If the air in Orlando carries an extra buttery scent today, it’s because we’re hosting the 44th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest, where 100 finalists are competing to win the $1 million grand prize.

Oh, and did I happen to mention that MY AUNT IS A FINALIST?

I kid you not. Out of the thousands who entered, my Auntie Kim, of Dallas, Texas, is a FINALIST in the 2010 Pillsbury Bake-Off. She and the Dough Boy are on a first-name basis, thanks to her prizewinning Muffuletta Quiche Cups recipe—inspired by the famous muffuletta sandwich of New Orleans.

Needless to say, all of us are pretty much out of our minds with excitement right now. The category winners will be announced tonight, and the grand prize winner will be announced LIVE ON OPRAH ON WEDNESDAY.

In anticipation of Auntie Kim’s big day, I baked a batch of her quiche cups this weekend and proceeded to eat half of them myself. They are, in a word, DIVINE.

Observe what happens when Pillsbury crescent rolls die and go to heaven:

Here is a glimpse of what the judges’ faces are going to look like today:

And Oprah’s face on Wednesday (though with much better makeup and lighting):

To watch my very talented aunt in action, see her January appearance below on “Good Morning Texas.” Then go bake a batch of her quiches and prepare to enter a caloric stupor of YUM.

On second thought: better make two batches.

You can follow the Bake-Off action here. GO AUNTIE KIM, GO!