The National Cornbread Cook-Offs

Central to the entertainment on the first day of the festival were the National Cornbread Cook-Offs. Ten youths competed for the 4-H Cook-Off (the winner: Brynn Kiser of Dayton, VA for her "Berry" Corney Coffee Cake). The national finalists prepared dishes that included Oh My Mexican Pie, Black Olive Cornbread Wedges with Chorizo Tomato Gravy, Cilantro Lime Cornmeal Dumplings in Chorizo Chicken Soup and Rustic Skillet Chicken and Mushrooms with Gruyere Cornbread Crust. The requirements? Each recipe must be made with at least package of Martha White Cornbread Mix and must be prepared in a piece of Lodge Cast Iron Cookware. The first place winner gets $5000 and a stainless steel gas range from Five Star Professional Cooking Equipment, as well as gifts from Lodge Manufacturing and Martha White.