Jellybug | Taste of Home Community

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Jellybug

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November 13, 2001

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May 12, 2012

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My name is Marina Castle. I live in North Hollywood, California. I am 55 years old. divorcee with three grown kids and 12 grand children. I work for the Department of Homeland Security. My passion is cooking and baking and I love entering cooking contest. Here is my bio: Marina Castle I knew my passion was cooking and baking from an early age. I cooked and baked for my family and friends. I also worked as a grill cook when I was seventeen. I told my boss I was nineteen. The place was called Pinky’s located on the corner of San Fernando road and Broadway Boulevard in Glendale, California. It was a learning experience. I also thought about going to culinary school and specializing in pastries, but we could not afford the cost of tuition. I attended Glendale collage culinary/food science classes. Below is my cooking resume: 12/84: Bon Appetit magazine published four recipes in their Too Busy to Cook Column. French-Fried Cheddar Sticks, Peanut Butter Sauce, Bishop’s Bread and Nutty Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. 3/85: Recipe for Bishop’s Bread was published in a collection of recipes of Bon Appetit Gourmet Food Magazine called Easy Baking. They also made a video of how to prepare my Nutty Dipped Chocolate Strawberries. 10/85: Taught a bread baking class at a Christian School called: Creative Classes Series, for Christian Cooks. We prepared a special overnight dough, enough for a loaf of soft white bread, buttered rolls and cinnamon or orange rolls. 9/86: Entered the Los Angeles County Fair for the first time with nine entries, sweet breads, cookies, cakes, pies and candies. I won six ribbons. 9/86: Won my first baking contest for Bridge Ford Frozen Bread Dough. I made an ONION, BACON AND CHEESE BREAD WITH POPPYSEEDS. I place third out of more than 70 entries. I have entered the Los Angeles County Fair every year (except 2006, I had surgery) since 1985, All my winning recipes are included in their Prize Winning Cookbook. 8/88 I won three ribbons for competing at the California State Fair. I won second place for my Lemon Bread and Bran Muffins and third place for my Banana Nut Bread. 4/91: I won second place in the Weight Watchers/Alba recipe contest. For my recipe SKINNY FRENCH TOAST. It appeared in the March 1991 issue of Weight Watcher magazine. I have also been published in the following: Better Homes & Gardens Family Circle Woman’s Day News-Press (Living) newspaper The Home Show The Leader Newspaper Daily News (May 1989) Taste of Home Readers Digest Wall Street Journal Bon Appetit Some of the above inclusions were for stories, tips that were selected to be published. 4/90 I was selected as one of the 100 contestant chosen to compete at the biggest cooking/baking competition: THE PILLSBURY BAKEOFF. The grand prize was $40.000 back then. Now it’s a MILLION DOLLARS. I’ll continue to send in my best recipes in hope to once again be selected and have a chance to win ONE MILLION DOLLARS. I have won many cooking and baking contest. One that is dear to me is the BLUE BONNET MARGARINE COOKIE CONTEST. I won first place and $500.00 dollars with my Café Mocha Hazelnut Cookies. I’m also a Field Editor for TASTE OF HOME magazine. My recipe for my Cherry Sauced Pork Chops was published in their April 2004 issue. My recipe for Fresh Peach Mango Salsa was published in their June/July 2006 issue and my recipe for Veggie Turkey Pizza was published in their Aug/Sept 2006 issue. I was also contacted On March 13, 2007 by Malissa Fanis and was informed that my recipe for Butterscotch-Rum Ripple Cake that won a Blue Ribbon and Best of Show/Division at the Los Angeles County Fair in 2005 was among five County/State Fair Winning Recipes to be featured in their Aug/Sept 2007 issue. My Butterscotch Swirl Cake won first place Blue Ribbon and Best of Division at the Los Angeles County Fair in 2005. The cake has a wonderful butterscotch rum flavor that will knock your socks off…I plan to frame my beautiful Best of Division Purple Ribbon. Those ribbons are hard to come by, first you have to win a blue ribbon in your category (Bundt Cakes) then the cakes are re-judge and the best one is awarded the purple ribbon…BEST OF DIVISION. I was interviewed by phone by Wall Street Journal reporter Bob Hughes on March 15, 2007. He asked me a lot of questions regarding my cooking/baking history. He said he was impressed. The article should be out the last week of March 2007 My Butterscotch Swirl cake was featured in the Aug/Sept 2007 issue of Taste of Home. 9/07 I won several blue ribbons at the L. A. County fair, I took first place in the Mexican Dinner contest at the L.A. County fair with my Enchilada meatball meal. I love to win! =) 9/08 My Carrot Cake Cookies won a Blue Ribbon and Best of Division. My Chocolate Malt cookies won a first place in the Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies contest @ the Los Angeles County Fair. 9/09 I won several cooking and baking competitions. I won second place in the Ghirardelli Chocolate Challenge with my Dulce de leche brownie cups. 10/09 I won third place in the first annual pie competition held by KCRU 89.9 FM. There was 256 pie entries and only 12 were selected...I won third place in the cream category with my 7 Layer Dulce De Leche-Peanut Butter Mousse Pie....The judges were Food Network chefs and highly successful restaurant owners (Mark Peel). I am competing this year again..Will keep you posted. Today Saturday, august 28, 2010 I received my complementary copy of Taste of Home Christmas 2010. They informed me that two of my recipes were published in their cookbook. My Poppy Seed Cheese Bread on page 112 and my Butterscotch Peanut butter Fudge on page 129..I am beyond excited...I was also notified that my recipes for "Mom's Best Dishes" will be publish next early next year in Taste of Home 2011. Tomorrow, Sunday August 29th, I start my baking for the Los Angeles County Fair Bake Shoe. I have to deliver my bake goods on Wednesday August 31st for judging. Then I am competing in "The Taste Of Beverly Hills" in a pie competition on Sunday, Sept 5th. I am making two pies French Pastry Strawberry Pie (Fruit category) and my Peanut Butter Mousse & Ganache Cream pie (Cream category)..The following day, Monday Sept 6th..I have my first contest at the L.A. Fair...All American Pie Competition. my entry is my Seven Layer Dulce de Leche Peanut Butter Mousse Toffee Cream Pie. more news to come...My recipe for Swedish Raspberry Almond Bars was featured in the December/January 2011 issue of Taste of Home. Also in the February/March 2011 Issue of Taste of Home my story of Mom's Best Dishes is being featured.

My Greatest Cooking Triumph4/90 I was selected as one of the 100 contestant chosen to compete at the biggest cooking/baking competition: THE PILLSBURY BAKEOFF. The grand prize was $40.000 back then. Now it’s a MILLION DOLLARS. I’ll continue to send in my best recipes in hope to once again be selected and have a chance to win ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

My Biggest Kitchen DisasterI was simmering chicken breast in an apricot-pineapple sauce. My ex-husband said we had an appointment so, we left. six hours later I remembered about the chicken and we ran home. The fire department had been there and left by that time. We had to paint the kitchen and replace the front door, front window glass and my expensive pan....My appointment? I went to buy a car. That chicken dish turn out to be very expensive!

My Food For ThoughtREVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD!

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