Michigan’s best apple pie winner prepares for nationwide bake-off
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Holly Whetstone
(800) 456-2753
(DeWitt, Mich.) — Kim Landhuis is ready to do some serious baking – pie baking to be specific.
The DeWitt resident won the statewide 2010 Michigan’s Best Apple Pie Contest, an annual competition sponsored by the Michigan Apple Committee featuring pre-selected homemade pies created by amateur cooks. In addition to $500 for the first-place finish, Landhuis earned a trip to Florida to compete in the Crisco® National Pie Championship next weekend (April 23-25).
“It was the second year in a row that I entered the Michigan contest and this time around I was determined to get that coveted prize,” said Landhuis. “I’m thoroughly honored to be representing our state at national level. I know the competition will be tough, but I have every intention of bringing home the 1st place blue ribbon.”
Landhuis will create her signature pie, “Cream Cheese Apple Pie with Oatmeal Pecan Streusel Topping,” onsite during the competition starting on Friday, April 23. Winners will be announced on Saturday, April 24.
Having spent countless hours researching recipes, Landhuis said she is confident her home-state concoction, featuring Michigan-grown Ida Red apples and Pioneer Sugar, will do well.
“I believe this pie will really stand out because it features cream cheese – a popular trend that is in all the food magazines,” she said. “And it has contrasting taste and textures – tart and sweet, crunchy and tender.”
From the 43 entries, Landhuis’ pie earned recognition as the best in the state, including two perfect scores. The baking competition was held Jan. 27 during Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth.
A complete list of award-winning pie recipes is posted at MichiganApples.com, under the Recipe section.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to promotion, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption by consumers in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit MichiganApples.com.