January 31, 2014 at 1:47 p.m.
Estabrook's cookie with a twist wins blue ribbon
Estabrook's cookie with a twist wins blue ribbon
By Kayla Thomason-
Estabrook won the blue ribbon in the "Just A Pinch Recipes" Favorite Holiday Cookies contest for her coffee-laced ginger molasses cookies.
She said she developed the recipe while making Christmas cookies.
She often uses gourmet instant coffee in several recipes and thought to herself "Why wouldn't it be good with gingerbread flavoring and molasses flavoring?" She describes the cookie as a spicy soft ginger snap cookie with a medium flavor.
Estabrook competes in many baking contests nationwide through various contest websites. With this contest she had to submit information as to why the recipe is special to her.
She grew up in Mercer and fondly remembers Shirley Sleight who made sure the children of the town grew up happy, healthy and out of trouble. Sleight's home was always open during the week and sometimes weekends. Children didn't have to call they just walked in. On average there would be five children playing board games at any given time.
Sleight organized many of the town activities that would interest children. Now there is a historical one-room schoolhouse named after her.
"She was just amazing. When we would go there she would be baking and that's where I had my first molasses cookie and it was warm out of the oven and she was always so generous and I just loved those cookies," Estabrook said.
She submitted her recipe online. The judges narrowed the selection down and then they baked the top picks.
Estabrook won the blue ribbon and received a $500 gift card.
She was also a runner-up in the Feed Your Better contest which ran in December. Her prize was $5,000.
Feed Your Better was an essay contest about healthy lifestyles. She was one of nine finalists nationwide to have a shot at the big prize.
"Since I've retired it's turned out to be a really fun and profitable hobby. I've done pretty well," Estabrook said of her participating in cooking contests.
She has two more contests on her radar, a cornbread contest in South Pittsburg, Tenn., and she is waiting to hear from the Chocolate Adventure contest.
She said she shares her extra holiday cookies with Frederick Place homeless shelter.
Estabrook's cookie recipe can be found at this link: http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/dessert-cookies/coffee-laced-ginger-molasses-cookies.html.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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