GRATZ, Pa. — The first ever statewide Mountain Pie Championship was held on Sept. 26, during the Gratz Fair in Gratz, Pa., just north of Harrisburg, Pa. The championship was open to winners at privately owned Pennsylvania campgrounds that held contests across the state this summer.

The two contests, “Sweet” and “Savory,” were sponsored by the Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association and Lerch RV from Milroy, Pa.

The “Sweet” category winner was Melissa Umbrell, Enola, Pa., representing Jonestown/ Hershey KOA, Lickdale, Pa. Her entry was a “Banana Split Mountain Pie.” Her recipe is as follows:

Banana Split Mountain Pie

Ingredients

2 slices of white bread
2 tsp butter
1 large sliced strawberry
1/8 banana – sliced
9 mini marshmallows
1 fun sized Hershey bar – broken

Optional Garnish

Chopped nuts, sprinkles, whipped cream, cherry

Preparation

Butter one side of two slices of bread
Place one slice of bread, butter side down, in mountain pie maker
Layer all ingredients on top of bread
Place one slice of bread, butter side up, in mountain pie maker
Close mountain pie maker and place in campfire
Cook until bread is golden brown
Place on plate and garnish
Serve with a smile

Second place was Braidyn Rumsey from Canton, Pa., representing Tanglewood Campground in Covington, Pa. His entry was called “Double Chocolate Delight” and featured a brownie and marshmallow cream garnished with cherry pie filling and peanut M&Ms.

The “Savory” category winner was Margie Wevodau from Carlisle, Pa., also representing Jonestown/Hershey KOA, Lickdale, Pa. Her entry was a “Reuben Mountain Pie.” This recipe is:

Reuben Mountain Pie

Ingredients

2 slices of rye bread – buttered
2 slices of baby Swiss cheese
2 T Thousand Island dressing
½ cup of sauerkraut
3-4 oz. corned beef – sliced

Preparation

Spread butter on outside of the bread
Place one slice, butter side down, in a warmed pie iron
Layer one slice of cheese, corned beef, Thousand Island dressing, and sauerkraut
Top with another slice of cheese
Place the other slice of bread on top, butter side up
Close and place in campfire until bread is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Second place was Rhonda Thomas from Preston, Md., representing Spring Gulch Camping Resort in New Holland, Pa. Her entry was a “Turkey/Bacon/Cheese Pie,” also featuring Thousand Island dressing.

Third place was Holly Seidel from Tyrone, PA, representing Pioneer Campground in Muncy Valley, Pa. Her entry was “Pie Iron Tacos” with a corn tortilla base.

The other three entries that were scrumptious, but did not place, were “Chicken Florentine, Pie Iron Style” by Steve Gallagher, Elmer, N.J., representing Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort in Waymart, Pa; “Sam’s Special Sammich,” a pork melt by Sam Ulrich from Pottsville, Pa., representing Rosemount Campground in Tamaqua, Pa; and “Alyssa’s Cheese Steak Pie,” by Charles Muller from Hammonton, N.J., representing Otter Lake Camp Resort in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

A panel of six qualified judges evaluated the entries based on the following categories: Flavor, Filling, Crust, Appearance and Creativity. Prizes were $500 cash for both first place winners, $100 in PCOA gift certificates for second place and a $50 gift certificate for third place.

A total of 37 campgrounds scheduled contests at their facility during the season. The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association extends a special thank you to Lerch RV for co-sponsoring the contest, the Gratz Fair for providing their facilities and fair passes for the individual campground winners and Dutter Sound Services from New Oxford, Pa., for providing the sound system and acting as the official fire tender.

SOURCE: PCOA press release