March 02, 2004

By: James Sparks
Website: http://www.1st-in-steaks.com

Cocoa powder and chocolate drizzle are key to the winning Big Fat Lumpy Life Cake

Sandi Klingler of Auburn, Alabama turned her everyday life experiences into $5,000 and a new Whirlpool range when her Big Fat Bumpy Life Cake won first-place at the second annual Whirlpool Home Appliances Accubake System Unique Cake contest. Mrs. Klingler - with husband Bill and daughters McLaurine, 11, and Mary Ashton, 8, by her side - edged nine other finalists that competed for the grand prize last week at Whirlpool Corporation's new Insperience Studio in Atlanta.

"The recipe has changed here and there over the years, just like real life, but it all turned out alright in the end," Mrs. Klingler said. "I have been making the cake for 12 or 13 years now, but we just came up with the name last year. I think it fits perfectly."

Whirlpool selected the 10 finalists from the more than 400 cake recipes submitted. Gale Gand of the Food Network show Sweet Dreams served as the lead judge and was assisted by Better Homes & Gardens home economist Lynn Blanchard, Nestle food specialist Holly Strauch, Whirlpool home economist Lyn Cook and Whirlpool cooking brand manager Aida Torres. The cakes were judged on four main criteria: story behind the cake, originality, ease of recipe and taste.

Here's how Mrs. Klingler described the story behind her winning recipe:

"This unique, crazy looking cake is always a show stopper or at least a cake of amusement. In the beginning, the cake did not have a name. She had been eaten at our annual family reunion for many years. Then just last year, the cake was named.

Our family meets and greets and eats. We recount the highs and lows of our last year. We laugh and cry, dance, play and sing. Then it is time to feast. Everyone brings a favorite family dish to share. As the sun sets, the family settles down for coffee and dessert.

The children eye the desserts, and tiny fingers point at the big funny looking cake sitting next to Grandma Lucy's cake plate. The snickers turn into ooohs and ahhhs as the cake bearing our family's native nut is eagerly devoured. The conversation turns to our pecan production and how the bountiful harvest last year gave way to a failed crop this year, but how things will get better next year.

Then my 11 year daughter, overhearing and studying the conversation in all seriousness, proclaims that the cake should be called "My Big Fat Bumpy Life Cake" because life has its bumps, but is also sweet and good like a cake. The serious conversation stopped abruptly and the family laughed. So from now on, to soothe the bumps in life, our family tradition is the Big Fat Bumpy Life Cake."

About The Author:

James Sparks is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-steaks.com.  Great tips on buying top quality meats, steaks and seafood from the finest ranchers and butchers.