McKinney resident wins Food Network contest with special cupcake

by Angie Bado of McKinneyNews.net

MCKINNEY — Meet Kara Scow, McKinney’s newest food celebrity and true foodie. Currently, on any given day, you will find her perfecting a pizza crust she has made from scratch for her pizza night on Wednesdays.

Scow won the November/December Food Network Magazine’s recipe contest, using the secret ingredient maple syrup, in her inventive Maple French Toast and Bacon Cupcakes. Scow’s feat wasn’t announced until the June/July issue of the magazine and she said that by the time she got the call from the Food Network saying that she was a finalist, she had forgotten about entering the contest.

“I was bored one day and I saw the contest in the magazine and decided to enter. I love the sweet and savory combination and got the recipe on my first try,” commented Scow who put the bacon in the cupcake batter, resulting in a moist, sweet and salty finished product.

Scow, who grew up in Conroe, Texas, and now resides in McKinney, didn’t have any childhood dreams of growing up to become a baker or a chef. “My mom is an excellent cook and my grandmother liked to cook. I just figured it out as I grew up.”

While working Blockbuster distribution center here in McKinney, Scow said she realized that she hated being in front of a computer for eight hours a day. “I found I had a love for baking and cooking, especially when I could afford to buy ingredients," laughed Scow, referring to her days as a college student.

“My husband has been very supportive and is my ‘taster’ – it’s more fun to cook for someone who enjoys it.”

Where does a foodie like Scow get her food fix? Hudson’s on the Bend at Lake Travis, Austin's premier spot for wild game and exotic dishes, for one. “We once had dinner there and had nine meats in one seating,” Scow recalled. Mexican food from El Patio in Houston is another favorite. As for pizza, Louie’s in Dallas and Fireside Pies (a few locations) are Kara’s go-to hot spots. It is quite obvious that she enjoys a wide variety of foods.

As for future plans for using her cooking and baking talents, “I would love to have a little café someday – maybe on the square in McKinney,” said Scow. She has spent some time working in local restaurants to get a feel for the business. For now, Cupcakes by Kara is her project. Customers can order her winning Maple French Toast and Bacon cupcakes or the popular chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting.

According to Scow, “You should pursue your passion.” Obviously, she is doing just that.

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