Contest: National Beef Cook-Off

There are only two months left to enter the National Beef Cook-Off, funded by The Beef Checkoff, one of the nation's premier recipe competitions for home cooks.

Think you have what it takes to win the $25,000 grand prize and a trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington, D.C.? To up your chances, take into consideration the following tips: 

• Keep It in a Category - Be sure your recipe fits one of this year's "Making the Most of MyPlate" themed categories: Belt-Tightening Beef Recipes, Semi-Homemade Beef Recipes, Real-Worldly, Real Simple Beef & Potato Recipes, or Craveable Fresh Beef and Fresh California Avocado Recipes.
• Appeal to a Broad Audience - While originality is important, be sure your recipe also includes ingredients with broad consumer appeal that are easy to afford and find at the grocery store.
• Keep It Simple, But Tasty - Be sure your recipe includes simple preparation techniques geared toward the everyday cook. Minimize the number of steps it takes to prepare your recipe. Stay within required prep and cook times. Begin preparing ingredients with the longest cooking times first. Multi-task preparation, continuing to prepare other ingredients while longer cooking ingredients are cooking.
• Use an Appropriate Cooking Method - Check out the "Matching Cooking Methods to Beef Cuts" chart posted on www.beefcookoff.org as a guide.
• Put It to the Test - Whether you're adapting an original family favorite or creating a new recipe, test it with family members and friends to get their opinion and adjust accordingly. 
• The Name Is Part of the Game - Pick a name that helps bring your recipe to life and makes it sound as good as it tastes - in five words or less.
• Follow the Rules - And above all, be sure to read, understand and follow the contest rules. Don't forget to add all required ingredients for each specific recipe category. There are no free ingredients, except those such as water, salt and margarine or oil, that are required to prepare packaged products.
• Think Healthy - Choose healthy fruits or vegetables as ingredients to compliment beef.

To view the complete contest rules, enter your recipe, and explore winning recipes from past contests, visit www.beefcookoff.org. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older and reside in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

  

About The Beef Checkoff Program

The Beef Checkoff Program (www.ByBeefCheckoff.com) 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 Sponsors

The 2013 National Beef Cook-Off is sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program, California Avocado Commission and United States Potato Board.