The presence of reporters and photographers certainly adds a novel dimension to the Bake-Off® Contest. One finalist accidentally dropped her finished cake as she was setting it on the cart for judging. A photographer slapped his forehead, wishing he had caught it on film, so the obliging contestant gathered up the crumbs and dropped them again--before going to work on another entry. One contestant was so unnerved by all the hubbub around her that she sat on the finished pie she had set down to cool! Sometimes, however, the press is in for surprises, too--like the Life photographer who wanted to take a picture of the 100 winning dishes, but found that someone couldn't resist, and had eaten one. Life had to be content with a picture of the remaining 99.
From "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off® Cookbook." Copyright 2004 General Mills. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.