Your chicken casserole recipe could win $500

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

A tasty chicken casserole can get more than compliments. It can also earn cash.

Can you make a mean chicken casserole? If you can, it might just earn you $500.

All you amateur cooks in Warren and surrounding counties are encouraged to get out your aprons, cooking utensils — and your creativity — and get ready for the first official Chicken Casserole Contest to be held in conjunction with the Autumn Street Fair.

The first-place winner will take home not only bragging rights, but a luscious $500 prize. Sponsored by the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the competition is open to residents of DeKalb, Warren, White and Van Buren counties.

Contestants must submit an original recipe for chicken casserole. The recipes must be printed or typed on 8.5 x 11-inch, standard letter-size paper and be postmarked or submitted to the Chamber by Wednesday, Sept. 28.

There is a limit of one entry per household. Food professionals, such as chefs, food writers or food home economists who create recipes for pay are also not eligible.

Entries must include the following information:

Name

Mailing address

Daytime phone number

Recipes must include the following information:

U.S. standard measurements

All ingredients

Preparation instructions

Cook times and temperatures

Number of servings

Size of pans/specialty utensils

Cash prizes will be awarded in the following amounts:

First place: $500

Second place: $300

Third place: $200

Honorable mention: $50

Ten semifinalists will be notified by Oct. 3, and the top five finalists will stage a cook-off Oct. 15 in the kitchen at the new Chamber building. Stoves will be provided, but finalists must provide their own utensils and ingredients.

For more information and a copy of the official contest rules, contact the Warren County Chamber of Commerce at 473-6611, or visit its Web site at www.warrentn.com.