Michigan Sugar : Caro’s Colleen Gawrylowicz takes top prize at Michigan Apple Recipe Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018

Contact: Rob Clark, Michigan Sugar Company, 989-686-0161

Caro's Colleen Gawrylowicz takes top prize at Michigan Apple Recipe Contest

FRANKENMUTH - The third time was a charm for Colleen Gawrylowicz, of Caro, whose Tortellini Salad won her the top prize in the annual Michigan Apple Recipe Contest held Thursday, Jan. 24, as part of Zehnder's Snowfest in Frankenmuth.

The contest is hosted by the Michigan Apple Committee and Michigan Sugar Company once again was a major sponsor of this year's event.

Thirty-five participants from across Michigan took part in the event, competing in three categories: pasta, dessert and sandwiches. All recipes were required to use Michigan apples and Pioneer brand sugar from Michigan Sugar Company. Volunteer judges chose the top three dishes in each category with the top two from each category advancing to the finals, where another set of judges chose the grand prize winner.

Gawrylowicz, who entered the contest in 2017 and 2016 but did not place, finished second in voting in the pasta category, but the final panel of judges liked her recipe best and declared her the winner.

"I was very surprised," said Gawrylowicz, who receives a $1,500 cash prize from the Michigan Apple Committee and entry and travel expenses to the World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama, this November. "It's usually a dessert that wins, so I was just standing there waiting to try the desserts. This is totally unexpected, especially because I was second in pasta."

Here is a list of the top three finishers in each category. Each of them received a prize package, including 40 pounds of Michigan Sugar for first place, 20 pounds for second place and 10 pounds for third place.

Pasta Category

• 1st Place - Linda Schmidt, Kawkawlin - Chicken, Apple and Bacon Carolina Pasta Salad

• 2nd Place - Colleen Gawrylowicz, Caro - Tortellini Salad

• 3rd Place - Carol Kammer, Marysville - Pure Michigan Lasagna

Dessert Category

• 1st Place - Jessica Bryant, Shepherd - Best Apple Bars

• 2nd Place - April Cutler, Applegate - A Pioneer's Pearl

• 3rd Place - Susan Datte, Freeland - Grandma's Apple Bourbon Dumplings

Sandwich Category

• 1st Place - Melissa Kildow, Grand Blanc - Pickles Apple Pork Belly Banh Michigan

• 2nd Place - Judy Jones, Bay City - Turkey Club Apple Slaw Sandwich

• 3rd Place - Linda Cutler, Atlanta, Michigan - A Gouda Apple Cranberry Grille