On Monday evening, locals gathered around their television sets to watch Morgan Academy student Brooke Waters face off with other contestants in the Food Network show “Kids Baking Championship,” which pits a group of young bakers against one another in a weekly bake-off.

In this week’s challenge, the contestants were tasked with making international imposters – sweet treats that look like an international dish, such as sushi, but still taste like a dessert – and Waters crafted a poke bowl.

For her dessert, Waters used cake for the rice at the bottom of the bowl and added chocolate mousse so everything looked like it was doused in soy sauce; she dyed coconut to look like seaweed and used dried papaya for the fish and marzipan for the cucumbers.

“This is one of my favorite episodes every season,” Waters said. “I was super excited to still be on the show and get to do dessert imposters.”

That excitement over taking part in the competition drove away any nerves Waters might have had during the contest and drove her to give one of her best showings of the season.

“I really felt like everything went right this time,” Waters said. “It was such an amazing experience.”

Apparently, celebrity judges Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman agreed – Waters finished Monday’s challenge among the top performers.

“This whole experience has been amazing,” said Terry Waters, father to the young baking star. “Food Network runs a first-class production that goes over and beyond to ensure the contestants have the best experience of their life.”

Brooke Waters’ culinary exploits did not go unnoticed in Selma on Tuesday, as the Selma City Council, during its meeting, discussed the girl’s success and mulled doing something to show her that the city is watching and supporting her.

“She’s holding her own,” said Selma City Councilman John Leashore during Tuesday’s meeting. “She’s doing well and I think she needs to know her city is standing with her.”

Leashore asked Selma City Councilwoman Susan Youngblood, who considers the young baker one of her own, to assist him in finding a way to celebrate Brooke Waters’ achievements.

Brooke Waters will return to the Food Network kitchen Monday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) to take part in the next round of challenges, in which contestants will be tasked with making a cake that looks like a hedgehog.

* Photo courtesy of Food Network