Lilly from Combined Locks, WI (2018 Week 10: Wisconsin Week)

Baker

Lilly

Location

Combined Locks, WI

Baking Challenge

Savory Pithivier

Give your dessert a clever name — and tell us about your recipe.

The Tailgater — Handheld puff pastries filled with brats, carrots, green beans, onions and garlic simmered in Oktoberfest beer and beef broth. We added aged cheddar cheese before sealing the pastries and baking.

What was the biggest surprise during your baking journey? Did you use any unconventional approaches? What did you learn along the way? Tell us about it!

We were nervous about a soggy pastry bottom, because our filling was cooked in beer and broth. We ended up using a slotted spoon to let all the liquid drain out before filling the pastries. Our crust did not get soggy!

How did you add a Wisconsin twist to your flavors or decoration?

Wisconsinites love their Green Bay Packers, so we decided to make an item for tailgating. We made the pastries handheld, so they could be eaten easily at a tailgating party. We filled the pastries with brats (a necessity at any Packer party) from our local meat market, aged cheddar cheese from Wisconsin Aging and Grading, and Capital Oktoberfest beer, brewed in Wisconsin. We also added a Green Bay Packer "G" to the top on the pastries.

How did you do?

I participated in all 10 Great Wisconsin Baking challenges this summer — I’m a Star Baker!