Out of 400 recipes submitted a 91原创 woman鈥檚 was selected the winner of a Cranberries BC Culinary Contest for her cranberry walnut cheese ball.

Maryalice Wood, 71, was awarded 鈥渁 year鈥檚 worth鈥� of Craisins, and a harvest tour courtesy of Hopcott Farms in October for her winning recipe in a contest organized by the BC Cranberries Marketing Commission, the body that represents cranberry growers in the province.

鈥淚 actually saw the contest on a Black Press [Media] website鈥� and so I entered,鈥� the Willoughby resident recalled about first learning of the competition.

鈥淎nd you were to make-up a recipe鈥� using cranberries, either dried ones like Craisins, or fresh ones,鈥� she explained.

There were several contest categories and Wood said she submitted a creation for each.

鈥淚鈥檓 making recipes all the time,鈥� she laughed. 鈥淚 enjoy it.鈥�

And Wood is no stranger to winning contests, in 2016 she won $10,000 for her cheese souffl茅 through a magazine recipe challenge.

READ MORE: Cheese souffl茅 earns 91原创 woman $10,000

鈥淚鈥檝e just always enjoyed cooking and baking; My husband says that鈥檚 how I nabbed him, really,鈥� Wood laughed.

The mother of six calls cooking and baking a hobby and said she鈥檚 never had any formal training.

鈥淚 was one of 10 children and I really enjoyed cooking for lots of people,鈥� she said, calling herself a registered nurse by 鈥渧ocation.鈥�

So what advice would Wood share with novice bakers?

鈥淛ust follow your instincts鈥� and just experiment,鈥� she said.

Maryalice鈥檚 cranberry walnut cheese ball recipe:

1 - 250 gram package cream cheese, softened

1 - tablespoon sugar or honey

1 - tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/3 cup dried cranberries (Craisins)

2/3 cup chopped walnuts, divided

Place cream cheese, sugar, and vinegar in mixing bowl. Beat until fluffy. Add cranberries and 1/3 cup chopped walnuts. Beat slowly until well blended.Put cheese mixture onto plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours.

When ready to serve, put remaining chopped walnuts on a plate. Unwrap cheese ball and roll in walnuts to coat outside of ball. Serve with pear and apple slices or crackers of your choice. Serves 8.

Note: Alternatively, instead of making a ball, roll into walnut-size balls. Then coat each ball in remaining chopped walnuts, place on parchment covered tray, and refrigerate. Stick a toothpick in each ball and serve with fruit slices and/or crackers.

joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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