the new ones which are just one unit.  I purchased the table and chairs new.  The toyroom at grandma honeys house.                                                                   One of my daughters had a long wooden table she was not using so she gave that to me.  I painted it, bought some small chairs, and created an arts/craft center. The-toyroom-at-grandma-honeys-house

I bought some plastic tubs on sale to keep toys organized.  I did buy some new toys over the years, but in the beginning, my own children and family members donated toys that the kids no longer played with.  Amazingly, the children loved playing with the recycled toys because they were at my house.  You could also pick up items at garage sales but I would clean them very well and make sure there are no safety issues.   the-toyroom-at-grandma-honeys-house   the-toyroom-at-grandma-honeys-house   6tr

 

My favorite toys are the old fashioned ones like the Fisher Price pull toys…the puppy with the wagging tail, red ball on the end, and the telephone with the eyes that roll.  The children really enjoy these priceless toys.  (my puppy with red ball on tail, telephone, and the popcorn pull toy have gone home with some of the children over the years).  the-toyroom-at-grandma-honeys-house

I have also added a box spring and mattress from a twin bed I do not use to the room for extra seating.  (Also used for jumping)

We have Barbie dolls, Polly Pockets, 35 cabbage patch dolls from my own daughters, stuffed animals, games and lots of baby toys.  My teenaged grandson donated an older video game set with the games since he has an updated version.     Our 13 grandchildren are between the ages of 2 and 16 years old.  When the last one has outgrown the toyroom, we will convert the room into a guest bedroom/apartment type place for them to hang out when they stay.

 The-toyroom-at-grandma-honeys-house.  I hope that you can find a place in your home to convert to this very  special place and enjoy the memories.

Cookies

Sugar Cookies For All Occasions…

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Sugar Cookies for all occasions. An easy recipe used for almost 50 years.

I LOVE cookies. .. I could be the cookie Monster.  Especially when it comes to decorated Sugar Cookies for all occasions.  have been making these for almost 50 years.

I made them for my children when they were growing up and now make them for my grandchildren.   I try to make them for each occasion during the year and on their birthdays.  The children have always loved helping me make these. Continue reading Sugar Cookies For All Occasions… →

Family

WELCOME TO MY NEW GRANDPARENT BLOG- GRANDMA HONEYS HOUSE

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welcome-to-my-new-blog-grandma-honeys-housewelcome-to-my-new-blog-grandma-honeys-house

Welcome to my new grandparent blog.

 

My husband and I have been married 28 years and have a blended family that consists of 8 children, their spouses/significant other and at current count…13 grandchildren. Any family gatherings we have are big events.

My name is Pamela Shank but many of my grandchildren call me Grandma Honey or just Honey…they gave me this name.

The role of a grandparent has changed so much through the years and I feel our role is so important right now. There are a lot of tough issues our grandchildren have to face in society now and we need to be there to help them. We can teach them strong values and ethics and they can teach us that crazy thing called modern technology. Everything I know about my cell phone came from a grandchild and I have a lot of funny stories to share on that.
They still need some storybook reading, snuggling and someone to share secrets with. I love to bake and cook and my grandchildren are all interested in learning things in the kitchen. We all have special talents to share with them.

My purpose for this blog is to share this wonderful experience and for us to learn helpful things from each other. I need your help too!!

I do still work full time as an RN but in my free time I love to bake, cook and create recipes to enter in cooking contests. I have won many and have been so lucky to be a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off 3 times!! I will share recipes and contesting information. I want to cover many other issues on this blog but I want to keep it light hearted and warming our hearts.

Please follow along with me and I hope I can give you lots of helpful information in a variety of topics.

Where Everything is Always Made with Love