Hungry Jack® and Celebrity Chef Kelsey Nixon Challenge Americans to "Use up the Box"

Look to the Pantry to Spice up Meal Occasions and for a Chance to Win a Year's Worth of Groceries

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Aug 24, 2011, 10:08 ET

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- No time to make that extra trip to the grocery store? All the tools needed for mealtime inspiration are right at your fingertips. The makers of Hungry Jack® Pancake Mix, Syrup and Potatoes have teamed up with Kelsey Nixon, star of Cooking Channel's "Kelsey's Essentials," to help at-home cooks add creativity and variety to any meal occasion. Simply looking to the pantry could lead to a year's worth of groceries for four lucky winners in the third annual Hungry Jack Use Up the Box Recipe Contest.

Although the pantry seems like a natural place to find ingredients and mealtime inspiration, it's not the obvious solution for most Americans. According to a survey conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company, 86% of consumers have thrown away some percentage of their pantry items that have been opened but not completely finished. Starting today through November 2, 2011, Hungry Jack and Chef Nixon challenge consumers to beat meal-time monotony, waste less and save time by thinking "outside the box" with the Hungry Jack Use Up the Box Recipe Contest.

Home cooks are invited to submit an original recipe in the following categories: Brunch, Comfort Foods, Appetizers, and Sweet Treats, at www.useupthebox.com or via regular mail. One recipe in each of the four categories will be named a Grand Prize Winner and will receive a year's worth of groceries (awarded as a check for $6,000). For complete details and Official Rules visit www.useupthebox.com.

With all the responsibilities Americans juggle these days, it can be challenging to come up with new meal ideas in the kitchen. Nearly half (47%) of at-home cooks admit they have been stopped from being creative in the kitchen because they don't have the right tools or ingredients, while thirty-five percent say they just don't have enough time (45%).

"Preparing new and exciting meals doesn't require any extra time for a trip to the grocery store. The great taste and versatility of Hungry Jack products offer so many ways to be creative in the kitchen," said Chef Nixon. "Whether it is a family dinner or impromptu party, I encourage everyone to think outside the box by looking to your pantries for recipe inspiration."

Families count on Hungry Jack for great-tasting potatoes and fluffy pancakes with syrup, but all three staples can be used as ingredients in unique and delicious dishes, such as Kelsey's:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Bites – Hungry Jack Pancake Mix is the secret behind these moist, sweet treats featuring the irresistible combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
BBQ Meatballs – Add a kick to hearty meatballs made with Hungry Jack Instant Mashed Potatoes with a tangy homemade BBQ sauce.
Flaky Fried Fish Tacos – These crispy, zesty tacos can be made at home with Hungry Jack Potatoes.
Sausage Corn Dogs – Breakfast sausages are wrapped in Hungry Jack Pancake Mix and fried corn-dog style, then served with Hungry Jack Syrup for dipping – a fun way to spice up your next brunch.
Toffee Icebox Cake – Toffee bits and Hungry Jack Syrup infused in the fresh whipped cream add unique flare. As Kelsey says, it's the only cake you'll ever "bake" in your refrigerator!
Hashbrown Potato Cups with Sour Cream – Using muffin tins, Hungry Jack Premium Hashbrown potatoes provide a savory base for eggs, sausage, peppers and cheese baked together and perfect for dipping.

"Mealtime offers many challenges for busy families across America but, with Hungry Jack, creativity and unique meal solutions shouldn't be one of them," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "Pantry staples like pancake mix, syrup, and instant mashed potatoes offer ways to add a little creativity to any meal occasion and make your hungry family a happy one."

The Hungry Jack Use Up the Box Recipe Contest begins August 23, 2011 and ends November 2, 2011 and is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years and older. Void where prohibited. For complete details and Official Rules, visit www.useupthebox.com.

In March 2010, The J. M. Smucker Company announced the sale of and a licensing agreement for Hungry Jack brand potato products to Basic American Foods. The licensing agreement for Hungry Jack potato products allows Basic American Foods to build on its already successful foodservice business by extending into the retail channel.

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®, 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 13 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, 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