DENVER (July 29, 2011) – If you often look for the perfect dinner party dish or weeknight menu item, Edwina Gadsby of Great Falls has a new beef recipe idea that is sure to be a hit with family and friends. Gadsby’s recipe has placed her as a national finalist in the nation’s premier beef-cooking contest, The National Beef Cook-Off®. In total, twenty finalists remain in the competition, and Gadsby’s recipe, Asian Beef Sandwiches with Slaw is a top contender in the Fuel Up with Beef category.
“We were thrilled with participation in this year’s contest, which asked home cooks nationwide to submit their culinary creations into any of four categories,” said Patti Buck, Cook-Off Program Chair for the American National CattleWomen, Inc., on behalf of the beef checkoff. “From over 1,100 entries submitted by beef-loving cooks across the U.S., we selected the 20 recipes that showcased culinary creativity, great taste and simple preparation techniques.”
Four Contest Categories
Culinary experts from the American National CattleWomen tested and scored more than forty entries, and five finalists were named in each of the following four categories:
- The 5:30 PM Dinner Crunch – Easy-to-prepare beef recipes for busy weeknight meals, using ingredients commonly on-hand at home.
- Retro Recipes Revived – Modifications of an American classic or old-time family favorite recipe to be more convenient, healthier, or both for today’s busy families.
- Fuel Up with Beef – Convenient and healthy beef recipes using one of the 29 Lean Beef Cuts — a portable, “on the run” or “make ahead” recipe.
- Stir Crazy Solutions – Unique stir-fry dishes using one of the 29 Lean Beef Cuts along with fresh vegetables and grain ingredients.
“Healthy food used to mean bland food. With lean cuts of beef that certainly doesn’t hold true anymore. This sandwich shows that healthy can also mean delicious,” said Gadsby.
Cook-Worthy Winnings
The 20 recipe finalists will be narrowed down to four category winners by July 15. These winners will be selected based on a collective score from online consumer voting at www.beefcookoff.org, and a panel of esteemed contest judges from women’s magazines and food-enthusiast blogs. Each category champion will receive a $3,000 cash prize. The $25,000 grand-prize winner will be announced November 5 at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show in Washington, D.C. All finalists’ recipes will be demonstrated and sampled on the show floor for attendees to enjoy.
Americans are invited to cast their vote online for their favorite recipe finalist between June 27 and July 8. The official judges’ panel will convene in San Francisco July 6-8 for the final round of judging. To learn about all 20 recipe finalists and to vote for your favorite, visit www.beefcookoff.org.
###
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.
Source: National Beef Cook-Off
Posted by Haylie Shipp