FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 12, 2009
Youth and adult SPAM contest winners crowned at fair
Contact: Tamara Crain, Entries Coordinator
NC Mountain State Fair
Tamara.crain@ncagr.edu, (828) 687-1414
FLETCHER--Fifty-seven years of cooking experience separate the winning chefs in Saturday's SPAM Cooking Contest held at the 2009 NC Mountain State Fair. More than 40 cooks entered the youth and adult competitions vying for cash prizes and consideration for inclusion in national competition.
Carolyn Brown of Hendersonville took top honors and $150 in the adult category with her SPAM and broccoli casserole, while Jenna Ross of Buncombe County won the youth category with her Taco Spamoli recipe. Ross pocketed $60 for the youth win.
More than 40 contestants brought recipes for the judges to consider with only the top three in each age group selected for honors. The two top dishes will then compete against 40 other winners in the national contest in 2010.
"This was a tough competition, and it really put the judges to the test," said fair manager Matt Buchanan. "I don't recall ever having more entries for the judges to consider, and there was a great deal of youth involvement today."
-jsk-
Adult Spam Winning Recipes:
1st Place - Carolyn Brown, Hendersonville, NC
SPAM and Broccoli Casserole
1/4 Cup chopped onion
1 10 oz. package frozen chopped broccoli (thaw and drain)
2 Tbs butter
1 10.75 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 12 oz can Spam cut into 1/4" cubes
1 Cup instant minute rice uncooked
1 12 oz. jar Cheese Whiz
1/4 Cup milk
Saute onion and broccoli in butter in a large skillet until onion is tender. Remove from heat. Mix remaining ingredients together with onions and broccoli. Put in lightly greased 2 qt. casserole dish. Top with grated cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Can also be topped with cracker crumbs.
Serves 6
2nd Place - Carrie Austin, Buncombe County
SPAM and Spuds
1 Can low sodium SPAM
3 Potatoes, peeled, diced and cooked
2 Tbs butter
1/4 Cup chopped green pepper
1/4 Cup chopped onion
1 Tbs flour
1 Cup milk
1 Cup grated cheddar cheese plus 4 Tbs
1/2 Cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook potatoes until done, drain and set to side. Saute onion and green pepper in butter. Blend flour, salt and pepper in to butter, Add milk, mayonnaise and cheese, stirring to blend. Layer potatoes and SPAM alternately in casserole dish or single serving crocks. Pour sauce evenly over the potatoes and SPAM.
Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly--20-30 minutes for large casseroles dish or 10-15 minutes for individual crocks. Sprinkle with one Tbs cheese and chopped chives if desired when removed from the oven.
Serve with warm crescent rolls and homemade honey butter.
3rd Place - Karen L. Edwards, McDowell County
Buffalo Style Spam
1 12 oz. can SPAM
1/2 Cup Buffalo Wing Sauce
1/4 Cup Spicy Honey BBQ sauce
Preheat oven to 350. Mix sauces together. Slice SPAM and dip each slice in sauce. Place SPAM back together in small baking dish. Bake 20 minutes. Serve with celery sticks and ranch dressing.
Youth Spam Winning Recipes:
First Place – Jenna Ross
Taco Spamole
1 – container Spam
1 – package taco seasoning
1 – package hard taco shells (or as many as needed)
1 – container shredded cheese
1 – head of lettuce
1 – onion
1 – tomato
1 – container sour cream
1 – jar of salsa
1 – jar of jalapeño peppers
Slice the Spam into six parts then slice them in half. Fry them on a griddle at 375 degrees until they are rusty brown. Take them off the griddle. Cut the onion into little pieces. Fry them as well. Slice the Spam in half again. Chop the lettuce until it is shredded. And then you are done and you can…”make, create, and take”.
Second Place – Emma Gates
Super Spam & Tater Cheesy Skillet
1 – 12 ounce can of Spam (any variety)
4 – baked potatoes, chopped
2 – Tablespoons butter or margarine
2 – Green onions, chopped
½ - teaspoon salt
¼ - teaspoon black pepper
1 – cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Get your mom or dad to help you chop the potatoes and onions.
- Open the can of Spam
- Chop the Spam into small pieces. Get help if you need it.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet on the stove top.
- Add the potatoes and onion, cook about 10 minutes over medium heat.
- Sprinkle in the salt and pepper.
- Add the chopped Spam and stir it in. Cook about 10-15 more minutes, until Spam is heated up.
- Before serving, sprinkle the cheese on top of the mixture.
- Dip out servings onto plates with a large spoon.
Third Place – Seth Austin
Spam-Jitas (fajitas)
1 – can of Spam (low sodium)
1 – tablespoon of taco seasoning
1 – large sweet onion
1 – green bell pepper
2 – tablespoons butter
2 – cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 – cup shredded lettuce
½ - cup sour cream
10 – flour tortillas
Cut Spam into long thin strips about ¼” x ¼”. Place in sauté pan over medium heat and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Cook for 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile, heat tortillas in 350 degree oven wrapped in foil for 10 minutes. When Spam and tortillas shells are warm, assemble with cheese, lettuce, and sour cream. Enjoy dinner in 15 minutes including prep time. Can serve with Mexican rice and refried beans.
