What Does a Million Dollars Taste Like?; Recipe Sized for Two Earns $1 Million in 42nd Pillsbury Bake-Off(R) Contest

Today, Anna Ginsberg of Austin, Texas captured the grandprize at the 42nd Pillsbury Bake-Off(R) Contest in Orlando, Fla. ashost Joy Behar helped stuff Ginsberg's bank account with $1 millionfor her Baked Chicken and Spinach Stuffing recipe. As part of herprize she also received a complete set of GE Profile(TM) kitchenappliances valued at $10,000. She was among 99(a) of the best amateurcooks at the country's most celebrated culinary competition, which wassponsored by General Mills, General Electric, 3-A-Day(TM) of Dairy,SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking, The Hershey Company, Baker'sSecret(R) Bakeware and The J.M. Smucker Company.

Inspired by the creative use of items typically found in thefamily freezer, Ginsberg's recipe calls for Green Giant(R) frozen cutleaf spinach as well as Pillsbury(R) Dunkables(R) frozen homestylewaffle sticks, which serves as the foundation for the stuffing and theaccompanying syrup as a glaze. Tops in the Cooking for Two category,Ginsburg's innovative and resourceful use of a family-favoriteappealed to the judges for its unique twist on a traditional dinner.New to the Bake-Off(R) Contest, the Cooking for Two categoryrecognizes the growing number of two person households.

A stay at home mom with a four-year-old daughter, Ginsberg'smillion Dollar dream has always been to travel the world and takecooking classes - a dream that may just now become a reality.

"This recipe came to me like a lightening bolt out of the blue,"said Ginsberg. "I think it is a great way to enjoy well known comfortfoods with a unique and interesting twist."

The $10,000 America's Favorite Recipe Award went to Mary IovinelliBuescher of Bloomington, Minn., who created Pineapple Black BeanEnchiladas. This is the first time a Bake-Off(R) Contest prize wasdetermined by a consumer vote, which was conducted online atwww.pillsbury.com. One lucky consumer, Tonya Roope of Alameda, Calif.,who had participated in the voting, was selected in a random drawingfrom all eligible entries. Roope won a trip for two to Orlando towatch the finalists prepare their recipes and to attend the awardsceremony. If the recipe she voted for had been the grand prize winner,Roope would also have won $1 million and a complete set of GEProfile(TM) kitchen appliances.

Five additional category winners each earned $10,000 in cash fortheir recipe. The winner in the Dinner Made Easy(TM) category wasAngela Buchanan of Boulder, Colo., for her Cuban-Style Sandwiches withGreen Chile Au Jus. Ronna Farley from Rockville, Md., captured theSimple Snacks category with her Choco-Peanut Butter Cups. The winnerin the Wake Up to Breakfast(TM) category was Maria Baldwin of Mesa,Ariz., for her Rise 'n Shine Lattice Pizza. The winner in the WeekendsMade Special category was Laura Stensberg of Marshfield, Wis., withher Peanut Butter Truffle Tart. Karen Mack of Webster, N.Y., won inthe Brand New You category for her Blackberry-Almond Bruschetta.

Winning the GE Imagination At Work Award for the recipe deemedmost innovative by the contest judges was Dick Boulanger of Williston,Vt., for his Sugar Cookie-Chocolate Crunch Fudge. Boulanger earned acomplete set of set of GE Profile(TM) Kitchen Appliances (totalestimated retail value $10,000).

Diane Leigh Kerekes of Sapulupa, Okla., was presented the $10,000Receta Rica Award for her Southwestern Chicken-Biscuit Pot Pie. Theaward recognized the best recipe that creatively usedHispanic-inspired flavors, ingredients or techniques.

Cindy Gedling, Dianna Wara and Mary Iovinelli Buesher eachreceived $10,000 for the 3-A-Day(TM) of Dairy Awards for the mostdelicious and nutritious 3-A-Day(TM) of Dairy eligible recipes,containing at least 1 serving of milk, cheese or yogurt per recipeserving. This was Buesher's second award for her recipe, whichcaptured consumer's attention in the America's Favorite Recipe Award.

Jean Gottfried of Upper Sandusky, Ohio received the SPLENDA(R)Pure Magic Award for her Italian Cream Pie. She received this awardfor the best recipe using at least 1/2 cup of SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blendfor Baking.

The contest judges consisted of a panel of nine food experts whoworked in jury room secrecy. Judges evaluated the entries on taste,appearance, consumer appeal and creativity.

The finalists, 96 women and 3 men ranging in age from 20 to 67 andrepresenting 35 states, each won a trip to the contest finals with athree-night stay in Orlando, Fla., and $100. On March 21, the 99finalists simultaneously prepared their recipes for judges at 100 GEmini-kitchens set up in the Gaylord Palms(R) Resort ballroom. Addingmore excitement to the contest, this year's finalists were outfittedin a special apron created by trend-setting designer Todd Oldham.

Visit www.pillsbury.com/bakeoff to see the prize winners and allthe recipes from this year's competition.

The Pillsbury Bake-Off(R) Contest originated in 1949, with thefirst competition at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Thecontest was held annually from 1949 to 1978, when it switched to anevery-other-year schedule. The $1 million grand prize was firstawarded in 1996 to Kurt Wait, who was also the first man to win tophonors in the contest. All the recipes from this year's contest, plusmany favorites from through its 55-year history, are available atwww.pillsbury.com.

(a) The 100th finalist was not able to participate as she isawaiting the birth of her baby. The contest has been conducted with 99finalists several times in the past, with the most common reason forfinalist absence being pregnancy.

General Mills is a leading global manufacturer and marketer ofconsumer foods products. Its more than 100 U.S. consumer brandsinclude Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Betty Crocker, Cheerios,Wheaties and other Big G cereal brands, Yoplait, Nature Valley,Totino's, Progresso and more. Visit www.generalmills.com for companyinformation.

GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader inmajor appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systemsand services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial andresidential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrialuses innovative technologies and "ecomagination," a GE initiative toaggressively bring to market new technologies that help customers andconsumers meet pressing environmental challenges, to deliver comfort,convenience and electrical protection and control. General Electric(NYSE:GE) brings imagination to work, selling products under theMonogram(R), Profile(TM) GE(R), Hotpoint(R), SmartWater(TM) Reveal(R)and GE Edison(TM) consumer brands, and Entellisys(TM) industrialbrand. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.

3-A-Day(TM) of Dairy is a health and wellness campaign launched bythe American Dairy Association (ADA) in January 2003 to buildawareness of the health benefits of getting 3 servings of milk, cheeseor yogurt a day. 3-A-Day(TM) of Dairy is supported by fully integratedmarketing efforts including retail promotions, public relations,online marketing and advertising. The ADA is managed by DairyManagement Inc., the nonprofit domestic and international marketing,planning and management organization for U.S.-produced dairy productson behalf of America's dairy farmers. Visit 3aday.org for moreinformation and to sign up to be a 3-A-Day(TM) of Dairy Mom to receivedelicious and nutritious recipes and hear about exclusive offers.

SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking is a mix of SPLENDA(R) BrandSweetener and sugar, which allows consumers to achieve baked goodsthat brown, rise and have great texture. Consumers will only need touse half a cup of SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking to replace a fullcup of sugar, which enables them to reduce the calories from regularsugar by half and achieve the sweetness and performance they want intheir baked goods. SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking can now be foundat grocery stores nationwide in a 2 lb. re-sealable plastic bag, thatprovides the sweetness of 4 lbs. of pure sugar. You can find out moreabout SPLENDA(R) Brand or get recipes and tips on cooking and bakingwith SPLENDA(R) products at www.SPLENDA.com or by calling1-800-7-SPLENDA (1-800-777-5363).

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) is a leading snack food company andthe largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate andnonchocolate confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billionand more than 13,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company marketssuch well-known brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, KitKat, Almond Joy, Mounds, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, andMauna Loa, as well as innovative new products such as Take 5 andHershey's Cookies. In addition to its traditional confectioneryproducts, Hershey offers a range of products specifically developed toaddress the nutritional interests of today's health-consciousconsumer. These products include sugarfree Hershey's, Reese's and Yorkcandies, as well as Hershey's SmartZone bars for people seekingbalanced nutrition. It also markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrupand other branded baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. Inaddition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary ofThe Hershey Company, markets premium chocolate offerings, includingScharffen Berger, known for its high-cacao dark chocolate products,and Joseph Schmidt, recognized for its fine, handcrafted chocolategifts. Visit us at www.hersheynewsroom.com.

Baker's Secret(R) is the original nonstick metal bakeware thatperforms great from start to finish. Baker's Secret(R) offers thereliability of traditional bakeware with the benefits of uniqueinnovation. Baker's Secret(R) consumers use this line of metalbakeware because it provides even baking results, easy release ofbaked goods and effortless cleanup. For more information, consumersmay visit www.bakerssecret.com or call 1-800-999-3436.

Pillsbury desserts and baking mixes are manufactured and marketedby The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM). The company's Pillsbury-brandproducts include mixes for brownies, cakes, muffins and quick breads;ready-to-spread frosting; and flour. For more information and recipeideas, visit www.pillsburybaking.com. Pillsbury is a registeredtrademark of The Pillsbury Company, used under license.