By Karen Williamson

KARENW@CULLMANTIMES.COM

The Taste of Home cooking demonstration, held Saturday at Wallace State Community College, was a sold out event as culinary specialist Michelle Roberts entertained the crowd with tips and family stories.

Hundreds of food lovers from across the Cullman area attended The Cullman Times and Cullman Regional Medical Center sponsored event.

Roberts showed off her culinary skills preparing a variety of foods including Tropical Bran Muffins, Smoky Sweet Pepper Shrimp, Delicious Baby Mixed Beans and Carrots, Philly Cheesy Chili Dip, Updated Shepherd’s Pie and a host of desserts.

She also provided tips for dealing with sticky items like molasses.

“Spray your measuring cup with a little no-stick spray for anything sticky like syrup or honey. It makes it come out of the measuring cup a little better,” she said.

Other helpful hints include filling a partially empty muffin pan half full with water. The water in the empty slots will keep the temperature of the pan even, said Roberts.

Times Publisher Bill Morgan had the honor of announcing 20 door prizes.

Bonny Gray won a set of Townecraft professional series serving spoons. Rebekah Holmes won mixed berry, kiwi, tangerine and rasberry-colored Tupperware containers.

“I love food,” said Donna Moore upon winning an Asian decorative bowl.

Andrea Hendon won a 13-week subscription to The Times including the 2006 and 2007 editions of The Taste of Cullman cookbooks.

Laughter erupted when Morgan raffled off five $100 gift certificates for Medical Weight Loss.

An Alabama fan won an Auburn gift basket. When the Alabama basket was given, Morgan asked the excited recipient if she was an Alabama or Auburn fan.

She said, “Neither, but I will switch,” causing more laughter.

Roberts ended the demonstration with desserts including Chocolate-Dipped Brownie Bites, a Tiramisu Bowl and a Peanut Butter Striped Delight.

Despite her food degrees, Roberts said she used cook and serve pudding for the peanut butter dessert and could not understand why it didn’t thicken. She said she needed to use instant pudding for the recipe.

She joked about the peanut butter.

“If you are allergic, leave it out,” she said. “I had a boyfriend who was allergic to peanut butter, and he’s not anymore.”

The dish used to whip up the peanut butter dessert was awarded to Stella Nicholas. Before the winner was announced Roberts joked she knew whoever won the dish was going to dig into it in the parking lot.