The winner of the 46th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest is…….

Well, I didn't win the 46th Pillsbury Bake-Off but I had an amazing time!  It's so much fun meeting so many finalist.  After all the excitement and fun it's a hard to come back down to earth.  Thanks to my wonderful husband I don't have to just yet.  He gave me a consolation prize, we are spending the night at Sundra Spa (Wisconsin Dells) for some quiet time and to get my heart beating back to normal again.  As I sit here in my fluffy robe by the fire place I'll go through my pictures and give you a glimpse behind the scenes at the Bake-Off. 

I have to thank my son, Michael, as he took most of the pictures for me.    It was nice not having to worry about taking pictures with all the goings on so THANKS Michael!  Just wish he was in a few more pictures! 

It was so nice having my family with me in Vegas.  After all those three people are why I love to cook/bake!  We were picked up from the airport in Vegas style, a limo!

The Aria is a beautiful hotel!

We had a free night so we went to the show The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil.  It was fabulous!

    The next morning (Sunday) I headed up to the convention center to sign in.   

After I registered I get interviewed right away! Being in front of the camera is when my heart beats a little faster!

So cool to see my recipe and name in print.

                                                  That night we had the reception party           

with a live band,

wine and appetizers (they are on that piece of art)

                                                            and some really good food!

Bright and early Monday morning, it's Bake-Off day! After breakfast, we start to line up for the Grand March where we head to our ovens.  My oven number was #93.  Click here for a cool video on how they put the Bake-Off floor together.

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 The life-size Pillsbury Doughboy and last year's winner Christina Verrelli along with a marching band which played pots, pans and spoons started out our Grand March.   Once we are all in front of our ovens, the announcement is made, READY, SET, MAKE!!  Click here to see the Grand March.

  

Behind the oven is when I was the most calm.  We have enough ingredients to make our recipe three times and then decide which one we want to go to the judges.  We don't have to make it a third time if we are happy with the first two batches.  My first batch of Cream Puffs came out perfect so I brought them to the Judges.  We don't actually see the judges as they are behind closed doors.  My second batch also came out perfect so they were for samples.  

While you are busy cooking, reporters, food bloggers and food writers are walking the floor interviewing us.  They don't want to interrupt our cooking/baking so they are very careful and ask if you have time to talk.  TV personality Padma Lakshmi, who host Bravo's "Top Chef"series was also on the floor interviewing contestants.  I wish I could of met her as I'm a huge fan of her show "Top Chef".  I wasn't one of the lucky ones who she interviewed.

  Once I was done, I was able to look around and realized a lot of contestants were still cooking.  A few people told me later they had to make their recipe three times because the ovens didn't cook like their home ovens and they had a few issues.   
Once we are done we can walk around and taste samples.  After trying a few, I was full!  I have no idea how the judges do it!  We now had some free time to rest up before getting ready for the Dinner and Awards Ceremony.  

Champagne!  Great way to start the party!

At this point, I think, everyone is thinking….It could be me!  I know I did!  It's fun to dream!

I have to show you what they served us for dinner. It was so delicious!   

First Course - Grilled Vegetables & Pesto, Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes with Champagne Vinaigrette

 Second Course - Butternut Squash Soup with Sage Croutons

 Dual Entree - Grilled Filet of Beef and Striped Bass

Dessert - Glazed Gianduja Chocolate Bar with Vanilla Berries

Padma Lakshmi, also hosted the Dinner and Awards Ceremony.  Dinner and the entertainment was great!  Now time for the Awards.  And the winner is…..

Glori Springs of Nevada won $1 million with her 

Loaded Potato Pinwheels.

2nd Place - Sheila Suhan of Scottdale, Pa., with Easy Caprese Pizza Bake

3rd Place - Antoinette Leal of Ridgefield, Conn., with Cherry Almond Brunch Tart            

GE Innovation at Work Award - Kellie White of Valley Park, Mo., for Honey Sesame Bagels  
JIF Peanut Butter Award - Kim Doyle Wille of Carbondale, Co., for Thai Shrimp Pizza
Click here for all the recipes.

The End.  Not really!   I have one more time that I can enter and enter I will.  I already have an idea!  Who knows, maybe I'll get selected for the 47th in Nashville.  If not, I'll keep trying!

It's finally here, the 46th Pillsbury Bake-Off in Vegas!  I'm super excited and grateful to be apart of this contest.  Pillsbury products have been part of my life since I was a kid.  One of my favorite early memories of using a Pillsbury product was using Pillsbury biscuit dough and making fried donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.  I'd make them for my brothers and sisters before school.  I still can't believe my Mom would let me deep fry before school!

My husband, son and daughter will be going with me to cheer me on.  It means the world to me that they will be there.  Those three people are the reason I love to bake/cook.  They have always let me be creative in the kitchen.  Even when my creations didn't turn out so good, no worries, we'd order pizza. 

We leave tomorrow (Saturday) morning and the Bake-off is on Monday between 8am-11:30.  That evening at the Dinner and Awards Program, Pillsbury will award One Million Dollars to the Grand Prize Winner.  That same night, they will whisk the Grand Prize winner  away to fly to Los Angeles to be on the Queen Latifah Show.  It will air November 14.   How fun would that be!  I hope it's ME!

When I get home I will share all the behind the scenes.  Wish me luck!