From Where I Sit: It’s time for annual recipe contest

You can look at me and tell I like to eat. Perhaps that is why our next Messenger project is one of my favorites, our Annual Recipe Guide and Contest. The event will be held in mid-December, but we need participants to start sending in their favorite recipes now. I’m anticipating a record number of entries. We have a lot of fun the day of the judging.  Contestants can stay or come back at an appointed time to hear the winners’ names called and to receive their prizes. And to eat!

The contest is broken down into categories. This year we are adding a category called Cheap, Easy and Wonderful. At a time when everyone is trying to stretch their grocery dollars, I thought readers might appreciate recipes that are easy to fix, easy on the budget and easy to please.

Other categories are appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, (which include vegetables and breads) and desserts. Submit one recipe in as many categories as you like. For the past two years, dessert recipes were more than double the other categories.

Entries must include a typed, printed or faxed copy of the recipe, cooking instructions, number it serves and any comments you’d wish to share about the recipe, such as if it is a family recipe, an original recipe, one you make for special occasions or present in a special way at the table. Also, include your name and a daytime phone number where you can be reached. We will call those who make it to the finals.

The Messenger staff deliberates over the entries and comes up with a list of finalists. The finalists are requested to prepare their recipes and bring them to The Messenger for judging on a Sunday afternoon in mid-December.

Prizes will be awarded to the best prepared dishes in each category. Judging will be on taste, presentation, overall appeal and originality. The recipes don’t have to be original, but extra points are given for this category. This is also where the comments that accompany your recipe come in to the process.

For the past two years, members of the Hartsville Recreation Department Red Hat Society have graciously accepted our invitation to be judges. I honestly don’t know who had the most fun on judging day, the contestants, the judges or the staff at The Messenger.

The overall winner for two years running has been Trilby Hall. Who is up for the challenge to stop Trilby’s winning streak?

Last year Trilby won with her Orange Pineapple Delight Cake. I’d had similar cakes but hers was the moistest I had ever eaten.

The staff liked it so much I promised to make one for one of our employee lunches. Mine wasn’t as good as Trilby’s, but there weren’t any leftovers either.

Sue Scmitzer won first place in the main dish category in 2008 with Southwestern Pizza and in the appetizer category for her Cranberry Snack Mix. Her husband took second place in the main dish category. It wasn’t long ago that she told me her husband was already working on his entry for this year. I can’t wait to see what it will be.

Sherry Malpus earned first place in the side dish category last year with St. Paul’s Rice. Edith Chapman’s Famous Lemon Pie earned her first place honors in the dessert category, and Martha Ann Blackwell won first place in the bread category with Muffin Biscuits.

All of the finalists’ recipes will be printed in a special Holiday Recipe section in time for holiday baking. As many of the non-finalists recipes as we have room to print will also be included.

We received about 60 recipes last year. My goal is 75 this year.

Please send your favorite recipes to The Messenger, P.O. Box 1865, or e-mail to

From where I sit, my fingers are on the dial to those who entered in previous years if I don’t receive recipes soon. Trilby, Edith, Sue, Sherry, Martha Ann and all the rest who entered last year and in 2007, start sending in those recipes.