Greenville resident wins apple recipe contest at the State Fair

RALEIGH – Toni Gaskill of Greenville took home $200 and a blue ribbon on Monday at the N.C. Apple Association Apple Recipe Contest at the N.C. State Fair. Gaskill’s recipe was Apple Blue Cheese Spread with Pecans. Harriet Carter of Durham took home $150 for her second-place recipe, Apple-Veggie Skillet Supper. Amanda Boury of Raleigh won third and $75 for Sweet Potato and Apple Baked Side Dish.

Recipes were judged on taste, appearance and creative use of at least two cups of apples.

The winning recipe follows:

Apple Blue Cheese Spread with Pecans

8 ounces cream cheese
½ cup sour cream
2 cups finely chopped apples
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
¼ cup chopped red onions
¼ cup chopped pecans

Beat cream cheese spread and sour cream in medium bowl until well blended. Add apples, blue cheese, onions and pecans; mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least two hours. Serve with Triscuits or Wheat Thins.

-jkn-2,3

apple2 Apple Veggie Skillet Supper
Second Place Winner: Harriet Carter, Durham

1 cup diced bell pepper
1 cup diced onion
3 cups diced eggplant
2 cups diced tomato 2 1/2 cups diced (not peeled) crisp sweet apple such as gala, pink lady or Fuji
1 t. garlic powder (more or less to suit your taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup real bacon bits

Spray large caste Iron skillet with cooking spray and heat until hot. Then add oil and turn heat to medium high. Whenever it is hot, sauté pepper and onion for about 2-3 minutes. Cover skillet with lid for about 2 minutes. Add eggplant, stir and cover for 4 minutes until slightly softened. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Lower heat to medium, add tomatoes and cook for one minute covered. Then add apples, stir well and cover for an additional minute. Remove from stove, sprinkle with cheese and then bacon bits, Place under broiler on high for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts well. Serves 7.8

*** If you want to divide mixture in half, put into 2 medium skillets and cover with cheese and bacon. . Keep one for yourself and give the other to a friend!! You can also refrigerate one half and use it a few days later.

Sweet Potato and Apple Baked Side Dish
Third Place: Amanda Boury, Raleigh

3 sweet potatoes (peeled and sliced)
3 Ginger Gold apples (peeled and sliced)
1 Tablespoon flour
1/2 cup Brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Butter

Preheat over to 350 degrees. In buttered ramekins sprinkle some oft the brown sugar in the bottom. Add flour, cinnamon and brown sugar to the sliced potatoes and apples. Places slices in ramekins. Dot with butter and bake for 45 min. Turn out onto dinner plate and serve with entree.