Posted by Ocean Spray on October 07, 2009 at 15:51:46:
Ocean Spray Serves $50,000 Prize Money for Craveable Cranberry Recipes
Chef Tyler Florence Announces Winners of Ocean Spray's Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest
LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Oct. 7 This year's most innovative recipes featuring the sweet tang of the cranberry were recognized last night as Celebrity Chef Tyler Florence announced the winners of Ocean Spray's third annual Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest. Two winners received grand prizes of $25,000 for developing innovative cranberry recipes showcasing the versatility of the beloved American fruit.
Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minn., won the consumer contest with her Cranberry Bacon Brunch Scones with Cranberry Pecan Cream Cheese recipe and Chris Wright of Saz's in Waukesha, Wis., is the foodservice winner with his Cranberry Wontons with Cranberry Jalapeno Jelly Dipping Sauce recipe.
Grand prize winners were awarded their checks during a private cocktail function at 620 Loft & Garden in New York's Rockefeller Center(®). The reception was held in conjunction with the kick-off of Ocean Spray's "Big Apple Bog," where more than 2,000 pounds of glimmering cranberries are on display in a free-standing urban cranberry bog in Rockefeller Center(®).
"All of the finalists incorporated cranberries into recipes in very clever ways - it was difficult to choose just one winning recipe for each category," said Tyler Florence. "Ultimately, all of the judges felt that Patrice Hurd and Chris Wright's recipe's best showcased the year-round versatility of the cranberry with their Cranberry Bacon Brunch Scones with Cranberry Pecan Cream Cheese and Cranberry Wontons with Cranberry Jalapeno Jelly Dipping Sauce respectively."
The contest was open to anyone with a passion for the little, red wonderberry. Home cooks were encouraged to enter the consumer category while food professionals - from established chefs to recent culinary graduates - were encouraged to submit for the foodservice division. The contest attracted more than 2,000 recipes displaying the fruit's true versatility including delicious drinks, decadent desserts and tasty entrees.
"Ocean Spray growers have harvested the finest cranberries for our products for 80 years, so you'd think that we'd have seen all that you can do with the cranberry by now," said Larry Martin, vice president of marketing at Ocean Spray. "While cranberries are often recognized as the unofficial, official fruit of the holidays it's clear that the variety and dimension they add to everyday dishes makes them a year-round favorite."
Recipes were judged on creativity, use of product, taste, overall appearance and ease of preparation. The esteemed panel of judges, including acclaimed Chef Tyler Florence, Chef Chris Gatto of UNO Chicago Grill and Woman's Day Food Director Jackie Plant, evaluated eight cranberry recipes (four finalists per category) during a cook-off at De Gustibus Cooking School in New York City on October 5.
The winning recipes, along with the top four finalist recipes from each category, are also featured on www.oceanspray.com and www.oceansprayfoodservice.com. Previous years' winning recipes include Roasted Cranberry Quesadillas, Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Mole and Cranberry Salsa, Pan Seared Chicken Breasts with CranCherry(®) Sauce and Bleu Cheese Crumbles and a Cranberry Mojito.
Cranberry Bacon Brunch Scones with Cranberry Pecan Cream Cheese
Recipe by: Patrice Hurd
Ingredients:
1 6-ounce package Ocean Spray(R) Craisins(R) Cherry Flavor Dried
Cranberries
1/2 cup Ocean Spray(R) Cran Cherry(R) Cherry Cranberry Juice Drink
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter
5 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
6 slices thick-cut bacon, crisply cooked and chopped into 3/4-inch pieces
2 green onions, finely chopped
3 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
Directions:
Combine dried cranberries and juice drink in small microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave on High 1 minute or until hot.
Stir together cream cheese and honey in medium bowl until smooth; fold in
pecans. With slotted spoon, remove 1/3 cup plumped dried cranberries and
fold into cream cheese mixture. Cover; refrigerate until serving.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 1 large or 2 small baking sheets with
parchment paper.
Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper in large bowl.
Using vegetable grater, grate butter into flour mixture. Stir with fork
until butter is well coated. Add Cheddar; stir to coat. Stir in bacon and
onions.
Combine eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl. Stir in remaining plumped
sweetened dried cranberries and all juices. Pour egg mixture over flour
mixture. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Scoop 10 large
mounds of batter 2 inches apart onto baking sheet. Bake on center rack
for 20 minutes or until lightly browned and centers are done. Cool for 2
minutes on baking sheet. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Split
scones; serve with cranberry-pecan cream cheese. (If cream cheese mixture
is too firm, soften slightly in microwave.)
Makes 10 servings.
Cranberry Wontons with Cranberry Jalapeno Jelly Dipping Sauce
Recipe by: Chris Wright
Ingredients:
Jelly
1 1/2 cups Ocean Spray(R) Cranberry Juice Cocktail
1 cup vinegar
2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, halved and seeded
5 cups sugar
1 3-ounce package liquid fruit pectin
5 tiny red hot peppers, optional
Wontons
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
3 tablespoons Ocean Spray(R) Craisins(R) Dried Cranberries
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot
Pinch salt
24 wonton wrappers
1 egg white
Directions:
To Make Jelly: Combine cranberry juice cocktail, vinegar and jalapenos in
saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer for 10 minutes.
Strain juice to collect 2 cups liquid. Discard solids. Combine 2 cups
strained liquid and the sugar in 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a rolling
boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin and red hot
peppers, if using. Return to a rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring
constantly. Remove from heat; pour mixture into clean, hot jars. Place 1
red hot pepper in each jar. Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
Makes 5 half-pints.
To Make Wontons: Combine cream cheese, sweetened cranberries, chives and
gingerroot in bowl; sprinkle with salt. Place 1/2 tablespoon cream cheese
mixture in center of each wonton wrapper; coat edges with egg white. Fold
each wrapper in half; push down edges to seal.
Heat 2 inches oil in large skillet. Add 6 to 8 wontons; fry for 1 to 2
minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oil with slotted spoon; drain
well on paper towels. Repeat with remaining wontons. Serve warm with
heated jalapeno jelly.
Makes 6 servings.
For more delicious cranberry recipes, visit www.oceanspray.com to request or download Ocean Spray's new "Unofficial, Official Fruit of the Holidays . . . and Everyday" recipe booklet. Recipe booklets will be available in November.
About Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 600 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as more than 50 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed over 75 years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America's leading producer of canned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted fiscal 2008 sales of $1.9 billion.
SOURCE Ocean Spray
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