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DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — It's a war that even a pacifist could get behind.
Students in Paula Shute's culinary arts class at Dothan Technology Center are competing in a "Cupcake War," a cupcake-making contest to see who can make the best baked goods.
The contest is being judged by professionals from Gigi's Cupcakes. The winning recipe will be sent to the company's corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee. If it passes muster, it could be included among the company's menu. Regardless of how well the winning cupcake fares at the corporate level, it will be featured in the local shop.
Shute said the competition encourages students to do their best applying what they've learned.
"This is a good way to end the semester with something fun," she said.
Ahteja Childress took the culinary arts class because she enjoys the independence and experimentation that cooking offers. Childress said there's actually a lot of ways students can vary cupcakes, including different types of icing and visual designs. Childress said she was excited about the opportunity to make a cupcake that might be featured at Gigi's.
"It's one of the best places in Dothan," she said.
Dewayne Gosha refers to his cupcake creation as the "La-La-La" cupcake.
"When you eat it, you're just like 'Oooh-la-la,'" he said. "You want more."
Gosha said one of the biggest motivations he had for taking the culinary arts class was the opportunity to learn to cook better breakfasts for his grandparents. He also likes the team effort applied to many projects in class.
"We make stuff together," he said.
Gosha said one of the best things about Shute's class is the opportunity to learn about different cultures' food. Gosha said he recently made Portugese steaks.
"The most important thing about it is the flavors and vegetables you include," he said.
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Information from: The Dothan Eagle, http://www.dothaneagle.com
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