“Ready, Set, Start Your Ovens,” this is what you will hear when the 4-H Cornbread Cook-Off gets underway on April 27th at the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
            Fourth grade 4-H Club members are invited to enter an original cornbread recipe for the 2013 Youth Cook-Off which will be held at the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee the last Saturday in April.  Recipes must include at least one cup of Martha White Corn Meal or one package of Martha White Corn Meal Mix and be cooked in Lodge Cast Iron.
            Recipes will be reviewed and 10 lucky finalists will be invited to prepare their cornbread dish under the big tent at the festival.  A distinguished panel will judge the finished dishes on creativity, texture, appearance, ease of preparation, appropriate use of products and of course – flavor.
            The first place winner will receive a $500.00 cash prize.  The 4-H teacher and 4-H agent of the winning student will also each receive $50.00.  The second place winner will take home $250.00 and the third place contestant will receive $100.00.  The remaining seven finalists will each receive $50.00 and all ten finalists will receive a gift basket of products from Lodge and Martha White.  Also, youth traveling more than 100 miles to the competition will receive $100.00 travel money.  Enter the nation’s premier bread baking competition.  Educational, competitive and fun!
            So, 4th grade 4-H’ers put on your apron, pull out the Lodge Cast Iron and Martha White Cornmeal and create cornbread to satisfy the judges hunger.  Who knows you could be the lucky one to pocket $500.00!
            Entries should be mailed to: Vicki S Lofty, 2013 4-H Cornbread Cook-Off, 302 Betsy Pack Drive, Jasper, TN  37347.  The entry deadline is March 1, 2013.  For more information about the contest contact Vicki Lofty at 423-942-2656 and for more information about the festival go to: www.nationalcornbread.com. 
You may be a novice cook now but get in the kitchen and learn to cook.  You could be the next cast iron chef!  Enter an original recipe today.