Pumpkin bake-off contest: Can you squash competition?

VILLA MARIA, Pa.

The first Yummy Pumpkin Bake-Off Contest has been scheduled for Oct. 2 during the 11th annual Harvest Day Celebration, which will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Villa Maria Farm.

The event will be a celebration of the most popular pumpkin dish in the area.

Judging the creations will be Lawrence County Commissioner Steve Craig, New Castle Mayor Anthony Mastrangelo and Susan Schorsten, pastoral leader of Sisters of Humility of Mary.

Entries should contain at least one cup of pumpkin, and all entries must be in a disposable container.

Five prizes will be awarded as follows: appearance ($10), texture ($10), pumpkin flavor ($10), overall flavor, ($25) and the Great Pumpkin Award ($50).

Home bakers and nonprofessionals must register in advance and have until Sept. 30 to submit their recipe, subject to a $2 entry fee. The entry must be delivered by 12:30 p.m. Oct. 2 to the Yummy Pumpkin Bake-Off Tent on the festival grounds.

Entries will be cut and sold in individual servings at the Bountiful Bakery Booth. Proceeds will go to the Villa Maria Farm for its continued work of feeding the poor.

For more information or an entry form, contact Kathleen Perry at 724-964-8920, ext 3348, or e-mail kperry@humilityofmary.org.