I won !

And the winner is... Holly Viola’s Malibu Rum Cake is the winner of the first monthly recipe contest staged by Sarah K’s Gourmet in Destin. “My mom would make it every Christmas but when I tried it several years ago, the only rum in the house was Malibu,” Viola said in an interview. “I was afraid it wouldn’t be good, but I have to say... it’s better than mom’s.”

After being voted best locally owned restaurant by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine, Chef Sarah K. Schreifer wanted to reach out to the community that has supported her.

“My customers are like family, and I wanted to give them the chance to be a part of Sarah K’s Gourmet by having their family recipes on the menu,” Schreifer said in an interview. Customers and members of the community now have that opportunity through the Sarah K’s Recipe Club, a monthly contest held to find the best simple and family friendly recipes from local kitchens. Each month has a different theme based on seasonal items or holidays, with January’s theme being “Dessert for Two.”

Recipes are submitted for review and narrowed down to the top 10 for final judging. Then, contestants make their recipe and bring it in for tasting. The first recipe contest was held Jan. 27 and 10 recipes were submitted. The judges were chef Carolina Cox, executive director for the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County; Dominic Damiano, from Crane Lord & Sons; and Bill Davis, owner of Sound & Cinema — all seasoned veterans of culinary arts and Kitchenique cooking instructors. Second place went to Teresa McKenna’s Strawberry Crepes, and there was a tie for third between Debbi Morris’ Bread Pudding and Annette Roberson’s Chocolate Lava Cake. The audience got involved with the judging as they tasted each of the submissions while sipping on champagne and listening to the judges’ critiques. “I was so surprised at how many of my friends and neighbors came to cheer me on,” said Jill Anne, who submitted her cashew meringue cookies. “And I really loved being able to taste the other desserts and see how I measured up to my competition.” The judges will rotate each month and include last month’s winner, local chefs, Sarah K’s customers and members of the Emerald Coast Community.

“Holly’s recipe was judged on taste, ease of recipe and appearance,” Schreifer said, “and she scored the highest in these categories.” Her cake will be on Sarah K’s menu for the month of February. “I’m so thrilled with the first-place finish and have already submitted my recipe for next month,” Viola said. A Destin real estate agent working with Coldwell Banker JME Realty, Viola is originally from Maryland. She, her husband, Ken, and sons, Tanner and Logan, moved to Destin to escape the cold of the north. “One night while visiting family in Pennsylvania, during the worst snowstorm of the year, Ken said he couldn’t take the cold anymore and drove to Destin on the advice of a friend,” Viola said. “He fell in love with the place and so did I. The schools are great, and you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful city. My sons, Tanner and Logan, love it here too. Although they miss real snowmen.”

Viola’s favorite foods to make are desserts, and this was the first contest she has ever entered. “My brother, Will, is a chef in Baltimore. When he was taking pastry classes, he made me the best white chocolate truffle birthday cake. I was hooked on desserts ever since.” Even the best of cooks can have disasters in the kitchen. “I’ve had many,” Viola said. “Once the kitchen caught on fire, but that’s a different story. As far as food not turning out, I would have to say it’s a regular occurrence.”

Sarah K’s monthly recipe contest winners receive a $25 gift certificate, an invitation to be a guest judge at the next contest and their recipe will be featured on the Sarah K’s menu the following month. A grand prize will be awarded to the most popular recipe at the end of the year and the most popular recipe will hold a permanent spot on the Sarah K’s Gourmet menu for all of 2008.

Holly’s Malibu Rum Cake

1 cup chopped pecans (18 1/2 oz.)

1 package yellow cake mix 1 (3 3/4 oz.)

1 package instant vanilla pudding

4 eggs

1/2 cup cold water

1/2 cup Canola oil

1/2 cup Malibu rum

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt cake pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all ingredients together and pour over nuts. Bake 1 hour. Cool. Invert on serving plate. Prick a lot of holes in the top. Drizzle smooth glaze evenly over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze. Repeat until all glaze is used. Decorate with powdered sugar. The cake is so moist, and the longer it sits around, the better tastes. Serve warm or cold.

Glaze

1/4 lb. butter

1/4 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup Malibu rum

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in rum.

Holly A to Z

A-Available or single? I'm available exclusively to one Mr. Ken Viola
B-Best Friend? all are equally loved
C-Cake or pie? Chocolate Cake.
D-Drink of choice? Cappacino, diet pepsi....not together
E-Essential item I use every day: eyeliner
F-Favorite color? Pink.
G-Gummy Bears or Gummy worms? Bears.
H-Hometown? Baltimore
I-Indulgence? Long bubble baths, with no kids screaming "MOM!!"
J-January or February? February, - means spring is around the corner here in florida
K-Kids and names - Tanner, Logan. We still need to pick a middle name for Logan. Kenny likes "Magnus". i don't.
L-Life is incomplete without? Kitties
M-Marriage date - 12/23/1991
N-Number of siblings: brother and sister
O-Oranges or apples? granny smith apples and navel oranges
P-Phobias or fears? Being poor
Q-Favorite quote? "Whose leg do you have to hump around here to get a dry martini?" ~ Brian Griffin, Family Guy
R-Reasons to smile? The beach in Destin
S-Season? Spring, when the water get warm in the Gulf
T-Time of the day? The morning after everyone has gone to work/school. i can drink my International Foods Cafe Vienna coffee with no one nagging at my ass.
U-Unknown fact about me: I remember all of the words to Madonna's first album
V-Vegetable you don't like: Brussel Sprouts
W-Worst habit: reading gossip
X-Xrayed? Yes, back, fingers, head, chest
Y-Your favorite food? Pizza, chinese
-Zodiac? Scorpio.

another meme

I know, I hate these too but I am waiting on a phone call and decided to keep my idle hands busy.... also, please note that i am allowed to change my mind at any time.

1. Is there anybody you just wish would fall off the face of the earth? All people that abuse animals

2. How do you flush the toilet in public" With my foot (shoe on of course)

3. Do you wear your seatbelt in the car? usually

4. Name one thing that you start to get tense about if you are close to running out of it? Gas, Diet Coke

5. What famous person do you (or other people) think you resemble? I don't. When was little I heard kristy McNichol... then in my 20's it was Susannah Hoffs from the Bangles. Now I am just old with brown hair and brown eyes.

6. What is your favorite pizza topping? cheese with Old Bay Seasoning (try it!)

7. Do you crack your knuckles? No. I used to crack my back but it is so destroyed from cheerleading and gymnastics, it doesn't crack anymore. Just fused together.

8. What song do you hate the most when it gets stuck in your head? Little Einsteins

9. Did just mentioning that song make it get stuck in your head? No, thank god

10. What are your super powers? Being a mom to a teen and a 5 yr old and not shooting myself in the temple.

11. Peppermint or spearmint? Spearemint gum, but food-wise, peppermint (peppermint patties).

12. Where are your car keys? In my bag

13. What’s your most annoying habit? Forgetting things

14. Where did you last go on vacation? Orlando. but it wasn't really a vacation. Took my boy to the MLG Halo Tournament.

15. What CD is closest to you right now? Hannah Montana (not mine)

16. What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator? Skim Milk (eeww - it's hubby's), diet coke, Fat Free Miracle Whip (disgusting... his again)

17. What superstition do you believe in/practice? Karma, what you do, comes back 10 fold.

18. What color are your bed sheets? I have several - pink, brown, green, white, cream...

19. Would you rather be a fish or a bird - A bird for sure

20. Do you talk on your cell phone when you drive? Yes, sorry

21. What are your favorite sayings? Whatever

22. What song(s) do you sing most often in the shower? I don't sing in the shower.. ever

23. If you could go back or forward in time, would you and where would you go? I would go back and F*&% with the mean girls in elementary, middle and high school. I would make their lives miserable. (yes... I know Karma... but it would be worth it).

24. What is your favorite Harrison Ford movie?***Indiana Jones. Duh!

25. How many kids do you plan on having? I am done with two.. no more...EVER!!!!

26. If they made a movie about your life, what actor/actress would be the best for this job? Leah Remeny (sp?).

27. Would you rather die in a blaze of glory or peacefully in your sleep? sleep of course

28. Coffee or tea? Depends on my mood. Love International foods cffee, and Arizona diet green tea

29. Favorite musician(s)/bands you’ve seen in concert? Green Day, madonna, No Doubt, Live

30. Do you talk to yourself? Almost non-stop.

Yeah for school!!!!

School is back in session today! No more screaming, fighting, no more boys in my house!!! (until 3pm that is).

Yea, they look harmless.... but don't let the sweet angelic faces fool you.

T.G.C.I.O.

Thank. God. Christmas. Is. Over.

Yes I am a scruge. But I don't understand the concept of celebrating the birth of Jesus with maxing credit cards. Just to keep up with the Joneses (or rather... your family). Then of course after you max out cards, you have a blow out on one of your $250 tires. and of course, since the rest of the tires are bald, you have to buy all 4 so they are even. Then a rock hits your windshield for $300 replacement. Then your kitten gets explosive diarhea and is choking on something... trip to the vet $300. I will never be the type that says "how can it get any worse?" because as soon as you say that, it does.

Life is grande. weeeee.

Extras--Daniel Radcliffe

This is hilarious. Perfect example of dry british humor. Thanks Anna!

ewww

So as cute as the kitten is, she has major diarrhea (sp?) . it's everywhere. In the pantry. on the walls, in the tub, on her feet. I took away the soft food and gave her just dry. didn't help. My fingernails are gone because of the bleach. And my 13 year old has his various friends spend the night almost every night now that they are out of school for christmas so I have to explain to them why the house smells so bad. It's embarrassing. They will go home and tell their parents "Tanner's house smells.. and there is poop everywhere, all his mom does is clean" Then their mom's will sprend rumors all over the neighborhood that we have some sort of digestive problem in the family. and no housekeeper. I think we are the only ones in Destin that actually mow their own lawn and do our own housework. Oh the Shame! But it's the price we pay (or don't pay!) to live on the beach. Our neighbor actually paid a company to put up their christmas lights while they went to Hawaii. (Hi Sam!). Must be nice. I am green with envy. I would throw eggs at their house but they are such nice people.

On another note - here is Logan (5 yrs) at the computer. At his age I could barely spell my name on my library card. He can read, write, use the remote to record Hannah Montana... the boy is a wiz. Or maybe all kids these days are that smart. I don't know. Here he is hacking into Disney.com.