Sweet competition benefits the Leechburg Public Library
You don’t have to cross an ocean to see who is crowned the next best baker.
Just come to Leechburg.
An upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Leechburg Public Library will include a baking contest for a chance to be the named “Star Baker of Leechburg.”
The idea came from PBS’s “The Great British Bake Off,” which inspired Karen Freilino, president of the library’s board of trustees, to suggest such an event.
Each entrant will make two batches or cookies, cakes, pies or another sweet treat. The baker’s identity will be secret until after an evaluation by a panel of judges: Sherry Jackson Price, who organizes “Pink Day” in Leechburg; Joe Felschow, owner of Big Joe’s BBQ in Leechburg; Nikki Saxion, owner of Coco Coffeehouse in Leechburg; and Larry Boehm, president of the Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society. Each entry will be rated on a scale of 1 to 10 on four criteria:
Bake — Neither over nor underbaked
Texture — Neither too dry nor too moist
Taste — Clearly it should taste good, but will not be judged on the personal preference of a judge for an ingredient or a type
Appearance — Should be appealing, with no crumbling cookies, fallen cakes, no soggy bottoms on pies
Entries have to be in by 11 a.m. The scores will be averaged and the winner announced around 1:30 p.m. The best baker will receive a $100 prize along with a “Star Baker” apron. The money was donated by the board members.
One batch will be used for judging and the other for a baked goods raffle and purchase during the spaghetti dinner.
Saxion says she wanted to be involved in the event to help the library, which was closed in May temporarily until concerned citizens re-opened the place a month later.
“I am part of this community with my business being located here and I am excited to be a part of the event,” Saxion says. “It’s about helping to raise money for the library.”
Freilino says she thought modeling the event after “The Great British Bake Off” was good because it’s not cutthroat. It is an important event to her because the library is a place where everyone can feel welcome and learn, so it needs support.
“We wanted to have a nice event that was different and fun,” she says. “The library is part of this community, and I feel strongly about our library. We are never done learning.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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