Apple pie and chili cookoff ‘a-peeled’ to all

The Basin Heritage Initiative apple pie bake off and chili cook off drew 48 people to the Arts Center on Sunday. Many who attended said they enjoyed the company and the food.  Ted Menke of Greybull said he thought it was a great event and very much enjoyed the food. 

The event was a fundraiser for the Basin Area Food Pantry. First place for the chili contest went to Christina Anderson and Nick Smith for the Smith Family Chili. Second went to Heather Jolley and Cindy Crawford for their Medicine Lodge venison chili.  Danae Bales took third with her Hot Mama Chili. Honorable mention went to Mike Hagemeister for his Grandpa’s Poor Man Chili 

In addition to chili there were sourdough breads, corn breads and apple pie alamode; Dry Creek Delights donated the sourdough breads. 

Three people judged the entries for the pie bake-off. Walking away with first was the Jolly Apple Girls.  Team members were Neda Herman, Carol Fulbright, Grace VanderPloeg and Olivia Suiter. The Apple Dumpling Gang of Lawayne Boyles and Layla Deford took second. The Kimble family of Jean Kimble and Linda Borders were third. Honorable mentions went to Deion Hagemeister and Violetta Fallesen. Entire pies were auctioned through silent bids. 

Event organizer Bales said she loved hearing from the bakers how they enjoyed baking together with the different age groups. That is a core component  of the Recipes and Roots series. The series is billed as “Building Community Connections Across Generations.” 

Bales noted, “We made sure to utilize as much local benefit to our local stores as well! Ingredients were purchased from Wheeler’s Basin Market and prizes and gift certificates were from Valley Hardware in Basin. Their baking section is amazing.  I won’t have to go to Walmart any more for cake boxes and icing tips.” 

She continued, “Putting money back into your communities and the businesses that contribute to our events, schools, and town are the way we continue to keep money in our local economies. Shopping local is our best and first defense against big box stores that don’t contribute in any way to the betterment of our communities. Keep the circle going.” 

Charlene Anderson, who is a part of the food pantry, said the money raised will help a lot. Meat is one of the more expensive items to purchase. Plus, the pantry is already taking donations for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.  

Partners in pie and chili event included Medicine Lodge State Archeological Site, Basin Area Chamber, South Big Horn Senior Center and Camp Bethel. 

The next Recipes and Roots event in the series will be in December; the theme will be Christmas cookies.