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Pillsbury Bake-Off returns, with a twist

Judges will consider both the recipe and the stories behind them.

Christina Verrelli’s Pumpkin Ravioli from the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 2012.
Christina Verrelli’s Pumpkin Ravioli from the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 2012.Read morePILLSBURY

After a three-year absence, the Pillsbury Bake-Off — arguably the world's most prestigious contest open to amateur cooks — has returned, though without the $1 million grand prize and much of the pomp and circumstance.

For the 48th Pillsbury Bake-Off, General Mills and partners the Food Network and Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond are soliciting original recipes of eight ingredients or fewer along with the stories behind them. Judges will consider both the recipe and the story.

The recipes, each using Pillsbury products, should fall under the categories of Cozy Breakfasts, Appetizers for Any Party, Dinners with Heart, and No-Fuss Desserts.

Grand-prize winner will receive a kitchen makeover from GE Appliances, $50,000 in cash, and appear on an episode of The Kitchen, as well as in Food Network Magazine. Four category winners will be awarded a trip to New York for an appearance on The Kitchen, a feature in Food Network Magazine, a suite of GE Appliances and $5,000 in cash.

Deadline is Nov. 10 and winners will be announced in February.

Contestants from the Philadelphia area have fared well in previous Bake-Off contests, when finalists and a companion were flown to a remote city and wined and dined before the cooking competition, held in a hotel ballroom.

In 2010, Sue Compton of Delanco, N.J., won with Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups and in 2012, Christina Verrelli of Devon won with Pumpkin Ravioli With Salted Caramel Whipped Cream.

Here are the instructions for entering and the contest rules.