Mr. Food Announces Grand Prize Winner in Idaho Potato Commission's "Watching Waistlines and Wallets" Recipe Contest
Fort Lauderdale, FL (June 17, 2010) — From savory soups to lip-smacking-good appetizers to hearty main-course dishes, a record 1,450 recipes poured into the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) for its “Watching Waistlines and Wallets” recipe contest. The grand prize winner, Potato Plank Bruschetta from Kelly Mapes of Ft. Collins, Colorado, will be featured on the Mr. Food TV segment tomorrow, June 18, 2010.
Fitness guru Denise Austin joined television icon Mr. Food (aka Art Ginsburg) to launch the online contest that challenged health-conscious and resourceful home chefs to create innovative and easy-to-prepare Idaho® potato recipes that are gentle on both the waistline and wallet. Each recipe was required to use Idaho® potatoes (fresh, frozen or dehydrated) as a main ingredient and have no more than 10 ingredients. All submissions were judged on originality and taste, ease of preparation, overall healthfulness and the approximate total cost of the ingredients. The contest ran from January 25, 2010 until April 30, 2010.
“The winning recipes really showcase the excellent nutritional value, affordability and versatility of America’s favorite potato, the Idaho® potato,” said Frank Muir, President and CEO, IPC. “Challenging economic times have prompted many to sharpen their cooking skills and get more creative with staples that have always been a bargain like Idaho® potatoes – a low-cost, nutrient-dense food that can be served at any meal. The winning recipes are fantastic! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who submitted an entry.”
Mr. Food is thrilled to be sharing the winning potato recipe on his Web site, MrFood.com, and on his nationally syndicated TV segment, seen daily on local news affiliates across the U.S. Says Mr. Food, "I’ve always loved potatoes, made any and every way! It was hard to choose just seven winners from the 1,450 recipes submitted, but it just shows that there are endless ways to prepare Idaho® potatoes, and we can never get enough of them!”
All winners received autographed copies of Mr. Food’s latest cookbook, Mr. Food TV Favorites, plus Denise Austin’s new book, Denise’s Daily Dozen, and a collection of Austin’s workout DVDs.
The Winners
$5,000 Grand Prize Winner: Kelly Mapes of Ft. Collins, CO
Idaho® Potato Plank Bruschetta
Kelly Mapes, a counseling assistant at the local high school and mother of three college-age children, was inspired to create her award-winning recipe by the movie “Julie & Julia” (2009). In the movie, one of the main characters, Julie Powell, makes bruschetta in a skillet. Mapes, a self-proclaimed Idaho® potato lover, realized she could reinvent her family’s favorite bruschetta recipe using sliced spuds instead of bread.
Mapes’ winning Idaho® Potato Plank Bruschetta recipe uses fresh Idaho® potatoes and can be served as a quick and easy appetizer, side or main dish. Mashed cannellini beans mixed with pesto is spread on the potato “planks” and topped with diced tomatoes, kalamata olives and a sprinkling of low-fat feta. This bright, flavorful dish wowed the IPC judges with its simple yet bold flavors made with ingredients that many home cooks already have in their pantries.
$1,500 Runner-Up: Nadine Mesch of Mt. Healthy, OH
Cilantro Lime Chicken and Idaho® Potatoes
This delicious one-dish meal is easy to prepare and perfect for busy days. Flavored with lime juice, salsa and freshly chopped cilantro, it raises the bar for homemade dinners.
Five $100 Honorable Mentions
• Deborah Arrieta of Kennesaw, Georgia
• Mediterranean Idaho® Potato-Parmesan Hummus Recipe
• Margee Berry of Trout Lake, Washington
• Warm Wilted Idaho® Potato and Spinach Salad Recipe
• Angela Spengler of Clovis, New Mexico
• Irish Colcannon with Spring Onions and Leeks Recipe
• Robin Haas of Cranston, Rhode Island
• Creamy Idaho® Potato and White Bean Soup Recipe
• Diane Neibling of Overland Park, Kansas
• Fudge Mocha Idaho® Potato Cake Recipe
To view all the “Watching Waistlines & Wallets” Recipe Contest’s winning recipes, visit http://www.idahopotato.com/wwaw_contest.
# # #
About Mr. Food:
Art Ginsburg, better known as Mr. Food®, has been a fixture on television news programs across the U.S. for more than 30 years. He has maintained a presence in American homes via his television vignette, which is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution and seen by close to 4 million viewers daily. Mr. Food was the first TV chef to promote "anybody can do it" recipes to a wide audience. With close to 50 "quick & easy" cookbooks to his credit, and the popular MrFood.com Web site, Mr. Food continues to give his loyal fans practical solutions to everyday mealtime dilemmas.
About the IPC:
The Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is primarily responsible for expanding the markets for Idaho®-grown potatoes through advertising, promotion and research. The Commission also protects the use of the “Idaho® potato” and “Grown in Idaho®” seals, which are federally registered Certification Marks that belong to the IPC. These Marks ensure that consumers are purchasing potatoes that have been grown in the state of Idaho. For more information visit www.idahopotato.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Caryl Fantel, VP, Corporate Communications
954-938-0400
cfantel@mrfood.com
