Windee Jenkins of Orange is the 2023 Dessert Dutch Oven Champion of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!
“I was really surprised and excited,” Jenkins said. “It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Jenkins was among 194 entries into the event. “This is the second time I’ve entered. We placed 166th then so I sure wasn’t expecting much but would’ve been excited for a top 20 finish.”
Her recipe was used to make her now famous “Texas Ooey Gooey Cheesecake.” Sounds like a winner just when you say the name.
Using the Dinwiddie Method, the charcoal is placed in a circle to evenly distribute the heat. The cheesecake champ said it takes 2-3 hours to cook.
And just like having a catchy name, presentation is also important in the competition. Orangefield Ag teacher Tim Singleton customized Jenkins a mold in the shape of Texas.
They don’t win any money. “No money, but we’re paraded around with our Grand Champion sign and we get to be announced on the big stage. It was exciting.”
“It’s a group effort,” she said. “The Orange County Go Texan committee is a great group of people. Everyone is here to compete and have fun, but it’s about raising money for scholarships.” Each year, while promoting Western heritage and celebrating Texas traditions. more than 800 scholarships are awarded to Texas students by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Congrats Windee!!
East Texas did very well overall with Jasper Co. taking top prize.
The 2023 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest winners are:
Grand Champion Overall – Jasper County Go Texan
Reserve Champion Overall – McLennan County Go Texan
Brisket
Champion – Always Able But Confused Cookers
Second Place – San Augustine County Go Texan
Third Place – Metro Go Texan 1/BJ’s Blue Smoke BBQ
Ribs
Champion – Hardin County Go Texan
Second Place – Metro Go Texan 5/The Worms BBQ Team
Third Place – Rancho Cerveza
Chicken
Champion – Guzzlin’ Gourmets
Second Place – The Star of Texas Cooking Team
Third Place – Paloma Blanca
Go Texan
Grand Champion – Jasper County Go Texan
Reserve Champion – McLennan County Go Texan
Dutch Oven Dessert
Champion – Orange County Go Texan – TX Ooey Gooey Pecan Cheesecake
Second Place – Hardin County Go Texan – Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Third Place – Shelby County Go Texan – Nana’s German Chocolate Cake
Open Contest
Champion – Lonesome Dove Cookers – Turf and Surf
Second Place – Half Fast Cookers – Surf and Turf
Third Place – Ritch’s Raiders – Shrimp Grits
Jr. Cook-off
Champion – Brodie Daniel, Metro Go Texan 1/BJ’s Blue Smoke BBQ
Second Place – Karley Aleksines, Williamson County
Third Place – Braxton Kolojaco, 300 Justice Road
Specialty Awards
Best Façade – Limestone County
Best Overall Theme – Saddle Tramps
Best Skit – BOHICA
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