At the club social night on 23 October we had the First Annual Great WTMC Bake-Off where punters presented their best baked tramping snack for taste-testing. All this fun was to help highlight the launch of the second edition of the WTMC Cookbook – now online and including the award winning recipes from the bake-off. Awards from the night went to:
Golden Spork Award for Best Tararua Biscuit – Illona Keenan
Easily the most moreish and distinctive cracker like appearance.
Highly commended Annette Gazley (magnificent consistency across both batches and great taste) and Amanda Wells (good thinking presenting the biscuits with edible toppings (cheese and hummus).
Hottest Home Baker Award for best baking containing chocolate – Bridget Boyle
… for her raisin, chocolate almond slice (tasted sublime plus packed full of chocolate and protein via the nuts plus was all gone very early in the evening proving it was a real winner).
Highly commended Donna Maher’s chocolate, pistachio and coconut slice (tasted like expensive Swiss chocolate just awesome) and Beccy Day’s cherry and white chocolate oat biscuits (loved the colour combo very festive plus good quantity).
Best Savoury Baking – Richard House
… for his hummus (yes hummus isn’t baked but the judges weren’t picked for their technical expertise, it tasted great and very useful for tramping)
Highly commended Emily Shrosbree’s cheese scones (brave choice, good colour, good quantity, would go down a treat with a few knobs of butter or some hummus).
Most Practical Baking Award – Debbie Buck
Debbie’s date cakes (great size – easy to fit in your pocket for eating on the run).
Highly commended Megan Sety’s granola bars (looked just like the muesli bars you pay a small fortune for at New World but homemade – choice!) and Katy Glenie for her gluten free cookies (good size crunch, and great choice for those people with extra needs).
Special Award for Innovative Baking – Sue Walsh
Sue’s ANZAC biscuits with a twist (we loved that Sue produced a Kiwi classic and added a bit of cocoa to reference our national icons the All Blacks). Her prize is, making a special batch for the next New Member’s night.
People’s Choice Awards – Donna Maher, Bridget Boyle, Beccy Day
Donna for her amazing chocolate slice, Bridget for her amazing chocolate slice, and Beccy for her white chocolate oat biscuits which just goes to show, all baking is improved by adding a lot of chocolate.