Ohio Woman's Granola Pie Recpie Wins Her $1 Million

[matcom]

<snip>

The nominees swept in on the red carpet as cameras clicked. Dick Clark, tanned and smooth-skinned, cracked jokes and kissed cheeks. The tearful winner of the biggest prize soaked up a standing ovation as confetti swirled.

Tuesday's Hollywood awards ceremony seemed at first like so many others. Except that the star in the spotlight wore a cardigan and horn-rimmed glasses. And beside her, on a silver platter, was a pie.

Just a few blocks from the erotic museum, across the street from Hooters, a hop from a handful of head shops, the 41st Pillsbury Bake-Off, and its $1-million grand-prize winner, Suzanne Conrad, briefly brought a heartland wholesomeness to Hollywood.

The 34-year-old children's librarian from Findlay, Ohio, a newcomer to cooking contests, stood in the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, flicking flecks of confetti off of her Oats 'n Honey Granola Pie. She smiled as the Bake-Off's staff photographer trained his lens on her, coaxing, "Happy! Happy! Work it!"

http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/showcase/la-me-bakeoff30jun30.story