Home Cooks Share How Pantry Staples Can Create Extraordinary Meals

Vote Now to Help Decide Which At-Home Chefs Will Win Groceries for a Year in the Hungry Jack® Use Up The Box Recipe Contest

News provided by

The J.M. Smucker Company

Feb 09, 2012, 08:44 ET

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Did you know that your pantry is filled with endless possibilities and creative meal potential? Today, the makers of Hungry Jack® Pancake Mix, Syrup, and Potatoes and Chef Kelsey Nixon, star of Cooking Channel's "Kelsey's Essentials," are delighted to announce the top 12 finalists in the Hungry Jack Use Up the Box Recipe Contest. Now through March 14, consumers' votes will help determine which recipes will earn their creators a year's worth of groceries.

The Hungry Jack Use Up the Box Recipe Contest asked at-home cooks from across the country to put their imaginations to the test and discover the creative meal potential waiting to be found from the ingredients found in their pantries. In August 2011, Hungry Jack and Chef Kelsey Nixon invited consumers to submit an original recipe using pancake mix, syrup, or potatoes in the following categories: Brunch, Comfort Foods, Appetizers and Sweet Treats. After the initial round of judging, the top 12 finalists in the four categories are:

Brunch Category:

Mini Maple Bacon Beignets – Robert G., Hayden, ID
Denver Haystacks – Stacy R., Gresham, OR
Potato, Smoked Gouda and Apple Cups – Kadija B, Margate, FL

Comfort Food Category:

Chili Cheese Shepherd's Pie – Cindy S., Carlisle, IN
Cinnamon Apple Dumplings – Patty W., Fredericksburg, VA
Lumber Jack Stew with Mock Indian Fry Bread – Julie D., Clementon, NJ

Appetizer Category:

Crispy Chicken with Maple/Dijon Dipping Sauce – Lidia H., Pasadena, CA
Crispy Corn Fritters with Creamy Maple Chipotle Sauce – Pam C., Brockport, PA
Spanish-Style Potato Croquettas with Smoked Paprika Aioli – Robert G., Hayden, ID

Sweet Treat Category:

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Apple Muffins – Angela O., Bellevue, NE
Browned-Butter Pecan Cake with Quick Bananas Foster Ice Cream – Julie D., Clementon, NJ
Quick and Easy Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with Maple Frosting – Cinthia C., Bokeelia, FL

"We are delighted to see the exciting results when consumers use pantry staples like pancake mix, syrup and instant mashed potatoes to create new and tasty dishes sure to make their families smile," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "From comfort foods to sweet treats, the great taste and versatility of Hungry Jack products are evident in the fun and creative entries we received this year."

Consumers can now visit www.useupthebox.com to vote for the best recipe and be entered into a daily drawing for a chance to win a daily prize that includes a selection of Hungry Jack brand products (Approximate Retail Value: $25). For Official Rules visit www.useupthebox.com. Open to Legal Residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years and older. Void where prohibited.

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 bring families together to share memorable meals and moments. Today, Smucker is a 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®, Cafe Bustelo®, Cafe Pilon™, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation® 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. For more information about the Company, visit www.smuckers.com.

The J.M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks, except Pillsbury, the Barrelhead logo and the Doughboy character are trademarks 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. Borden and Elsie are trademarks used under license.

About Basic American Foods

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California and privately held, Basic American Foods is one of the world's leading suppliers of convenience food products, including dry potato and bean products. Founded more than 75 years ago, Basic American Foods serves foodservice distributors, commercial and non-commercial foodservice operators, industrial, wholesale club, and retail customers in domestic and international markets. For more information visit www.baf.com.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Company