Posted by The Oklahoman, OK on April 09, 2008 at 14:51:50:
Mother-daughter team from Ada to compete in Extreme Cookie Challenge in New York City
By Sharon Dowell
Food Editor
Snapping turtles living in and around an Ada family's creek provided inspiration for a cookie recipe that could be worth a $10,000 savings bond for a mother-daughter baking team, if they win a recipe contest Monday in New York City.
"We see snapping turtles in our creek when we take a walk, so that's where we got the name, said Dawsyn Lyon, a first-grader at Homer Elementary School in Byng. "We see lots of them, so we make the cookies just like the turtles look, she added.
"You can tell we live in the country, her mother said, laughing.
Once they had a cookie idea, the two worked together on the recipe. They started with a traditional gingersnap cookie, and then added whole pecans for the legs and head. The "turtle shell was enhanced by adding chopped pecans, caramel sauce, crystallized ginger and semisweet mini chocolate chips. The combination of ingredients provides the extreme element required in the contest, Leah Lyon said.
"They asked us to bake something a little different. They wanted something kind of out of the box, she said. "It is an extreme contest.
Dawsyn Lyon, who has been baking since she was 5, said her favorite ingredient in the cookies is the nuts.
"Actually, we pick up pecans with my mother and her Nan-Nan on her dad's side. Both families have pecan trees, Leah Lyon said. For the New York competition, the cookies will be prepared by food professionals ahead of time, so the Lyons won't get to share their Oklahoma pecans.
Leah Lyon said she's a bit more nervous than usual about this contest, since it's the first time she and Dawsyn have competed together.
"We won't be in the kitchen so that's good, but then there's the pressure of Did they make the cookies like we would have made them?'
Leah Lyon said the photo that the contest sponsor released of therecipe didn't resemble their version of the cookies; the "heads on the turtle cookies were missing.
"The photo didn't look exactly like we make them. But that's fine, she said, adding in a whispered tone, "We wondered if they knew what a snapping turtle looks like.
The Lyons have been practicing their recipe before they head to New York, even if they won't have to make the cookies there. "I like to pour in the ginger and the sugar and butter, Dawsyn Lyon said.
The winning team will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond, while the four other teams will be winners too, receiving $1,000 savings bonds per team. Leah Lyon said they'll hang on to the winnings until the bond matures.
And when Leah and Dawsyn Lyon take off their aprons after the competition Monday, they have a few plans to make the most of their time in New York.
"We're going to the Empire State Building, to the very top, Dawsyn Lyon said. "And we're going to see the dinosaurs and fossils at the Museum of Natural History. And we're going to see the Statue of Liberty.
They will be joined by Dawsyn's father, Bryan, and other relatives.
Leah Lyon entered three recipes in the contest, one with each of her three daughters who are under age 16. The Lyons were sure a chocolate volcano cookie they created would have the best chance of being selected for the finals, but instead it was the turtle cookies.
"I'm really excited I get to go, and I'm so happy they chose my recipe, Dawsyn Lyon said.
Leah Lyon of Ada has entered a variety of recipe contests since 2001 and has won trips, money, kitchen appliances, aprons and autographed cookbooks for her creativity in the kitchen. Here are some of her past accomplishments:
2007 St. Francis Perfect Pairings contest grand-prize winner with Sage Buttered Quail on Manchego Pots de Creme Corn With St. Francis Confetti; won a $25,000 KitchenAid kitchen makeover.
2007 Redwood Creek Campfire Classic grand-prize winner with Coal-Roasted Chuckbox Pozole Stuffed Onions recipe; won $10,000 and a trip to New York City to compete.
2007 Oklahoma Beef Cook-Off, first place winner in Neuvo Latino category with her Mayan Mignons on Cheesy Pozole Pesto; won $300.
2006 Gourmet Hellman's Taste of the World contest grand-prize winner with Spice Island Cassava Cakes With Java Chicken and Ginger Orange Spread; won a trip for two to New York City and a private cooking session with Sara Moulton.
2006 Made in Oklahoma contest first-prize winner in mouth-watering entrees category with My Honey Lamb and Iron Skillet Fajita Cassoulet; won a family vacation, Kitchen-Aid appliances and Oklahoma products.
2005 Oklahoma Beef Cook-Off first-place winner in grilling category; won $300.
2004 Turning Leaf Vineyards Where the Garden Meets the Grill, one of four finalists; won a trip to New York City to compete, 30-inch Wolf gas grill and $150 gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma for People's Choice Award with Grilled Quail Bundles on Tricolor Garden Grill With Tamarind Barbecue Sauce; judges were Al Roker, Tyler Florence and Sara Moulton.
2002 Mission Foods' What's in Your Tortilla? contest grand-prize winner with Crispy Fresh Peach Dumplings With Lemon Curd and Golden Vanilla Sauce; won a trip for four to Disneyland.