Lynn woman takes aim at $1M bake-off prize

LYNN – Leslie Pew has made it to the big time with the 46th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off.”I’m going to Vegas baby,” she said. “I think I’m going to like it.”Pew found out earlier this month that her entry into the bake-off carried her from the semi-finals to the finals, which will be held Nov. 10-12 at The Aria, a luxury hotel in Las Vegas, Nev.”I have a feeling we will go in and not see the light of day until we leave for the airport,” Pew said with a laugh.Thus far Pew has relied on her recipe alone to propel her through the first two rounds of the Bake-Off but in Vegas she will be required to prepare her creation, coconut pecan chocolate fudge, and present it to a panel of judges.Recipes are judged based on taste, appearance, creativity and consumer appeal.She said it’s her understanding that there will be one large room set up with 100 stations. Everyone gets their own stove, sink and work area, she said.”They’ll supply what we need ingredients-wise,” she added.The actual cooking will take place on one day from 9 a.m. to noon and Pew believes there are at least a few outings planned for the contestants. She is toying with going out a day or so early so she can explore the area before the competition pressure heats up.”I would like to swing an afternoon trip depending on what we can do,” she said. “Maybe a bus trip to the Grand Canyon or the Hoover Dam or something.”Pew said the trip is a rare treat and not something she will likely ever be able to do again so she’d like to take advantage of her time there.She is aware, however, that her main focus is the Bake-Off, she said. She called it a great feeling when she learned she had made it to the finals.”It’s real cool,” she added.It would be cooler still if she won, she admitted.The Grand Prize Recipe Winner receives $1 million and a choice of $10,000 in GE kitchen appliances. Second prize takes home $10,000 and $3,000 in GE kitchen appliances, and the third place finisher will get $5,000 and $2,000 in GE kitchen appliances.Jif, Crisco, Eagle Brand and GE will also hand out separate awards for the best use of peanut butter, shortening and sweetened condensed milk respectively, and the most innovative in the case of GE.”So about 93 people will go home with just the trip,” Pew said. “However, I will be happy with the trip. I would like one of the prizes. I would prefer $1 million but I have no say in that. It is all sort of fun.”