Thank you Quaker and Foodbuzz!!

I'm really exited and here's why!

I entered a recipe contest with one of Foodbuzz's Sponsors, "Quaker Oats", and I won! The recipe requirement was to create a dish utilizing an ingredient from one of Quakers newest granola bars, "True Delights". I had the opportunity first to try the product that had not even hit the grocers shelves yet by taking part in a program offered by Foodbuzz for their publishers called Tastemakers, and then writing about in in a review type format on my site here.

The prize for this event are two round trip tickets to Chicago, Illinois to attend the nationally acclaimed event called Outstanding In The Field. This is a farm to table dinner hosted at an organic farm. Chef Jim Denevan began staging Outstanding in the Field dinners in his hometown of Santa Cruz, California back in 1999, and to date the event has traveled not just nationally, but to Canada as well. The idea to dine at the source has gained the excitement and interest of some of the top chefs in the Country. This is alfresco dining at it's best in a kitchen among the fields! It is a stretched out table dressed in white linen that seats 100 guests and I am honored and privileged to be among them in August, at the City Farm in Chicago, Illinois.

My entry for this contest was the "True Delights" Pineapple Rum Cake with a Pineapple Banana Macadamia Nut Crust filled with a Tropical Rum Zabaione . I know the title is long, but it was fun to create and utilizing Italian classic styling by incorporating rum and a creamy zabaione filling plus a delicious crust of truly delightful granola bars, I think you'll get past the title and just savor the surprising flavors of a truly delightful cake. The ingredients, colors and flavors make this the perfect cake for an Easter celebration too. Plan ahead and make the zabaione filling a few days in advance, the cake the day before and the whip cream topping can be made early the morning you plan to put it all together. You can find the recipe here.

Again, I am so honored and exited to have won a "recipe contest".. and to have this awesome opportunity to travel to Chicago, Illinois to attend the Outstanding In The Field dinner. Thank you so much Foodbuzz for creating events like this with sponsors such as Quaker and for giving us tools to grow as writers, bakers, cooks and culinary creators in our own minds.. especially when they extend off of the paper and into reality!

Thank you Quaker for your sponsorship and your wonderful products. It was fun to create a cake that "truly" was enhanced by such a "delightful" granola bar!
Hugs to you all..

In sincere appreciation,
Laurie m. Vengoechea