"I was just bored," Winters said. "I started throwing stuff together, and it just worked. Everyone said it was good."
She began preparing breakfast for her family, and she is enrolled in the culinary program at the technical high school. One of her teachers there, Kim Lowery, recommended that Winters participate in the cake-decorating contest. The cakes had to display a Maryland theme, and the decorations had to be edible.
Winters said it was Lowery who came up with the Preakness theme. Both said they liked the idea because it was different, and a theme that none of the other bakers would have. It also was a challenge, Winters said. The detail of the horses and riders made the process difficult.
She spent three days and a few long nights baking and decorating the cake. At 10:30 p.m. the night before the competition, she was still putting on the final touches.
The yellow cake with butter cream frosting has the Maryland state flag on the lower tier in icing and black-eyed Susans flowing from top to bottom. The state flower of Maryland is placed around the winning horse's neck, Lowery said.
Winters said she felt proud to have baked the winning cake, and also remembered a promise she made to herself.
Before the competition, Winters said she planned to attend a local college, but said if she won the Baltimore International College contest, she would apply there.
Winters said the college has a culinary arts program that will allow her to focus on baking and pastries. Her goal is to become a full-time pastry chef.
Before anyone can taste a bite of her winning cake - which has been at the technical high school for two weeks - the creation will be featured in the Washington County Public Schools annual art exhibition. The exhibition will open Saturday at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, and students' work will be on display through May 27.
"Some of the colors need some touch-ups before then," Winters said. "(The cake) just needs a little bit of a facelift."
For details about Baltimore International College, go to www.bic.edu.
