The Almond Board of California Will Award a Dream Basketball Package to One Lucky Sports Fan

Vote for Your Favorite New Almond Snack Recipe and Enter to Win an Ultimate Basketball Package

MODESTO, Calif., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four leading chefs from around the country have developed tasty, new almond snacks in response to the Almond Board of California's "Ultimate Snack Off Recipe Contest," and now it's up to college basketball fans to pick their favorite winning recipe.

Fans are encouraged to visit www.SnackAlmonds.com by March 13th to vote for their favorite almond recipe and to be entered in the Grand Prize College Basketball Package sweepstakes, valued at $8,500. For more chances to win, they can forward the site onto friends and receive an additional sweepstakes entry.

"These new almond snack recipes, originally developed by leading foodservice professionals to satisfy men's game day appetites, are a great way to wow your friends at home on game day," says Melissa Mautz, North American Manager of Consumer and Healthcare Marketing for the Almond Board of California. "Almonds taste great and have a satisfying crunch. They are the perfect crowd-pleaser, so add them to dishes when you entertain or enjoy them with your loved ones when you gather to watch your favorite game."

Visit www.SnackAlmonds.com to vote for a winning recipe and enter to win the dream College Basketball Package (valued at $8,500).

Following is a sneak peek at the lineup of winning selections from the "Ultimate Snack Off Recipe Contest:"

1. Grilled Skirt Steak Sliders with Smoked Almond Romesco, Maytag Blue Cheese, and Smoked Almond Butter

Created by Jennifer Wayland, executive sous chef and pastry chef at Roxiticus Country Club, Mendham, NJ

The sandwiches may be scaled down in size, but certainly not in flavor. Enjoy five layers of satisfying tastes, including smoked almond butter, grilled steak, pungent blue cheese and voluptuous almond romesco.

2. Beer and Bacon Glazed All-Mans (Almonds)

Created by Cory Barrett, pastry chef of Michael Symon Restaurants, Cleveland, OH

A trifecta of man's favorite things, these all-mans have it all. They're sweet, salty and coated with flecks of savory bacon and pepper. And you want to know the best part? This indulgent snack is ready to grab in less than 30 minutes.

3. Almond Beer-Battered Catfish

Created by Elyse Buckley, Erin Harbacek, and Kathryn Goddard of Kansas State University's Kansas Value-Added Food Laboratory

Big pieces of meaty white fish get a power-packed Cajun coating made with almonds and traditional seasoning while the garlic-and-herb-infused beer battering adds another serious layer of flavor.

4. Three Chili Honey Almond Fried Chicken

Created by Randal Shircel, corporate R&D chef at Ventura Foods

These crispy chicken wings get their hearty texture from a jalapeno-spiked almond-and-Japanese-breadcrumb coating. Hot out of the fryer, they're gilded with a fiery glaze made with three types of chilies.

Fans who try out the recipes at home and send in their photos and comments could also be one of 50 Almond Inspiration cookbook winners.

For additional tasty almond snack recipes, visit www.AlmondsAreIn.com or look for products with almonds on your grocery shelves.

The Almond Board of California administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Established in 1950, the Board's charge is to promote the best quality almonds, California's largest tree nut crop. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit www.AlmondsAreIn.com.

SOURCE Almond Board of California

RELATED LINKS
http://www.AlmondsAreIn.com
http://www.SnackAlmonds.com