A variety of Latin spices flavored this year’s winning recipe for the National Beef Cook-Off. The grand prize of $50,000 went to Christine Riccitelli of Nevada.
With her recipe for Nuevo Chipotle Beef in Butternut Squash Boats amateur home cook Christine Riccitelli of Incline Village, NV won the 27th National Beef Cook-Off and the $50,000 “Best of Beef” grand prize. Riccitelli’s dish topped recipes from 25 other finalists (including six children) from across the country. The contestants were competing for $110,000 in prize money.
Nuevo Chipotle Beef in Butternut Squash Boats features a delicious blend of Latino flavor influences, including chipotle chile pepper, ripe avocado and butternut squash. In addition, the dish is an excellent source of essential nutrients like fiber, protein, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, iron, selenium and zinc.
This year, the Cook-Off focused on a “Seize Life” theme that reinforced the role that beef plays in an active lifestyle. From January through March 2007, home cooks were invited to submit their original beef recipes for the opportunity to travel to Chicago and prepare their dish for a panel of esteemed judges. The Cook-Off continues to be a premiere opportunity for home cooks to create enjoyable beef recipes that provide fuel for their families.
Funded by The Beef Checkoff, the Cook-Off continues to showcase Americans’ love of beef. The influence the Checkoff has had on how consumers buy and perceive beef has been significant. In fact, consumer demand for beef is up 15 percent since 1998.
In addition to the “Best of Beef” Grand Prize, eight cash prizes totaling $60,000 were awarded in four categories that exemplify innovation and the “Seize Life” spirit of beef: “New Dynamic Beef” to fuel the body, “Nuevo Latino Beef” for active lifestyles, “Kids in the Kitchen” featuring fun recipes with nutritional balance, and “Small Plates, Big Taste” with grilled beef as appetizers or entertainment portions.
The next National Beef Cook-Off is slated for 2009. To view this year’s winning recipes log on to http://www.beefcookoff.org/.