This is the fourth and final post featuring excerpts from Discover Contest Cooking by Jean Sanderson.

In this article, she offers some great advice on creating an original recipe.  I hope you enjoyed this series of tips for recipe contests!  Be sure to check out our three previous posts.

https://cookingcontestcentral.com/tips-for-recipe-contests-week-1/

https://cookingcontestcentral.com/tips-for-recipe-contests-week-2/

https://cookingcontestcentral.com/tips-for-recipe-contests-week-3/

Making A Good Entrance

There are several guidelines to follow when you finally begin entering cooking contests.  The most important of those is to read and follow contest rules.

You cannot be too careful when following a contest’s rules.  One slip-up could cause disqualification of a potential winning recipe.

Rules will tell you how many recipes you can enter, how they must be entered and the deadline for entries.  Also, they will give you at least some idea, if not specifics, of the judging criteria.

If you can, obtain entry blanks as soon as possible after learning of contests.  Since you have been experimenting with recipes all along, you should immediately be able to pull from your files a few to consider entering.

Hint:  If you are allowed to enter more than one recipe (and generally you are) enter as many as you can.  In this way you can avoid duplications of other entries (which are immediately disqualified) and increase the odds in your favor.

Before you begin completing your entry make sure you have specific measurements for all ingredients.  A “dash” simply will not do.

Next experiment with writing it as clearly and in as few words as possible.   Nothing is more discouraging to a cook (or a judge) than unclear and rambling directions.  Such a mishap will greatly reduce your chances of making it pas the contest’s preliminary stages.

Titling your recipe is a source of some controversy among cooks.  Some feel an elaborate title increases your recipe’s chances of standing out.  My experience, though, tells me simplicity is the best policy.  When a judge reads a recipe title, he should immediately know the recipe’s basic idea:  It is a chicken recipe, it is a rice recipe, it contains seafood, etc.

Recipes should always be typed or printed neatly.  If you do not type, perhaps you can find someone who does.   As to form, recipes from good cookbooks are an excellent guide.

Here are the basic rules for typing your contest entry:

1)  The title should be centered and all the letters in the title should be capitalized.

2)  Skip three lines.  Type the ingredients, in the order they are to be used, single-spaced, giving specific measurements of each.  If packaged or canned ingredients are used, be sure to designate their sizes.  Also, capitalize the sponsor’s product throughout the recipe.

3)  Include any garnishes you use in the list of ingredients.

4)  Skip a line after the list of ingredients.  Type the directions, again clearly, double-spaced.  Give complete directions, pan sizes, baking time and temperature.

5)   Skip a line after the directions.  Type any serving directions, including use of garnishes, double-spaced.

6)  If there is more than one page to the recipe, be sure your name and address are on each page.

7)  Use plain white typing paper.

Of course, all of these are subject to the individual contest’s rules.  Again, follow those rules carefully.

The rules will give specifications as to originality.  An original recipe is on created from scratch or via a major change in ingredients or technique of preparation of another recipe.  Already published or contest-winning recipe cannot be entered as original recipes and will automatically be disqualified.   Know the contest’s definition of originality and judge your recipe against it.

Before mailing your entry, check and recheck it.  Make sure all ingredients are listed in the directions.  Perhaps have someone else read it also.  The smallest mistake or typographical error (“tsp.” and “tblsp.” for example) can ruin the entire recipe.

Hint:  If the contest allows an accompanying statement take advantage of it.  Write something that will once gain point out the unique appeal of your recipe – ease of preparation, taste, etc.

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https://cookingcontestcentral.com/become-a-member/