Illinois State Fair To Host Five Food Contests; Deadline To Enter Fast Approaching

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Amateur bakers and chefs only have a few more days to enter their prize-winning recipes in the Illinois State Fair’s five cooking contests this year.  The deadline to enter is Monday, July 15. 

The Gold Medal® Flour Scratch Bakers Challenge is a new competition.  Using Gold Medal® flour, contestants are asked to create any kind of cookie as long as it is made from scratch.  Judges will choose the winning recipes based upon their appearance, flavor and texture. First prize is $100.  The award for second place is $50 and for third place, $25.  Winners also will receive an award certificate, an apron and a bag of Gold Medal® flour. 

The Bisquick® Family Favorites Recipe Contest is for creative cooks.  It challenges contestants to use Bisquick® to reinvent an appetizer or main meal.  The top three finishers will receive cash awards of $100, $50 and $25 as well as an award certificate, an apron and a package of Bisquick mix.

The Pillsbury® Pie Baking Championship calls for delectable pies of all sizes, shapes and flavors.  Competitors must just make sure their entry uses a Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust. Pies will be judged on creativity, simplicity, taste and presentation.  Awards will be given to the top dessert pies and to the top savory pies. Prizes are $200, $50 and $25 for the first, second and third place dessert pies; $75 for the top savory pie.  Competitors must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

The Fleischmann’s Yeast “Best Baking Contest” is an annual contest that invites chefs to bake their best recipe using any type of Fleischmann's yeast. Prizes of $125, $50 and $25 will be presented to the top three finishers.  An additional $125 prize will be awarded for the “Best Dessert Pizza” with a home-made crust using Fleischmann’s Pizza Crust Yeast or other type of Fleischmann’s Yeast.   Entries for both categories will be judged on flavor, creativity, texture, appearance and ease of preparation.

The fifth contest is The Great American SPAM® Championship.  Entries must be a type of sandwich that includes SPAM®.  No more than 10 ingredients may be used and sandwiches will be judged on taste, creativity and presentation. The “National Grand SPAM™ Champion” in the adult division will win an all-expense paid trip for two valued at $3,000 to the 2014 SPAM JAM® Waikiki Festival.  In addition, one “National SPAM™ Kid Chef of the Year” will be awarded a $2,000 cash prize. All first-place recipes will advance to national judging.

For contest details and complete entry guidelines, visit the Illinois State Fair website at www.illinoisstatefair.info and click on the “Competitions” tab or contact the Illinois State Fair entry office at (217) 782-0786.

The 2013 Illinois State Fair will be held Aug. 8-18.