Recipe Contest Ideas

Many of you have already noticed that it is time for our 2010 Bloggers' Recipe Challenge again!  We need all of our dedicated fans to send in as many recipes as they can.  This year we are awarding multiple prizes totaling over $3000:

• One First Prize winner will receive $2000.
• Three Runners-Up will receive $400 dollars each.

This could be your chance to win big. Even if you have never entered a recipe contest before, it's fun and easy to enter. Just Blog your best idea for fast, tasty and creative sweet potato dishes and email the link to sassysweets@lewis-neale.com. Full details can be found in last week's post.

Not sure where to start? Head over to the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commissions Recipe Index.  They have over 150 great recipes to get your creative juices flowing.  Remember, the Sweet Potato isn't just a side dish, it's perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert.  Just make sure recipe is original and tastes delicious.

Here a few thought provoking ideas to get you started.

• Search your recipe books for a classic that you can jazz up.
• Combine two of your favorite recipes into one killer creation.
• Substitute sweet potatoes into your favorite recipe to create something sassy and surprising.
• Mix in some "unconventional" flavor combos to wow the judges.
• Show us how you cook a classic recipe in your own perfect way.

The Sky's the limit.  Last year, we saw recipes for soups, salads, breads and ice creams. From Pizza to Pasta - don't hold back. Have fun and good luck to Sweet Potato Aficionados everwhere!

This recipe for Sweet Potato Burgers with Caramelized Onions is sure to kick your salivary glands into overdrive. It is a perfect example of thinking outside the "recipe" box, with fantastic results.

Ingredients

Onions:

• 1  teaspoon canola oil
• 3  cups sliced onion
• 2  tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 1/8  teaspoon salt
   

Burgers:

• 2 1/2  cups  (1/2-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato
• 2 1/2  cups  chopped onion
• 3  garlic cloves
• 1  cup  regular oats
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cumin
• 3/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  pepper
• 1/2  cup  chopped pecans, toasted
• 1  tablespoon  canola oil, divided
•  Lettuce leaves and Buns
•  Heinz chili sauce

Preparation

1. To prepare onions, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion to pan; sauté 12 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in vinegar, sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; cook 30 seconds or until vinegar is absorbed. Remove onion mixture from pan; keep warm. Wipe pan dry with a paper towel.

2. To prepare burgers, place potato in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until tender; drain.

3. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chopped onion and garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until tender.

4. Place potato, chopped onion mixture, oats, cumin, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a food processor; process until smooth. Place potato mixture in a large bowl; stir in nuts. Divide potato mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty.

5. Wipe pan dry with a paper towel. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add 3 patties to pan; cook 4 minutes or until browned. Carefully turn patties over; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and 3 patties. Place lettuce leaves and patties on bottom halves of buns; top each patty with 1 tablespoon chili sauce, about 3 tablespoons onion, and top halves of buns.