Bust the Myth! Its Hard to Use Fresh, Local Ingredients in Daily Cooking

Think Inside the Box Contest Using a theoretical CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box of produce, create or find recipes that use everything provided with minimal waste. Bust the Myth! Its hard to use fresh, local ingredients in daily cooking. Target Audience: Advanced high school culinary students, families, or cafeteria staff. Contest Description: Participants imagine that they have decided to support local farms and farmers by signing up for a CSA share. In this scenario they receive a box full of fresh, local produce, have a 9-to-5 job, and are in charge of feeding a hungry family of four. They need a creative and practical meal plan with multiple recipes for the week. Participants are then challenged to use a list representing the contents of their CSA box and pantry to create or find recipes (e.g. adapted from cookbooks, online, family favorites) to use all the contents of the CSA box within a week with a minimum amount of waste. No actual cooking is needed for the contest; this is all about planning creative and practical meals that use local fresh ingredients. Instructions: 1. Provide participants with a list representing their virtual CSA box and pantry so they know what they have to work with (sample CSA box & pantry list presented below). 2. Participants can work either individually or in pairs to start planning meals and finding or creating recipes. Remind them that they must cite the source for each recipe. 3. Participants fill out an entry form, recipe form, and contest release form, and turn them in to the person(s) in charge of the contest. 4. Arrange for entries to be judged by two or more individuals who have some expertise in culinary arts, farming, or other relevant field.

Judging and Prizes: Entries should be judged on the following criteria:  Creativity – recipes show off the fresh local ingredients, and: o are from a variety of ethnic cuisines. o use a variety of cooking techniques. o are for different meals throughout the day (breakfast/lunch/dinner). o are interesting and appealing to the judges.  Practicality – meals can be prepared: o in a reasonable amount of time. o by a person with basic cooking skills in a typical home kitchen.  Minimal Waste – use all the contents of the CSA box.  Acknowledgement - sources of recipes are cited, even if the recipes have been modified.

Prizes can be awarded to entrants with the best plans for using their CSA share. Tips:  The meals must only include ingredients from the virtual CSA box and pantry list that participants are given, nothing else.  The winning meals can be cooked and served at an event where everyone can enjoy the creative outcome! Resources Included:

 Entry Form

 Recipe Form

 Judging Rubric

 Sample CSA Box and Pantry List Think Inside the Box Contest Entry Form

This form must be completed and submitted (electronic or hardcopy) for each Think Inside the Box Contest entry. Each individual or team may submit only one contest entry. Fill out and submit the Entry Form and Recipe Forms.

Are you submitting this entry as... (check one): an individual

a team pair

other, please specify: ______

Name: ______

Age: ______Grade/School: ______

Address: ______

City, Zip: ______

E-mail: ______Phone: ______

Teammate Name: ______

Age: ______

Grade/School: ______

Address: ______

City, Zip: ______

E-mail: ______

Release: A signed release statement is required for each member of the team

I, ______, hereby give permission to ______to use my name, and the recipes I/we have submitted, in any electronic and print publications, websites, and events.

Signature ______Date______

Signature of parent/guardian for entrants under age 18: ______Think Inside the Box Recipe Form

Complete one form for each recipe

Team Member Name(s): ______

Recipe Name: ______

Source (e.g., website address; cookbook name, author, publication date, and page number; or name of person who made up the recipe): ______

Number of Servings: ______Cook Time: ______minutes

Prep Time: ______minutes Total Time: ______minutes

Ingredients:

Directions (use back of sheet if necessary): Think Inside the Box Judging Rubric

Category and Number of Points Possible Your Score

Creativity (0-10 points): Recipes show off the fresh, local ingredients, exhibit variety (ethnic cuisines, cooking techniques, etc.), are for different meals throughout the day, and are interesting and appealing to the judges.

Practicality (0-10 points): Meals can be prepared in a reasonable amount of time by a person with basic cooking skills in a typical home kitchen.

Minimal Waste (0-5 points): All contents of the CSA box are used.

Acknowledgement (0-5 points): Sources of recipes are cited, even if the recipes have been modified.

Total (0-30 points) Sample CSA Box and Pantry List

Think Inside the Box: What we’ve got to work with Delicious food that can be sourced locally from Whatcom & Skagit County!

What’s in Your Box (Use all items so nothing is wasted.)

 .75 lb. Romano beans (Joe's Gardens, Bellingham)  1 lb. Yukon potatoes (Hopewell Farm, Everson)  1 lb. Broccoli (Joe's Gardens, Bellingham)  1 lb. Tomatoes (Hedlin Family Farm, Mt. Vernon)  1 lb. Summer squash (Moondance Farm, Acme)  1 Jalapeno pepper (Moondance Farm, Acme)  2 Onions (Moondance Farm, Acme)  Garlic (Moondance Farm, Acme)  Rosemary (Mama's Garden, Deming)  Cilantro (Joe's Gardens, Bellingham)  .5 lb. Shiitake mushrooms (Cascadia Mushrooms, Bellingham)

What’s in Your Pantry (You can use any of these items as well.) Vegetables:  Frozen locally grown vegetables

 Canned or dried vegetables or sauces made with locally grown produce

 Garlic*

 Mushrooms* (*Garlic & mushrooms grow locally but don’t count as vegetables) Fruits:  Frozen berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries)

 Jams, sauces, or dried fruits made with locally grown produce Grains:  Barley

 Barley Flour (Fairhaven Mill uses a locally grown hull-less barley)

 Wheat Flour (Fairhaven Mill uses hard red wheat from Western WA & soft white wheat from Lynden, WA)

Other grains you can use grown in Eastern Washington:

 Emmer Farrow (grown in the Methow Valley, WA)  Rye flour (rye grown in Washington)

 Cornmeal (corn from Eastern WA) Protein:  Beans: Pinto, black bean, white kidney bean, orca bean. (These are the four varieties WSU Extension departments in Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties currently are testing to determine which are best suited for our climate).

 Beef

 Pork

 Lamb

 Chicken and other Poultry

 Eggs

 Fish

 Hazelnuts

Dairy:

 Butter

 Cheese

 Milk, cream

 Yogurt

Other Optional Items:

 Herbs & spices

 Oils & Vinegars

 Baking soda & baking powder

 Yeast

 Seeds: sesame, pumpkin, etc.

 Soy sauce, tamari, mustards, similar condiment products

 Sweeteners: honey, sugar, molasses, etc.