Last week I shared with you that I was heading to Maine this weekend. Going to Maine for any reason or no reason at all is a good idea, but this trip was for a purpose. The Kitchen & Cork bake off which was sponsored by King Arthur Flour.
After the girl’s party ended on Saturday, I made my way to the kitchen to start baking. I had registered to bake two pies for the competition, but in total I needed to bake four. One pie to be judged and one to be sold with the proceeds going to The March of Dimes. A very worthy charity and worth the extra baking effort for sure.
My first step earlier in the week was to head to the Salvation Army store to pick up some used Pyrex pie plates. We were told that our plates were not going to be given back to us after the competition, so my only option was to either use aluminum disposable pans or purchase used Pyrex dishes at most likely the same cost.
Pies never seem to bake right for me in the disposable pans, so Pyrex it was. Not to mention, that long drive required a sturdier container. I ended up paying $1.99 for my used Pyrex plates. A smart choice if I do say so myself.
My two entries were Southern Comfort Peach pie which was made with Southern Comfort of course, and Sublime Blueberry Lime. A zingy blueberry pie loaded with fresh blueberries and a ton of lime zest and juice nestled in a buttery pastry crust.
I baked from 3:00pm til midnight. Nine hours for four pies. Crazy, right? Well, the culprit was the dang peaches. Peeling peaches takes an eternity. Especially when you need twelve cups worth of peeled and sliced peaches.
First you have to score the bottom of the peaches with an X, then you have to blanche them all, and finally the peeling and slicing can begin. Lots-o-work and never again.
The blueberry lime was a piece of cake, er I mean pie. The decorative crust was the most time consuming, while the fruit just required a quick toss with the rest of the ingredients. Blueberries are a low maintenance fruit.
So, I went to bed at midnight and woke up at 5:00am to make my way to Scarborough Maine with my four pies loaded in the back of my car, praying for no bumpy roads along the way.
After two hours and forty-five minutes, I arrived at Kitchen & Cork with pies completely intact. Hallelujah. The Kitchen & Cork, located in Scarborough, is a wonderful shop filled with the finest kitchen gadgetry for the most enthusiastic home cook.
Products from Le Creuset to KitchenAid and everything in between, Kitchen & Cork has everything you need to whip up something blue ribbon worthy in your own kitchen.
I dropped my pies off at the entry table along with the other contestants. Of course I took a peek at my competition and there were many fine submissions…
Pumpkin, peach, apple and gulp… several blueberry pies. Cream pies, fruit pies, latticed topped, graham cracker based. All different kinds of pies and all looking very worthy of ribbons.
I’ve competed in baking competitions before, but never with pies. Something new for me, but I enjoy a challenge. Even if it meant that I got nothing for my efforts.
There was also a cupcake competition going on and for some reason I didn’t think to register for it. I should have considering it takes no time at all to whip up a batch of cupcakes. Certainly quicker than baking pies.
The cupcakes that were entered were beautiful. Judged in two categories, decoration and taste, the cupcakes were not only pretty, but had to be delicious too.
There was a long wait between judging and the announcement of the winners. So, I went across the way to a restaurant to have a snack while I waited. Only in Maine could you have a moose gazing at you while you snack on your hummus and veggies.
And while I was snacking, I reflected on this sign on the wall. I’ve said that very thing many times in my life, but with reflection I realized that it’s not quite that simple.
If you teach a man to fish he will still go hungry if you don’t teach him how to cook the fish he catches. Unless he likes sushi. Sleep deprivation + nine hours of pie baking= a loopy Melanie.
The entries were judged by a panel of four local judges. Two food writers, a chef and a board member for the March of Dimes.
They were in charge of sampling and scoring every entry. A job I would have no problem taking if it were ever offered to me.
After what seemed like forever, it was time to announce the winners…..
There were ribbons, Emile Henry pie plates, and King Arthur gift cards for the top three in each category. And as much as I hoped to place in the fruit pie category, I knew that there was stiff competition.
Everyone held their breath while the winners were announced…..
So, how did I do with my Sublime Blueberry Lime pie?
Blue ribbon. A very fun and unexpected surprise. Of course I’ll be sharing the recipe, but not until I bake the pie again and get better step by step pictures. Food photography never works at night, so I’ll wait until I have some time to do the post some justice with decent photos.
Also, I need a few days off from baking pies. I’m sort of burned out right now.
A big thank you goes out to Kitchen & Cork and King Arthur flour for hosting the bake off. It was so much fun and I look forward to competing again next year. But there will be no peach pie entry from me. That I’m sure of.
How about you? Have you ever entered a baking competition?
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Yay!!! That’s awesome!!
Can’t wait to try it
I’ll be sure to bake one for you to sample in the not too distant future!
Congrats!! I’m sure it was very yummy!!
Thank you! It was so much fun!
Congrats! I can’t wait for the recipe. That is super exciting.
Thanks Kim. I love that the recipe is simple. Anyone can make it with good results.
For some reason it didn’t register that you were in Scarborough. I’m pretty sure that’s the little shopping mall with Portland Pie company in it. Pizza pie, that is. And not far at all from my in-law’s beach house. I may have to go next year so I can put my cupcakes to the test. By the way, really good cupcakes do take a bit longer, especially if you’re candying lemons to go on top. =}
Very true! The finishing touches can be the most time consuming. You would rock the cupcake competition. Yours are the best I’ve every had. And yes, the Portland Pie company is where I got the moose picture. Yummy place!!
Congratulations Melanie! I’m so excited for you!
Right about now I’m wishing I could be like the kid on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and jump through the screen to taste those yummy pies! I can’t wait to check out the recipe.
Thanks Tshanina! They were selling slices at $2.00 a piece which was a bargain! I did buy a chocolate bacon cupcake. Couldn’t resist, lol.
Omg those pies look divine Melanie!! I might want to make one from scratch now..but no freaking way am I attempting the peach one lol, I have patience, but not for that haaa.
And congrats on the blue ribbon!!! Yipeee
Those damn peaches nearly killed me! I had some help peeling them. Thank God for that! But it still took a long time. The key to successful pie baking is the crust. I’m going to share a fantastic no fail recipe when I put the pie on the blog. Yummy!
Melanie, congrats!!! That’s great, well done! And the pie sounds delicious
I was at the Big E in Springfield yesterday and had a hankering for a taste of blueberry pie. Dave wanted apple crisp and he won the coin toss lol.
Ha! I don’t think there is any loser with those choices! I love the Big E. They have cooking competitions too. Maybe next year I’ll check that out. Did you get one of the amazing Maine loaded baked potatoes? Those are killer!!
Congratulations, Melanie! Can’t wait to see the recipe. Thanks for entering! In case your readers are feeling inspired, we’re sponsoring more than 100 baking contests this year… http://www.kingarthurflour.com/baking/baking-contests.html Happy baking!
Great post & pix Melanie! Your pies look amazing! I’m glad you got to & from Maine safely with your pies in one piece still! Cogratulations on the First Place Blue Ribbon! I’m certain it was well deserved and I can’t wait to try out your recipe!
Congratulations, looks yummy
Congrats Melanie!
Congrats!!! I can’t wait for the recipe. I love blueberries. The best blueberry pie I have ever had was in Maine.
Congratulations! I’m the extended family pie baker, but have never entered a contest. I’m looking forward to trying your recipe. Looks yummy.
Congratulations eh! I have never entered a baking contest, but I sure would have like to have been part of the “clean up crew” at your contest
Congratulations! What a nice reward for all that cooking and running around!
Congrats!!!
Can’t wait for the recipe!
elise
Congrats!!! so exciting. I got goose bumps when I saw your ribbon, great storytelling
Hi Melanie,
Congratulations on winning 1st prize at our 1st Annual March of Dimes baking competition. You were right, there were so many amazing pies! I’m sure it was a difficult decision for the judges. I hope you will enter next year as well. I definitely want that recipe!
way cool and a HUGE CONGRATS Melanie very impressive : )
omg congrats. thats totally brag worthy!
CONGRATS!!!! the next pie you make can fed exed to me, it looked DELICIOUS! yum, now i am hungry…..
Congratulations!
Melanie, that’s awesome, congrats!! I totally have this vision of Little House on the prairie and the blue ribbon pie contest, love it!
Congratzzzz Melanie….
Congratulations Melanie, You were in my next of the woods, I wish I could have met you in person !! Great job on winning the competion!!
Congratulations Mel! It’s almost pie-baking days in my house and I can’t wait. Baking is like a sort of therapy for me and something that gets the kids involved as well. Can’t wait for the post on the recipe. Sounds super yummy and something I may have to try soon.
wow your pie really did look and prob taste the best. Those 2 flavors prob combine awesome!! Love this website Melanie!!
Good for you! WOW it looks awesome!
Congratulations!! I am so happy for you.
I have only entered one baking contest, and I did not win. I would love to enter another. Maybe next year I will enter this contest and we can share the ride up. Can’t wait to try you pie.
I pick blueberries on my own property. Before my house was built, it was over an acre of wild blueberry bushes. We left the biggest and best ones right where they were and worked around them. We also have huckleberries growing wild, too.
Oh my goodness, that’s so AWESOME! I’m so proud of you!
Like I know you, birthed you–lol! And I like the name of the pie, too. It looks divine! I can’t wait till you win the next one!