Kenansville – It’s time to step up and serve up your favorite muscadine grape recipe at the annual North Carolina Muscadine Harvest Festival cooking contest, September 28 in Kenansville.

            You could collect money prizes and join the permanent roster of top cooks from past winners.  Last year Grace Pate of Beulaville, Nancy Wilson of Kenansville, and Lin Nichols of Rose Hill served up the winning recipes while Francis Mullen of Richlands submitted the top muscadine homemade wine and collectively they took home $1,200 in prize money.

            The third annual cooking contest welcomes amateur or professional cooks to submit entries.  Recipes are required to contain at least one cup of muscadine grapes, juice or wine to qualify for entry in one of the following five categories.  Each category offers a first, second and third place prize.

1. salad and appetizers

2. breads, muffins,

3. dessert (cobblers, cakes, pies, pastries, etc.)

4. jams, jellies, preserves

5. entrees and main dishes

There is also a contest category for homemade muscadine wine.

            Entries are accepted between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on September 28.  

All cooked entries must be prepared at home and brought to the kitchen of the Cooperative Extension Office in the Agriculture Building at Duplin Commons (across from James Sprunt Community College) where judging takes place. A written copy of the recipe, including preparation details and cooking instructions, must accompany the entry and list the participant’s name address and phone number.

            Judging takes place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on September 28.  The entries are judged on creative use of muscadines (35%), taste/flavor (35%), texture (10%), ease of preparation (10%), and general appearance (10%).  Winners are announced at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 29 at the harvest festival in the Events Center and prizes are awarded.

            Additional contest information is available from the Cooperative Extension Service office 910.296.2143. The Duplin County Agribusiness Council sponsors the annual North Carolina Muscadine Harvest Festival in Kenansville and this cooking contest.