The J.M. Smucker Company Asks America to Share Recipes and Traditions for the Chance to Win a Dream Family Reunion

Third Annual Spreading Smucker's® Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest to Award Grand Prize Winner $20,000 to Host Memorable Family Gathering

News provided by

The J.M. Smucker Company

Sep 16, 2010, 11:24 ET

ORVILLE, Ohio, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1879, when Jerome Monroe Smucker made his first batch of apple butter using a family recipe, the Smucker family has been committed to creating quality products that bring loved ones together for memorable meals and moments. For over one hundred years, families across America have used Smucker's® Jams, Jellies, Preserves and Fruit Butter to create their own delicious home-cooked dishes and special mealtime traditions. This fall, Smucker's invites families to share those recipes and stories in the third annual "Spreading Smucker's Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest," for the chance to win $20,000 toward the family reunion of their dreams.

From September 15, 2010 to December 10, 2010, consumers are asked to share an original family recipe that incorporates at least 1/4 cup of Smucker's Jam, Jelly, Preserves or Fruit Butter, along with an essay about how the recipe makes their family celebrations special. The recipe must have been passed down for at least two generations.

"Families today are spread across cities, states, and even countries, so finding time to get together can be challenging," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "Sharing recipes made with Smucker's fruit spreads and preparing them on special and every day occasions can make you feel a little closer to home and family, even if you're far apart."

The grand prize winner will have the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the winning dish with his or her family, courtesy of a $20,000 grand prize to use toward a family reunion. Whether it's an exotic getaway or a big hometown barbecue, the dream family get-together is sure to create lasting traditions and memories. The grand prize package will also include an event planning guide to help the winner organize a unique and meaningful experience. Each of the five contest finalists will also receive a gift basket of Smucker's brand products.

The top five finalists and a guest will be invited to The J.M. Smucker Company headquarters in Orrville, OH for a live judging event in April, 2011. They will also tour the restored home once inhabited by Smucker's founder, Jerome Monroe Smucker.

In celebration of family recipes and traditions, co-CEOs Richard and Tim Smucker are honored to share one of their family favorites, Jewel Box Cookies. The recipe features fun, bite-sized shortbread cookies filled with the family's favorite varieties of Smucker's Jams, Jellies, Preserves or Fruit Butter.

Official Contest Rules and entry form for the "Spreading Smucker's Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest" are available at www.smuckers.com. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. 18 years of age and older. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules for complete details. Visitors to the site can also browse a wide variety of recipes perfect for any family occasion, from appetizers to desserts, all made using Smucker's Jams, Jellies, Preserves, and Fruit Butter.

Jewel Box Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup plus 2 tbsps. Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 large egg yolk, beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup Smucker's® Cherry Preserves, or your favorite jam or preserves

Directions:
1. COMBINE flour and sugar in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until coarse crumbs form. Add beaten egg yolk and vanilla. Mix until dough holds together.
2. SHAPE into small balls using half teaspoonfuls. Place 1-inch apart on cookie sheet. Make small indentation in center of each cookie. Chill 20 minutes.
3. HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Fill each cookie with scant 1/4 teaspoon jam, jelly or preserves. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until just golden around the edges.

TIP: For added sparkle, unbaked cookies may be rolled in coarse bakery sugar crystals before being placed on cookie sheet to chill.

About The J.M. Smucker Company

For more than 110 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that help families create memorable mealtime moments. Today, Smucker is the leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's®, Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Jif®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, Eagle Brand®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation®, Europe's Best® and Bick's® in Canada. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. The Company has appeared on FORTUNE Magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States 12 times, ranking number one in 2004. For more information about the Company, visit www.smuckers.com.

The J.M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks, except Pillsbury is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, LLC used under license; Carnation is a trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., used under license; and Dunkin' Donuts is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder LLC used under license.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Company