Great Blueberry Bake Off tests community’s baking skills
Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla - Staff Writer
The Great Blueberry Bake Off, which was once a popular Blueberry Festival event, resumed last year as well as this year to share the baking skills of people in the community. All participants walked home with a prize for their delicious bakes.
The Executive Assistant for The Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce, Kayleigh Bates, shared that although they received fewer participants than expected, the event went well this year. As a result, Bates shared, “All of our participants were able to walk away with a prize, due to the smaller number of participants.” She added, “This used to be a popular Blueberry Festival event but it had not been conducted in a few years. The staff here at the Travel Information Centre brought it back last year as a revamped event.”
Bates shared that this year’s event had three categories, which included blueberry bread (cinnamon rolls, scones, biscuits), blueberry muffin, and blueberry slice (cakes and pies). “The Great Blueberry Bake Off is a contest where residents of Sioux Lookout and the surrounding area can put their baking skills to the test,” she added.
A total of nine bakers were divided into three age groups of 7 to 10 year olds, 11 to 16 year olds, and those 17 and older. Bates shared that the majority of this year’s participants baked muffins, with some variations including an entry of white chocolate blueberry scones, and a delicious blueberry bannock dessert pizza.
Bates shared that the participants were judged on various factors such as presentation, flavour, consistency, and creativity. The winners for each category are as follows:
• Blueberry Muffin (Ages 7-10) - Samuel, Naomi, and Jesse Landgraff, who worked together to make their muffins.
• Blueberry Muffin (Ages 11-16) - Owen Ward, who scored extra points for a creative Blueberry Bert decoration on his muffin.
• Blueberry Muffin (Ages 17+) - Twylla Penner.
• Blueberry Bread (Ages 11-16) - Maelle Penner, who won with white chocolate blueberry scones.
• Blueberry Slice (Ages 17+) - Darlene Angeconeb, who won with blueberry bannock pizza.
Bates shared, “The judging was super difficult! Some winners won prize bundles from our local Watkins consultant, Ingrid Cummings, and others won slushie cards donated by Roy Lane Coffee. Many thanks goes to both Watkins Consultant Ingrid Cummings and Roy Lane Coffee for sponsoring this event!”
Bates shared that they hope to offer this event next year as well, with potential changes to the categories. “Be on the lookout for the Great Blueberry Bake Off during the 40th Sioux Lookout Blueberry Festival!” she concluded.
