Mealtime Inspiration Sends Area Resident to a Mediterranean Destination

ORRVILLE, Ohio, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspiration can yield tasty results! A Falls Church, Virginia resident and a friend are packing their bags and taking their taste-buds on a journey abroad courtesy of Crisco® Olive Oil. After sorting through more than 3,500 entries, a panel of judges declared Lavender Olive Oil Cake the grand prize winning recipe and accompanying essay submitted by Jennifer B. in the Crisco Mediterranean Inspirations Recipe and Essay Contest. The contest asked home cooks to submit their Mediterranean-inspired recipes and essays describing how Crisco Olive Oil inspired them for a chance to win a trip for two to Italy.

The runners-up each receive a year's supply of Crisco Olive Oil products and a cookware set. They are:

100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil Category:

• Brenda W. from Gaffney, SC for her Creamy Tuscan Torta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
• Carly S. from Thomasville, GA for her Spanakopita Chick Pea "Burgers" with Olive Tapenade
• Sandy B. from Bolingbrook, IL for her Mediterranean Skillet Ribeyes with Olive Relish and Pasta

Pure Olive Oil Category:

• Jessie G. from Falmouth, ME for her Crunchy Pesto Chicken Paillards with Caprese Salsa
• Judy A. from Prairieville, LA for her Roasted Pork Tenderloin in a Fennel and Rosemary Reduction Sauce

Light Tasting Olive Oil Category:

• Jeanie S. from Jasper, GA for her Shrimp and Sausage Linguini
• Lily J. from Gainesville, FL for her Lemon Almond Semolina Cake
• Steven G. from Roslyn, NY for his Top Chop Veal Milanese

"Crisco is committed to offering high-quality, affordable products, which help inspire home cooks to create recipes for memorable meals and moments," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "Our consumers often share that they enjoy preparing foods at home from their latest travels, new cultures and unique flavors. We wanted to help enhance this experience for one lucky home cook by providing them with the chance to draw further culinary experiences from travels abroad."

About the Crisco Mediterranean Inspirations Recipe and Essay Contest

In January 2011, the brand asked home cooks to submit their original Mediterranean-inspired recipes and an essay in 100 words or less describing how Crisco Olive Oil inspired the recipe at www.GetInspiredWithCrisco.com.  Recipes must have used at least two tablespoons of one of the three varieties of Crisco Olive Oil and submitted in corresponding categories: Crisco 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Crisco Pure Olive Oil or Crisco Light Tasting Olive Oil. Recipes must also have included a minimum of two ingredients commonly used in Mediterranean-style cooking.  

Qualified entries were judged based on taste, creativity of the recipe, ease of preparation and appearance. Corresponding essays were judged based on relevance to the theme, creative expressions and clarity. The top three entries in each category were declared the nine finalists and the highest overall score was declared the grand prize winner.

To view the winning recipes and additional tips and recipes made using Crisco Olive Oil, visit www.Crisco.com.

About The J.M. Smucker Company

For more than 110 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that help families create memorable mealtime moments.  Today, Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's®, Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Jif®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, Eagle Brand®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation®, Europe's Best® and Bick's® in Canada. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. The Company has appeared on FORTUNE Magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States 13 times, ranking number one in 2004. For more information about the Company, visit www.smuckers.com.

The J.M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks, except Pillsbury, the Barrelhead logo and the Doughboy character are trademarks of The Pillsbury Company, LLC, used under license; Carnation is a trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., used under license; and Dunkin' Donuts is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder, LLC, used under license. Borden and Elsie are trademarks used under license.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Company