September 27, 2003, Plains, GA -- The Peanut Institute teamed up with the citizens of Plains, Georgia, to sponsor the fourth annual Plains Peanut Festival Recipe Contest. Hundreds of recipes from all across the country were received. There are three top winners from each categories, including: snacks and appetizers, salads and main dishes, breads and muffins, and sweets and desserts. All recipes contain at least one cup of peanut product.
The prize for the top recipe in each of the four categories was $150, while the second- and third-place runners up each received a case of peanuts. The overall grand prize winning recipe was chosen from among the top recipes in each of the four categories and an additional $250 was the Grand Prize. This year's Grand Prize went to Paula Patrick from Perry, Georgia for her recipe, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
In the Snacks and Appetizer category, the Chunky Chicken Peanut Log, submitted by Marie Woods of Valodsta, Georgia, won with an interesting fusion of peanuts, chicken, and cream cheese. The top winner in the Salads and Main Dishes category was a peanutty chicken dish called Asian Lettuce Wraps by Margee Berry of White Salmon, Washington. Crunchy Surprise Chocolate Cupcakes by Margie Tyler of Murfreesboro, Tenessee, was the top winner in the ever-popular Breads and Muffins category. And finally, in the Sweets and Desserts category was one of the most delicious recipes and also the Grand Prize Winner-Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
Runners-up in the Desserts category were Chocolately Peanut Butter Cookies by Peter Halferty of Corpus Christi, TX, and Peanut Caramel Bon Bons by Traci Mitchell of Dothan, AL. In the Breads category, Honey Peanut Steamed Tea Bread by Roxanne Chan of Albany, CA, and Coffee-Canned Peanut Pumpkin Bread by Nikki Norman from Milton, TN were winners. In the Salads and Main Dishes category, the runners-up included Peanut Chicken Strips with Stir-Fry Vegetable Salad and Creamy Peanut Butter Dressing by Jean Jackson of Columbus, GA, and The Orient Express Wrap by Margee Berry of White Salmon. Runners-up in the Snacks and Appetizers were Cherry Peanut Granola by Amy Oliver of Bangor, ME, and Peanut Squares by Jean Jackson of Columbus, GA.
Peanuts and peanut butter are some of America's favorite foods -- the US Department of Agriculture reports that 68% of the "nuts" eaten in the United States are peanuts and peanut butter. But participants in the Plains Peanut Recipe Contest are not just eating peanuts and peanut butter out of the jar. Chefs and consumers alike are experimenting to find new and exciting ways to include versatile peanuts and peanut butter into their daily diet. Creative recipes incorporate peanuts and peanut butter into everything from wraps and salads to cakes and muffins.
Beyond creative flavors, peanuts and peanut butter provide many health benefits. Most recently, the Food and Drug Administration affirmed a qualified health claim that supports eating small amounts (1.5 ounces) of peanuts and peanut butter regularly to reduce the risk of heart disease. Nutrition research shows that eating about two tablespoons of peanut butter or a handful of peanuts per day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 25 to 50%.
In addition to a significant amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, peanuts and peanut butter contain protein, phytosterols, vitamin E, folate, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and fiber, all of which are thought to benefit health.
The winning recipes can be found on The Peanut Institute's web site at www.peanut-institute.org. For photographs or to arrange an interview, please contact Pat Kearney at pmkassociates@pmkassociates.com or call 703-841-1600.
Read more about the Plains Peanut Festival at our press release archive here.
