Family friend Michele Kusma has done it again!
Michele enters recipe contests, a hobby she took up after having to battle cancer not once but twice. And for her latest win, she put together an unusual combination: blueberries and basil. Her Blueberry Basil Lemon Meringue Pie was chosen by celebrity chef Ben Vaughn as the winner in the Dole Packaged Fruit competition, which qualified Michele to compete in the World Food Championships' World Recipe Championship in Las Vegas in November.
Vaughn wrote of the recipe on his blog:
I love the brave move with a savory herb and fruit, and the acidity of the lemon and the cool, egg based meringue. Each of the notes works; they compliment each other and deliver a well-rounded crafted recipe.
When Michele told me of her win, I must have had a skeptical look on my face about the blueberry-basil combination. She promises to bake one of these pies for me to demonstrate how well the flavors work together.
Congratulations, Michele, and best of luck in Las Vegas!