Pillsbury Bake-Off Contestants Vying for $1 Million Top Prize
The 45th annual Pillsbury Bake-Off takes place today in Orlando and all the contestants have already pre-heated the oven and greased their pans.
100 contestants are competing for the $1 million dollar grand prize and the right to be called a Pillsbury baking champion.
The baking challenge is being held at the Peabody Orlando hotel and had to go under a major make-over in order to provide the contestants with everything they might need.
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Organizers set up 100 mini-kitchens complete with ovens, refrigerators, pots, pans and all other baking necessities.
To pull off such a feat, organizers used two miles of electrical cable, 996 measuring cups, 344 mixing bowls, 335 spoons, 279 eggs, 269 rubber spatulas, 104 pounds of sugar and 102 sticks of butter.
With all that kitchen equipment, engineers have been working with organizers to keep a steady power supply to all the contestants, according to the Bake-Off Contest Manager Onju Sturlaugson.
The contestants had been assured that they would have everything they would need to prepare their dishes. The contestants will make their item three times; one for the judges, one for display and one to share.
There is even a food runner who is provided should an ingredient be needed that is not at the competition.
Amber Schofield, 25, one of the participants explained that she is not concerned with not having the all the ingredients and equipment to make her dish, Mango-Lemon Drop Sunshine Puffs; she is more concerned with getting in her own way.
"I am a very clumsy, slow cook. All of my potholders have burn marks on them, and I tend to break things," said the cook.
Contestants have four hours to prepare three samples of their dishes. Those who are interested to find out who won can watch "The Martha Stewart Show" at 10 a.m. on Tuesday which will air on the Hallmark Channel, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
