Cooking Contests

Cooking Contests

Watch as contestants compete for blue ribbons and prizes. Or be a part of the contest by reading the rules below and submitting your entries now.

Please note that all entries must be prepared at home and brought to the Kitchen on the day of the contest ready to display and be sampled by our judges.

All contests take place at 11 a.m. at the Harvest New England Kitchen Theater, sponsored by Uncommon USA/Ladderworks and Performance Food Group, located in the Young Building.

If you would like to participate in one or both of our cooking contests or have questions, please call us at 413-205-5043 or email us . 

2008 Contests

The Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crust Pie Baking Championship
sponsored by Pillsbury -   Tuesday, Sept. 16


Hidden Valley® Dressings "Fresh Taste For the Family" Recipe Contest
sponsored by Hidden Valley - Tuesday, Sept. 23

 

Congratulations to our 2007 Food Contest Winners!   

Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crust Pie Baking Championship

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, 11 a.m. 
 sponsored by Pillsbury

Read the  Rules below, then Click Here For Entry Form

General Mills, Inc., invites you to participate in a special pie baking championship to create your favorite two-crust fruit pie using Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crusts. With no folds or creases, you simply unroll the ready-to-use refrigerated crusts in the pan to bake a perfect pie. Prizes are as follows: 1st place, $200 and a commemorative gift; 2nd place, $100; 3rd place, $50. Each winner will also receive a ribbon, an award certificate and a Pillsbury® apron. Pillsbury will automatically enter the 1st place winner in their National Championship with a grand prize of $1,000.

Carol Koty      
2007 Pillsbury Winner

    1. All pies must use one package of Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crusts (two crusts), include fruit in the filling and be baked in a 9" pie pan or a 9" or 10" tart pan. NOTE: Entrants can use either the original folded or new rolled pie crust: use whichever product is available in your grocery store leading up to the Fair contest.
    2. Pies must be baked at home and brought to the YOUNG BUILDING by 10:30 am on September 16.
    3. Recipes will be judged on taste (30%), appearance (25%), originality/creativity (25%), ease of preparation (10%) and general appeal (10%).
    4. Each contestant may enter only one pie.
    5. The grand prize winner will be selected by a team of home economists at General Mills based on the same criteria.  The winner will be notified no later than January 31, 2009.
    6. Entries must be submitted in typewritten form only on an 8-1/2 x 11" sheet of paper with recipe, contestant name, address and phone number. All recipes must be submitted with an original UPC label from one package of Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crusts.
    7. Upon submission, you accept all Contest rules and agree to be bound by the judges' decision, which will be final. You also agree that all recipes will become the property of General Mills. General Mills reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish and use any or all of them for publicity, promotion or advertising without compensation to you.  This includes publishing winner names and city/state of residence, in any form of media, including websites. Winners will be asked to sign a release before receiving their cash prize.
    8. This contest is intended for amateur bakers only. Professional bakers or those who earn a significant portion of their livelihood from baking may not enter the contest.
    9. Taxes are the responsibility of the winner. This contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated by law.
    10. The 2007 first place winner is not eligible to compete in 2008.
    11. Employees of Eastern States Exposition, General Mills, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries and members of their immediate households are not eligible to enter or win.

Hidden Valley® Dressings

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at 11 a.m. 
sponsored by Hidden Valley


Joan Roy - 2007 Hidden Valley Winner
Read the Rules below, then Click Here For Entry Form

Let the herbs and spices of Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix inspire your entry in the Hidden Valley® Dressings "Fresh Taste for the Family" Recipe Contest. Entice the judges with any crowd-pleasing entrée, appetizer or side dish that features fresh ingredients and/or produce ("Fresh Factor") for a chance to win cash rewards and recognition.

Your "Fresh Taste For The Family" recipe could win you top honors and $200. Second place will receive $100 and Third place will win $50. The winners each receive a ribbon, award certificate and commemorative apron. The First place winner will be automatically entered in a National Championship with a grand prize of $1000.

The first 20 contestants to enter will receive a coupon valid for a free packet of Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix.

    1. Recipes will be judged on: "Fresh Factor" (25%), Taste (40%), Family Appeal (20%) and Ease of preparation (15%).
    2. Using the best that farms, grocers and home gardens have to offer, create any great tasting entrée, appetizer or side dish centered on fresh food, wholesome ingredients and traditions that bring families together.
    3. Entries must be created with at least one (1 oz.) packet or 2 or more Tbsp. of Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix.
    4. Recipe should use fresh ingredient(s) and fresh produce, and easy assembly steps are encouraged.
    5. Except for Hidden Valley® Salad Dressing & Seasoning mix, recipes must be homemade, no mixes. Each recipe must be names, original, unpublished, the sole property of entrant and not previously submitted in any other Hidden Valley® Ranch dressing contest.
    6. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and a legal US resident to enter; limit one entry per person.
    7. Recipe, name, address and phone numbers must be typed on an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper and be submitted with entry. As proof of ingredient, attach Hidden Valley® dressing package label to recipe.
    8. Recipes should list ingredients with measurements and state preparation instructions with baking/cooking times and number of servings.
    9. All recipes become the sole property of the HV Food Products Company, which reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish and use any or all of the recipes. By participating, contestants agree to sign a publicity release if requested and that the HV Food Products Company reserves the right to use the contestant names and photos for publicity, promotion or advertising without compensation.
    10. The HV Food Products Company is not responsible for lost or illegible recipes.
    11. The grand prize winner will be notified no later than January 31, 2008.
    12. Taxes on prizes are the responsibility of the winner.
    13. The 2007 first place winner is not eligible to compete in 2008.
    14. Employees of Eastern States Exposition and the HV Food Products Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries and families of each are not eligible to participate in this contest.
    15. The grand prize winner will be notified b phone no later than January 31, 2009.
    16. This contest is sponsored by the HV Food Products Company, Oakland, California.

Click Here For A Printable Version of the Rules