s t ers.
To The
Challen
In A Bake-CTE

JULIE EDGAR

TH E APP L ETREE

PHOTOS BY DANIEL LIPPITT

SPECIAL TO THE
APPLETREE

22

he sweet fragrance of
apples and cinnamon
hung in the air all day,
evoking memories of
autumns past and the morning's
sumptuous apple bake-off to
welcome the first edition of The
AppleTtee.
Invited to judge the Sept 20
contest at Jewish News head-
quarters in Southfield were
Manuel Chavez of Ristorante Di
Modesta, Marty Wilk of Excal-
ibur and our own Danny
Raskin. A tough panel, to say
the least

We who stood on the side-
lines could hardly stand the sus-
pense as the judges nibbled at
each of 20 or so delectable dish-
es and then paused, seemingly
interminably, to ponder the sen-
sations.
They tested our patience.
Our necks craned toward the
spread of cakes, muffins,
casseroles, cookies, baked ap-
ples, a crock of applesauce and
chocolate-dipped apples on a
long conference room table.
Account executive Sue
Maniloff stood to the side, biting

ners "was not an easy deci-
her nails as the judges sampled
sion."
her apple strudel, a confection
"All of you were winners,"
her great-aunt Tillie Lichtenstein
Mt Chavez declared.
brought from Russia.
In the end, they chose Ms.
"I make it every Rosh
Cooper's Apple Streusel Tart
Hashanah. I become a bubbie
(see recipe below) in the catego-
this time of year. I feel the need
ry of best flavor; Paula Smith's
to roll dough," Sue said.
applesauce topped with swans
Marla Cooper of our art de-
cleverly carved from
partment, one of
Above: Paula Smith, Kari apples in the category
three bake-off win-
Horenstein and Marla
ners, noted on the la- Cooper
savor their wins. of best presentation;
and Kari Horenstein's
bel beside her Apple
Left: Paula Smith's apple-
Streusel Tart that she, sauce won in the best pre- apple lasagna in the
sentation category.
best creative use of
not her mother,
apples category.
made it She ap-
For their efforts, Ms. Cooper
peared cool and calm as the
won a meal of her choice with
judges moved toward the
Danny Raskin; Ms. Smith re-
dessert.
ceived a gift certificate from Ris-
Assistant Editor Gail Zimmer-
torante Di Modesta; and Ms.
man also kept her distance from
Horenstein won a gift certificate
her tower of goodies — choco-
from Excalibur.
late-dipped apples cascading
"I've never entered a contest
over a plate of apple-chocolate-
before. I feel really good," Ms.
chip cake — while the judges
Smith said.
marked their score cards.
"I give all the credit to my
The tasting was finished, fi-
mother," Ms. Horenstein said.
nally. Mr. Wilk remarked that
"She found the recipe."
he culled some good ideas for
himself and that choosing win-
BAKE OFF page 26