The 世界上最大的桃子馅饼

While the rest of us lie asleep in our beds on a Saturday morning every June, Rich Bennett and his cohorts slave away on 桃县's renowned culinary masterpiece: The "世界上最大的桃子馅饼."

And by 2 o'clock on the final Saturday afternoon of the 乔治亚桃节 , a substantial crowd will have already begun to line up for a taste, an annual event many consider to be the most anticipated highlight of the 乔治亚桃节.

Beginning with the festival's return in the 1980s, a county commissioner has traditionally headed the task of baking the marvel. In 2004 commissioners appointed Bennett, the county's information systems manager, 去做著名的工作.

"I had to go through a one-year apprenticeship first," Bennett said. "That shows how serious they are about it."

He and the other county employees convene at 4 a.m. on the final Saturday of the Peach Festival in Fort Valley, Ga., to begin their work on the yearly project, which takes roughly five hours to complete. 接下来的几个小时, 烘焙过程结束后, the cobbler will cool until it is ready to serve the masses.

The colossal cobbler -- 11 by 5 feet and about eight inches deep -- is made from an extraordinary 90磅黄油, 150磅糖, 150磅面粉, 32加仑的牛奶和, 当然, 75 gallons of peaches courtesy of Lane Packing Co. The cobbler's other ingredients are purchased by local sponors.

The giant cobbler is prepared in a brick oven located in the parking lot of the 桃县 Courthouse, which was constructed especially for the cobbler. For a baking pan, the chefs utilize school bus floor panels donated by Blue Bird Corp.

Bennett said the arduous process begins with dividing the ingredients into five work stations manned by six to eight people. Everything is mixed in large plastic tubs and stirred with boat paddles.

Receiving attention from various news media, and even national television coverage, Bennett humbly admitted surprise at the acclaim the cobbler has received over the past few years.

"I am amazed at how many people travel from all distances -- Florida, 宾夕法尼亚——只是为了看看,他说. "I even have people ask to take a picture with me when they come to eat it."

自从接受这份工作以来, Bennett has incorporated his own fresh techniques in preparing the giant cobbler, all aimed at making the cobbler better.

"I consulted a professional baker for some suggestions to improve the taste and make the crust less gooey,他说. "And I'm always tinkering with the burner, it's always evolving. Most people say the cobbler gets better every year.."

Bennett reminds festival-goers to bring their own containers into which they can pile as much cobbler as they can handle. 进一步证明了它的巨大, the festival has never run out of cobbler, despite the large number of enthusiastic gobbles.

"I really enjoy this," said Bennett. “这很有趣. What I like best is the amazement from people when they see how big it is. That makes it worth the labor we put into it."

桃子馅饼食谱

If you feel the urge to try to duplicate the 世界上最大的桃子馅饼 at home, 这是食谱. But from experience, we suggest this undertaking be left to the professionals. Below this recipe is another great recipe for a cobbler you can make at home.

世界上最大的桃子馅饼

75 gallons sliced fresh Georgia peaches
150磅自发面粉
150磅糖
32加仑牛奶
90磅黄油

Divide self-rising flour, sugar and milk into six equal parts and pour into six clean trashcans. Mix thoroughly with clean boat paddle. Sizzle 90磅黄油 in a 5 ft. X 11英尺. 烤盘六英寸深. Pour in batter then add 75 gallons of sliced peaches. Bake at 350 degrees for about four hours until golden brown. If you can’t get fresh or fresh frozen peaches, you better be prepared to open a lot of giant cans of peaches.

快速简便的桃子馅饼

2 cups sliced fresh Georgia peaches
一杯自发面粉
一杯糖
一杯牛奶
1条黄油

预热烤箱至350度. Mix together 1 cup self- rising flour, 一杯糖 and 一杯牛奶. Melt butter in microwave oven and pour into empty disposable baking pan. Be sure butter is sizzling and then add batter mixture and top with fresh peaches. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the pre-heated oven until golden brown. If you can’t get fresh or fresh frozen peaches, use one large can of Georgia peaches.

(This story adapted from an article by 新闻 Editor Brian Shreve published in The Leader-Tribune, 周三, 6月20日, 2007.