Sweet Rewards II

The Ultimate Recipe Showdown calls are coming in, but no one is clucking this-a-way. I like checking the forum to see who has gotten the good news, because people are psyched!

I wish it was possible to share recipe names at this stage, but I get that it’s a no-go. I get nervous even posting recipe descriptions up on this page. The contesting world is a land full of lawyers and confidentiality clauses. One of my non-contesting friends asked me if I worry that someone will take one of my posted contest ideas, and I was like, honey. I’m not that inspirational. But if they did, they’d probably improve on it and blessings to them if they do. If you can’t cut it with your own original idea, you deserve to go down.

I sometimes question my contesting motives. I like the occasional sweet reward and I like inventing, but I also like the identity contesting gives me. My hobby is the small-talk weapon friends of mine bring out at parties if they're introducing me to someone new. I can't tell if people really are impressed, or if they're just trying to avoid dead silences. Either way, I always have to explain that I’m small contesting potatoes. You want to see mad skills? Check out CCC, man! There are people out there who can live off their talent. One day, baby…one day.

Louisiana Cooking Sweet Rewards

The Rules: Submit your best canned sweet potato recipe in one of these five categories: Breads & Breakfast, Desserts, Sides, Soups, Professional. Here’s a list of recommended brands of Louisiana canned yams: Allen’s® Cut Yams, Bruce’s® Cut Yams, Bruce’s® Whole Yams, Bruce’s® Specialty Yams, Martindale®, Princella® Cut Yams, Royal Prince® Whole Yams, Sugary Sam® Cut Yams, Taylor®, and Trappey’s® Whole Yams.

Judging Criteria: Overall flavor, visual appeal and creativity. Finalists’ recipes will be prepared by culinary students at Delgado Community College of New Orleans and judged by an independent panel of food industry professionals whose decisions are final.

The Prize: One overall Grand Prize winner will be awarded $1,000. The grand prize winning recipe may come from any of the four amateur categories. One additional winner from each of the five categories will be awarded $500.

The Entry: Blondies made with Sweet Potatoes and Caramel