May 31st marks National Macaroon Day!

To celebrate this food holiday I wanted to share an incredibly creative $10,000 winning recipe from the 1994 Premium Saltine “Blue Ribbon” Recipe Contest.  Wait until you see the innovative addition to these cookies!

This recipe was created by CCC charter member Gloria Bradley.  Back in 1994 she captured the grand prize in the Premium “Blue Ribbon” Recipe Contest with her $10,000 winning cookie.

These “Maui Macadamia Macaroons,” topped nearly 8,000 recipes entered in the saltine cracker contest. Gloria’s recipe, which utilized 20 Premium Saltine Crackers, received the highest marks from a panel of food specialists who ranked 15 regional finalists’ recipes on originality, taste, appearance and ease of preparation.

Back in 1994 Gloria said, “This is an absolute thrill, I’ve won several major competitions before, but this is the largest prize to date.“

Gloria said she entering the dessert category because she loves sweets and used Macadamia nuts as an ingredient because her family is “crazy for them.”

The Premium Blue Ribbon Recipe Contest began in April 1994 when Nabisco invited cooks nationwide to submit recipes, that used at least 15 Premium Saltine Crackers, in five categories — appetizer, side dish, 30-minute main meal, main meal and desserts.

Nabisco Product Manager Terry Preskar said, “The response to the contest was fantastic. The creativity and ingredient combinations we tasted really speak to the diversity of the cracker, and I congratulate our winners whose recipes stood out in such an outstanding field.“

Recipe entries ranged from healthful salads and side dishes like “Fruit Boat Salad” and “Three-Bean Casserole” to decadent desserts like “Double Chocolate Premium Truffles,” “Tiramisu,” “Lemon Cracker Crunch” and everything in between.

Faye Egan, Director of Nabisco’s Consumer Food Center said, “Premium’s light, crispy texture makes it a versatile ingredient in so many types of recipes. From cracker crumb coatings and stuffing to cracker pudding, Premium can be used crushed, coarsely chopped or even whole.“

The origin of Premium Saltines dates back to 1876 when, at a county fair in St. Louis, Mo., a recipe contest gave rise to a unique soda cracker that garnered top honors. Winning the “Blue Ribbon” for excellence, the cracker was later christened “Premium” and began a 118-year tradition as America’s number-one selling saltine cracker.

How exciting that even the origin of this American classic dates back to a recipe contest! Congratulations to Gloria on a creative recipe that has stood the test of time for over 20 years!

Please follow the link below to view or print the recipe:

Maui Macadamia Nut Macaroons