I love watching cooking shows with my oldest daughter. We have a great time seeing how the chefs manipulate the items they receive and turn them into amazing meals. We particularly love to see them get things like pie crusts and pastries so we can get more ideas on how to use those goodies from Pillsbury in our own kitchen. I'm not terribly creative in the kitchen (that's more of my husband's domain!), but I know that I have some creative readers so I was excited to share this opportunity with you -- the 45th Pillsbury Bake Off!

Pillsbury is looking for original recipes that taste and look delicious, are easy to prepare and that families across America will love to eat. Consumers can submit recipes in one of four recipe categories:

• The Breakfast & Brunches category includes casual brunch or weekend family breakfast ideas. For example, sweet rolls, pull-aparts, pastries, breakfast breads, egg dishes or breakfast sandwiches.
  
• In the Entertaining Appetizers category, entrants can submit appetizers and snacks to serve at casual gatherings with family and friends or for holiday entertaining. For example, bite size appetizers, tartlets, pinwheels, puffs, bruschetta or focaccia.
  
• The Dinner Made EasyTM category encourages home cooks to create easy-to-prepare main dishes that will delight your family. For example, pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, foldovers, casseroles, chilis, soups or savory pies.
  
• Quick and easy treats for anytime celebrations can be entered into the Sweet Treats category. For example, cookies, pies, tarts, brownies or bars.

Entries are being accepted online between now and April 18, 2011, at www.bakeoff.com. One hundred lucky finalists will compete for a chance at the grand prize during the contest finals, which take place March 25-27, 2012 at the Peabody Orlando Hotel in Florida. You´ll also find contest details, including eligible products, prizes and the official rules, on the web site.

The recipes will be judged for 1) taste, 2) appearance, 3) creativity and 4) consumer appeal. All entries must meet the requirements of the recipe category and appropriately use two of the eligible products in at least the quantity specified. The grand prize is one millions dollars! 


Win it: One lucky reader will win a Pillsbury Bake Off gift pack, which includes an apron, recipe book and pen from Pillsbury! This contest is open to residents of the US who are 18 or older.

Mandatory Entry:

• What is one dish you make really well?

Please make sure that I have a way to contact you (if you leave an email in your Disqus comment, I'll have it even though it's not visible to everyone). If I can't contact you, I'll make a different selection. This contest will be open until 11:59 PM, March 28. I will choose a winner using the Random.org random number generator. I will send an email to the winner who will have 48 hours to respond. If I don't hear from you by then, I'll select another comment. 
Disclosure: I received a Pillsbury Bake-Off gift pack through My Blog Spark to facilitate this giveaway. All opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure here.