Recipe for Disaster

Recipe for Disaster

Sofia was no stranger to baking competitions. Her pies always placed first at the state fair, and her bedroom walls were covered with blue ribbons. She had never experienced anything like the National Junior Baking Contest before, though. The contest was televised, which meant the studio kitchen was full of hot lights, and a camera crew circled like hawks. There were five bakers competing and three rounds of challenges. First, one contestant would be eliminated, then two, before the last two bakers battled for the championship. Sofia could feel sweat dripping down her face.

There was no time to practice, either. Not until the clock started ticking did Sofia discover she had to bake twenty croissants in just three hours. Sofia had never made a croissant in her life! The judges had provided a list of ingredients, but Sofia had to figure out the rest on her own. " Thirty minutes left! " the TV host cried. Sofia carefully shaped her dough and arranged the croissants evenly on a baking tray. She slid the tray into the oven and set the timer for fifteen minutes.

While she waited, she looked around at the other bakers. Mollie, the girl at the station next to Sofia's, was still frantically rolling her dough into shape. She'd gotten flour everywhere, even in her ears! Her apron was splattered with pastry, and her station was crowded with dirty bowls. Was that cinnamon Sofia saw all over the floor? That hadn't even been on the ingredients list! At least I don't have to worry about her, Sofia thought. There's no way she will make it to the next round.

At the end of the round, the judges tasted Mollie's croissants first. “ These are delicious! " the first judge crowed. " The cinnamon is an inspired touch, " the second judge agreed. " You were the last one to finish, " the third judge noted, looking pointedly at Mollie's messy station. “ Perhaps try to be a bit more organized next time. " " I can't make any promises! " Mollie laughed. She didn't seem to mind the criticism at all.

Next, the judges tasted Sofia's croissants. " They're a bit underdone, dear, " said the first judge as she took a bite of Sofia's croissant. " Yes, you prepared and shaped the dough perfectly, but these could have used a few more minutes in the oven, " the second judge agreed. The third judge tore apart a croissant to show Sofia where the dough was still raw. Sofia felt her face flush, and she blinked back tears. How had she not noticed that the croissants were raw? She knew she was a better baker than that.