Recipes were superb

There are several parts of my job that I truly enjoy ... and participating (including washing the tons of dirty dishes) at the annual cook-off and tasting party for The News and Sentinel Cookbook Contest is definitely one of them. The food is always superb.

Yes, I know, my diabetes caregiver would lose her mind and might chew me out royally if she saw the food I sampled, especially the cream puff cake, at the tasting party.

It's always a pleasure being around the judges of the annual event: Patty Christopher, a food columnist for the newspaper; Kiki Angelos, restaurateur and accomplished cook; Sarah Jalbert; Dave Rudie, executive chef at Parkersburg Country Club, and the 2010 winner Fred Ponko. Chef Yancy Roush, owner of Yancy's Five-Star Catering, again served as the master of ceremonies and kept the tasting coordinated and moving along.

The contest would not be possible without these judges and Chef Yancy, all of whom I'm extremely appreciative.

Winners in each of the categories were chosen, photographed and interviewed in preparation for publication of the annual cookbook edition in the Nov. 18 edition of The News and Sentinel. By placing the cookbook in the Friday edition before Thanksgiving we hope it gives area cooks a chance to use some of the recipes in their Thanksgiving Day meals.

The grand prize winner of a $500 gift card from Foodland will not be announced until the edition is published.

The category winners are:

APPETIZERS:

First place is Anna McQuaid of Williamstown for her Salami Pinwheels.

Second place is Janet Herron of Vienna for her Cheesy Onion Tartlets.

Third place is Dave Prunti of Parkersburg for his Caprice Bruschetta.

SOUPS:

First place is Linda Pearson Daily of Parkersburg for her Corn Chowder.

Second place is Joseph Sprouse of Parkersburg for his Fresh Pea Soup.

Third place is Frank Bono of Parkersburg for his Italian Chicken Soup.

SALADS:

First place is Anna Dean of St. Marys for her Southwestern Chicken Taco Salad.

Second place is Tammy Morrison of Newport, Ohio, for her Pecos Chicken-Cornbread Salad.

Third place is Vickie Davis of St. Marys for her Spinach Salad with Chocolate Chili Dressing and Spiced Croutons.

MAIN DISHES:

First place is Mary Sprouse of Parkersburg for her Chicken, Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya.

Second place is Judy Piersall of Marietta for her Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew.

Third place is Jane Burdette of Parkersburg for her Coq auVin.

SIDE DISHES:

First place is Susan Stewart-Teague of Parkersburg for her Autumn Butternut Casserole.

Second place is Ann Carder of Ravenswood for her Summer Squash Casserole.

Third place is Erica Morrison of Vienna for her Pretzel-Topped Sweet Potatoes.

BREADS:

First place is Lola Smith of Ravenswood for her Three-Four Braided Bread.

Second place is Jean Wilkinson of Washington for her Blueberry Zucchini Bread.

Third place is Debby Carouthers of Belmont, W.Va., for her Coconut Zucchini Bread.

DESSERTS:

First place is Christy Knopp of Parkersburg for her Better Than a Restaurant Carrot Cake.

Second place is Pauletta Eakle of Hazelgreen, W.Va., for her Cream Puff Cake.

Third Place is Emogene Duncan of Washington for her Sour Cream Peach Kuchen.