NATION : Tax Accountant Takes the Cake

PHOENIX — A blueberry poppy seed brunch cake won $40,000 for a marathon-running tax accountant today in the 34th Pillsbury Bake-Off Cooking and Baking Contest.

Linda Rahman of Petaluma, Calif., a graduate student at Golden Gate University and a mother of two, won with a cake judges said offered a refreshing flavor blend of blueberry, lemon and poppy seed, combined with easy preparation and an appealing appearance.

Rahman also won a $10,000 kitchen makeover from Bake-Off co-sponsor Sears.

One man and four other women also won $10,000, and two men were among the $2,000 winners.

En route to selecting the 100 finalists in December, including a record 12 men, Pillsbury considered more than 100,000 recipes in four general groups--Indulgent Treats, Healthful Alternatives, Ethnic Specialties and Quick Ideas, the latter being the group in which Rahman’s cake was entered.