Westlake Village Woman’s Pie in the Sky Dream Closer to Coming True

Years of practicing her craft in the kitchen has put Westlake Village’s Stephanie Lemus one step closer to taking the $1 million prize in the annual Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Lemus is among the 100 finalists in the world-renowned contest. The culinary concoction she calls Candied Bacon and Apple canapés might make her a millionaire when the bake-off takes place next month.

A technology specialist originally from Thousand Oaks, Lemus says she has long dreamed of posing with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Her pastry dish, which includes Granny Smith apples, sugar-sweetened bacon, cream and blue cheeses and Pillsbury pie crust, is just the latest in a long line of dishes she’s created with Pillsbury products.

In fact, Lemus entered the contest four times previously with dreams of taking the grand prize and the recognition that comes with it. Discouraged by her previous showings, she almost didn’t enter the competition—which is in its 44^th year—this time.

Over the weekend Lemus treated shoppers at the Calabasas location of Ralphs supermarket to a taste of her tart and sweet creation. She made an appearance at the grocery store after contest organizers asked her where she did her shopping. Customers who chowed down on a canapé raved about the taste and texture.

Lemus will compete in the finals with her 99 competitors on April 12 in Orlando, FL.