Tony Fields, the Golden, Colo. grandma who has won three of The Market at Belmar recent pie baking contests, was narrowly defeated on Sunday, August 5 by two professional bakers who tied for first place in the peach pie or cobbler competition. Denver bakers Dana Hodges with XDC Confections and Erika Cunha with Living the Sweet Life won the contest.

The pie-baking competition, which is open to professional and amateur bakers, attracted a record number of entries. As competitors waited for the results of the audience's votes, the attention was on Tony Fields, who sat quietly with her grandson.

"I have a lot of blue ribbons," Fields said. "I've been baking pies since I've been 17 years old. I make up my own recipes except for the crust. That recipe was given to me by a friend in the early 1940s and I've been using it ever since."

One competitor entered two pies in the hopes of beating Fields. She could not understand how she had won a pie competition on the Food Network, but had been unsuccessful in beating Fields. She was disappointed again this month, as the blue ribbons were distributed to others.

This is the second time Dana Hodges has entered the competition. She has owned her family-run bakery at 35 th Avenue and Tennyson Street for three years. The other winner, Erika Cunha, only recently started her delivery-only bakery a few months ago. While pies are her personal favorite, cupcakes are the most popular dessert of her new business which can be found at www.thesweetlifedenver.com.

"I won't give away my recipe, but I can tell you that the secret is to only use fresh peaches." Cunha said.

The competition will be wide open for the best apple pie or cobbler competition on September 2. Fields will be out of town and unable to participate. But don't be surprised if she comes back next year.

To enter the final competition of the year, bring your apple pie or cobbler and a $5 entry fee per pie to the chef demonstration tent at The Market at Belmar on West Alaska Drive by noon. All contestants receive a participation prize. For more information, visit www.belmar.colorado.com or call 303-742-1520.

Belmar is a 104-acre, mixed-use development at Wadsworth Boulevard and West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood, and serves as the downtown for the City of Lakewood. Belmar includes shops, restaurants, entertainment, cultural activities, offices, homes and plenty of free parking.

Tony Field's Never Fail Pie Crust Recipe

Mix

1½ cups flour

1 tsp salt

Cut in

2/3 cup Crisco

Add

5½ tbls ice cold water and mix lightly with fork.