Jews have been known to have a last hurrah before Passover, gorging on pizza, pasta, bagels, cakes and other leavened goodies that become verboten during the eight-day holiday, which starts this year on April 6.
But the last thing Amy Siegel probably wants to eat right about now is another cupcake.
Siegel, a wife, mother of four and strictly observant Jew from Clifton, N.J., is a bit of a big deal in cooking contest circles, with about $50,000 in winnings to her name, including the grand prize in the Man-O-Manischewitz Cook-off three years ago.
Now, after years of trying, she's finally made it to the majors, snagging one of a hundred spots in the biennial Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando on Monday (March 26) with her strawberry swirl-peanut-butter-brownie cupcakes. The grand prize is $1 million.
Only one problem: The bake-off takes place 11 days before Passover, and all the weeks Siegel typically devotes to preparing her kitchen for the holiday -- swapping out her normal cookware, dishes and cutlery for Passover versions and emptying her cupboards and fridge of all food not fit for Passover -- she's spent rehearsing her decidedly non-Passover-friendly recipe.
"All that dough, the Pillsbury Doughboy," Siegel sighed, "and to go to the other extreme within the same week . . ."
Participants must use at least two branded products specified by Pillsbury and other sponsors, and there were precious few Pillsbury products on the list that are certified kosher. The brownie mix happened to be one of them.
"I tried to think of as many things you could make with brownie mix that weren't actually brown," she said.
She made a filling with Jif extra-crunchy peanut butter and Eagle Brand condensed milk, and swirled Smucker's strawberry jam into the cream cheese and Land O'Lakes butter frosting -- and yes, all these companies are co-sponsors of the bake-off.
Siegel knows on which side her cupcake is iced. Her strategy is to use as many sponsor products as possible. "They say it doesn't increase your chances, but they like to have more of their products out there," she said.
Siegel is also one of five finalists in the Eagle Brand Sweet Secret recipe contest for her Tropical Breeze mango-coconut cheesecake, the winner of which is chosen in an online vote at eaglebrand.com. The grand prize is $10,000.
Pillsbury named the finalists in the fall and Siegel has been practicing since, doling out cupcakes to friends. "My neighbors have sort of had it," Siegel admitted.
The finalists have to re-create their recipes twice in individual mini-kitchens on Monday, and one winner in each of four categories (breakfast food, appetizers, dinner, and sweets) will be named.
The winner of the grand prize will be announced Tuesday on a live broadcast of "The Martha Stewart Show" on the Hallmark Channel.
Vicki Hyman writes for The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!