2 Utahns competing for $1 million prize in Pillsbury Bake-off

Two Utah women have a shot at winning a million dollars in next week's Pillsbury Bake-off.

Emily Harper of Orem and Kristi Strong of West Jordan are competing in Orlando, Fla., April 12, along with 98 other finalists.

The top four category winners will then fly to Chicago, where the $1 million grand prize winner will be announced live on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on April 14.

In order to get to the Bake-off, finalists have to enter an original recipe that uses ingredients from Pillsbury and other sponsors

Harper created Pizza Pretzels, which she described in a Pillsbury press release as a marriage of pizza and pretzels. Harper is a group fitness instructor, specializing in yoga and Pilates.

Strong's recipe is Orange-Kissed Breakfast Bread Pudding, entered in the Breakfast & Brunches category. In a Pillsbury press release, Strong said baking is her passion and her therapy. She also enjoys volunteering at her kids' school.

This is the 44th Pillsbury Bake-off, which began in 1949. It was an annual contest until 1976; now it takes place every two years. In 1996, the grand prize was raised to $1 million.

In 2008, Carolyn Gurtz of Gaithersburg, Md., won the prize with her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies.

e-mail: vphillips@desnews.com