Mouthwatering chocolate and cheese creations raise money for church

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Sue Dickens

Click to Enlarge
Little Hannah Mallory, age five, of Campbellford, won second place in the best children's chocolate cookie category. She accepted the certificate, with her dad Dan Watson by her side, from festival Convenor Rose Odell.

Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC

Little Hannah Mallory, age five, of Campbellford, won second place in the best children's chocolate cookie category. She accepted the certificate, with her dad Dan Watson by her side, from festival Convenor Rose Odell.

Click to Enlarge
Joyce Higgs was a big winner at the Chocolate and Cheese Festival. She won first prize for her chocolate cheese cake and second prize for her best pie while her husband won third prize for best cheese Hors'doeuvre.

Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC

Joyce Higgs was a big winner at the Chocolate and Cheese Festival. She won first prize for her chocolate cheese cake and second prize for her best pie while her husband won third prize for best cheese Hors'doeuvre.

EMC Lifestyles -Campbellford -Mouthwatering cheese and chocolate treats tempted the crowd that gathered at St. John's United Church to warm up with a bowl of chili and bid on the delectable desserts.

The annual fund raiser for the church is a tradition that follows the Polar Bear Plunge in town and draws folks to the event where they can warm up and enjoy some hot food and great company.

As the crowd of dippers and passersby dropped in to avoid the snowstorm outside, Rose Odell, convenor of the Chocolate and Cheese Festival, announced the winners.

"This year we have 27 entries and six different categories with chocolate and cheese treats for our auction," said Odell.

Sitting among the crowd was Joyce Higgs and her husband Mike with friends Paul Portelli and Derrick Wendel who were making the most of the chili and foot-long hot dogs.

"We come every year," said Joyce, who is very humble about her winning entry in this year's contest.

Higgs won first prize for the best cheesecake, which she described as a sinfully sublime chocolate cheese cake with a chocolate cookie crust, and a fondant icing on top.

"You can't fit anymore chocolate in this, I tried," she said laughing.

Higgs also won second prize for best pie category with a triple decker chocolate cheesecake with pecans.

Her husband won third prize for the best cheese hors d'oeuvre category with tarts made of homemade goat cheese using goat's milk from Crosswind Farm at Keene. Joyce admitted to helping him somewhat.

"I made the goat cheese from their goat's milk and topped this with my homemade red pepper jelly," she told EMC.

The winners, whose entries were auctioned off the same afternoon are: Best Cheesecake -1st Joyce Higgs, 2nd Nicole Ilcio, 3rd Rose Odell, Honourable Mention Ashley Jones, Best Pie 1st Linda Nokes, 2nd Joyce Higgs, 3rd Doris Meier, Best Chocolate Candy -1st Rose Odell, 2nd Ashley Jones, Best Cheese Hors D'Oeuvre -1st Ashley Jones, 2nd Rachel Whitton, 3rd Michael Higgs, Best Chocolate Cake -1st Foster Ilcio, 2nd Mary Jane Thomson, 3rd Ashley Jones, Honourable Mention YMCA Early Years Children, Best Children's Chocolate Cookie -1st Rebecca Powney, 2nd Hannah Mallory.