Groveland Twp.- Sarah Sienkiewicz works with peanuts, not for them.
The 11-year-old resident, a seventh grader at Faith High School in Burton, is hoping a peanut butter sandwich she created will pay off with a $25,000 college scholarship after her recipe was chosen as a top ten finalist from more than 1,000 entries.
Sarah’s mother, Cindy, was looking for a peanut butter recipe online when she found the Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest.
Sarah, who has been in baking contests before and has won prizes for her cookies, decided to enter the new contest.
‘One day my mom came home with a whole bunch of stuff and we started experimenting and put it together,? said Sarah. ‘I like peanut butter on apples and have that a lot and caramel apple dip. I think it tastes good that way, so that’s how I chose my ingredients.?
Because her mom has peanut butter on English muffins almost daily for breakfast, they also tried that, and discovered what they made looked like a turtle. Thus, their creation is named Caramel Apple Turtle Treat.
Sarah received a phone call three days before Christmas from a Jif representative notifying her that she was one of the ten finalists.
‘When they called, I was so excited, because I thought I didn’t make it,? said Sarah, who notes her favorite foods are stir-fry and chop suey, but adds that she has always liked peanut butter.
Now, her recipe is online at jif.com along with the nine other recipes, awaiting the results of online judging that is open to the public through Feb. 6.
‘If I make it to the top five, I go to New York and make my sandwich in front of a panel of judges,? says Sarah, whose sandwich is judged on creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation.
The grand prize winner in New York will receive the $25,000 scholarship fund, while the runners-up each receive a $2,500 scholarship fund.
‘It’s really exciting, but then you don’t know what will happen when voting ends or if I’m going to make it to New York,? said Sarah. ‘Dad says I can be whatever I want, but I know I have to go to college to get there.?
To view recipes and vote in the Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest, visit jif.com. by Feb. 6.