Free Winner Bakes All by Sheryl Berk

Lexi, who perfectly swirled the frosting on each of them, sprinkled them with cinnamon, and topped them off with the fondant chili peppers.
    â€œTime’s up! Step away from your cupcakes!” Jerry called.
    The girls stepped away from the counter, panting and sweating.
    â€œYow!” yelped Jenna. “Don’t step on me! Girl on the floor, remember?”
    â€œThat was close…too close!” Sadie tried to catch her breath. She helped Jenna to her feet. “You okay?”
    â€œLucky for me I had some nice soft cupcakes to break my fall,” Jenna joked. She was covered in dark chocolate cupcake crumbs. “Pretty tasty, if I do say so myself!”
    â€œLadies and gentleman,” Jerry called. “Please present your cupcakes to the judges!”
    PLC was up first. “What do I say?” Sadie shook Kylie by the shoulders. “I don’t know what to say!”
    â€œJust say what you told us. Explain why this cupcake is The Perfect Pair, just like your parents.”
    Sadie took a deep breath and approached the judges’ table. She knew her parents and her brothers, not to mention everyone at Blakely Elementary, would be home watching them on live TV. Mrs. Vanderwall’s lips were tightly pursed, as if she was ready to take a bite out of both Sadie and the cupcake.
    â€œThis cupcake is The Perfect Pair because it’s inspired by two people who belong together,” she said into the camera. “My parents, Bria and Gabriel Harris.”
    â€œThat’s so sweet!” Carly cooed. “Tell us more, Sadie.”
    â€œWell, my mom and dad are really opposites. He likes hip-hop music and she likes opera. He watches sports and she loves old romantic movies. Sometimes they fight because they don’t see eye to eye, but I know that deep down, they really love each other. This cupcake combines two of their favorite foods that don’t really sound like they would go together: spicy chili and cheesecake. But when you combine them in a cupcake…well, they’re the perfect pair. Just like my parents.”
    Sadie held her breath, stared straight ahead, and braced herself for the judges’ critiques.
    â€œZees coopcake…it eez rich…it eez moist…it eez magni fi qu e !” Fiero said.
    â€œDid he just say he liked it? I can’t understand his French accent!” Delaney whispered.
    Carly nodded. “I think the hot chocolaty cake and the light cheese frosting blend together beautifully. I was licking my plate. It was yummy.”
    Finally, Mrs. Vanderwall raised her fork and took a bite. “Hmmmm…” she mumbled. “Mmmm.….mmmmm.…mmmmm!”
    Sadie looked puzzled—was that an “I like it” or an “I hate it”?
    â€œDo you have something to add, Mrs. V?” Jerry asked.
    â€œFrom an artistic standpoint, the decoration was quite realistic.”
    Lexi jumped up and down. “Yes! She liked my pepper!”
    â€œBut the flavor…it’s a mistake .” She said the last word so loudly that Sadie flinched.
    â€œShe will never get over it,” Kylie cried. “She’s not going to even give us a chance!”
    â€œWhy is it a mistake?” Jerry asked.
    â€œI simply don’t appreciate spiciness and creaminess together,” Mrs. Vanderwall replied. “That’s my opinion.”
    When it was the other contestants’ turns, the judges were also divided.
    â€œI think your pickle and parsnip cupcake is clever,” Carly told Dina. “But I’m missing some sweetness. I wanted more of a treat.”
    â€œYour marinara and marshmallow coopcake…it was a miss for me,” Fiero told Benny. “You go too far out of zee box.”
    Mrs. Vanderwall commended Cece and Chloe for their Pretty in Pink cupcake. “I love the way you created a cloud of cotton candy over the red beet buttercream,” she cooed. “Such brilliant use of