Cornbread conquers cook-off

Melanie McCoy, of Knoxville, Tenn., won the iron-skillet crown recently as the grand prize winner of the 2012 Martha White/Lodge Cast Iron National Cornbread Cook-Off with her recipe for Sweet Cornbread Shrimp Cakes With Mango Salsa.

The cook-off is in conjunction with the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tenn. The contest was judged by a panel of food writers and television personalities.

“Over the last 16 years, we have received a countless number of recipes that prove the relationship between hot cast iron and delicious cornbread continues to inspire cooks nationwide,” said Linda Carman, Martha White baking expert.

The Sweet Cornbread Shrimp Cakes used baked and crumbled cornbread instead of typical bread crumbs to form the shrimp cakes. Onions, celery, cilantro and seafood seasoning are combined with the bread and shrimp to create the cake, which is then served with a fresh mango salsa.

McCoy won $5,000, a 30-inch stainless steel gas range from FiveStar Professional Cooking Equipment, and special gifts from Martha White and Lodge Cast Iron.

Lisa Keys, of Middlebury, Conn., took second prize with Sweet Yellow Cornbread, Sausage & Tomato Pie With a Garlic Cream Drizzle. Jeanette Nelson, of Crab Orchard, W.Va., took third with Marvelous Mediterranean Chicken Sausage Cornbread Dinner.

The 17th annual National Cornbread Cook-Off will be held April 27.

wOfficial rules and entry requirements will be available after the first of the year at http://www.martha
white.com.