Contest: National Beef Cook-off

The National Beef Cook-Off is calling on home cooks across the country to start grilling, broiling, roasting, stir-frying and stewing their healthy beef menu ideas for its 2013 recipe competition.

From January 15 to April 15, 2013, home cooks can submit their best beef recipes online at www.beefcookoff.org for a chance to win $25,000 and a trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington, D.C.

This year's contest theme is "Making the Most of MyPlate," which will encourage delicious, healthy recipes from a variety of food groups. "Healthy recipes are some of the most desired and searched for on the Web," said Sherry Hill, Cook-Off Program Director, for the American National CattleWomen, Inc., a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. Every beef farmer and rancher and every beef importer contributes to a fund called the beef checkoff, which is used to support the National Beef Cook-Off program effort.

New Categories Focused on Health, Trends

The 2013 National Beef Cook-Off features four unique contest categories that demonstrate beef's versatility and encourage creativity with a variety of ingredients, cuts and preparation methods.

This year's contest also includes two new sponsorships. The sponsorship with the California Avocado Commission features a pairing of lean beef and fresh California avocados in easy California cuisine recipes. The sponsorship with the United States Potato Board pairs lean beef and fresh potatoes in easy and healthy international cuisine recipes.

The four recipe categories include Belt-Tightening Beef Recipes; Semi-Homemade Beef Recipes; Real-Worldly, Real Simple Beef & Potato Recipes; and Craveable Fresh Beef and Fresh California Avocado Recipes. Visit the website for specific details and requirements.

 

To enter the contest, participants must visit the contest site and use the online entry form. Contest participants may submit multiple recipes in all of the various contest categories as long as they meet the contest rules and criteria, which are provided on the website.

Regional, Grand Prizes to Be Awarded for Top Recipes

All original recipes entered will be reviewed and judged based on taste, appearance, convenient preparation and cooking, and healthfulness and nutritional balance.

A group of food marketing and culinary professionals will select 20 finalists in June. Consumers will have the opportunity to select the 21^st finalist recipe via online voting. From the 21 finalists, seven $1,500 regional winners will be announced in July.

One different $25,000 grand prize winner will be announced, from the remaining 14 finalists in November at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington, D.C. The grand prize winner will be selected based on the highest overall scoring recipe.

                                            

About The Beef Checkoff Program

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 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.

About the Contest

The 2013 National Beef Cook-Off is sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program, California Avocado Commission and United States Potato Board. The National Beef Cook-Off^®is a Beef Checkoff Program that began in 1974 as an annual contest and changed to a biennial contest in 1993. The Cook-Off is managed and coordinated by the American National CattleWomen, Inc.

About the American National CattleWomen, Inc.

The American National CattleWomen, Inc., is one of the longest-standing cattle women organizations, established in 1952 as a national, nonprofit organization. It is a voice for women who share a passion for the U.S. beef industry, promoting and supporting the industry while encouraging women involved in beef and related agribusiness.