Ventura, CA - Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and California Lutheran University are teaming up and hosting the 2nd Annual Cookie Rally and Bake Off on January 15, 2011 from 10:00 to 3:00 at CLU’s Gilbert Sports & Fitness Center.

Local chefs from across Ventura County will participate in a Bake Off, creating original desserts with Girl Scout Cookies. Those on board to date are the Crowne Plaza Ventura, The Sidecar Restaurant, Kate’s Bakery and Simi Valley Firehouse #44.

Mother Daughter Girl Scout teams will also try their culinary skills in their division of the Bake Off.

Judging the event will be local celebrities and community leaders Lisa McKinnon, the Ventura County Star; Jacqui Irwin, Thousand Oaks City Council; Dee Dee Cavanaugh, Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District; Mary Olsen, General Manager KCLU; Christine Garboski, Nestle Food Kitchens; with more to be added in the following weeks.

On December 5th at 1:00 there will be a cookie drawing party at the Crowne Plaza Ventura. Chefs and Mother Daughter Teams will find out which cookie they will be using to create their dessert. The public is invited.

On the day of the event, there will be a silent auction and “tasting tickets” so that the public can sample the chef’s desserts and have the opportunity to help select the “People’s Choice”.

The money raised will help support the Girl Scout Leadership Program and Gold Award scholarships in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

This Girl Scout Cookie Rally and Bake Off event kicks off our cookie season and is held on the first day of cookie sales, January 15th.