With the contest now over, Rosalie understood that Mary now knew she was "Helga the Horrifically Capable Housewife." Her edge over her sister was gone. Now she fought viciously, poisoning puddings and working new ingredients into her recipes before she passed them on to her sister.

But the one good thing that came of it was that her husband now seemed to eat more regularly at home. He helped her cook, chopping and dicing and begged for more chocolate cake.