Paula Deen, Philadelphia Cream Cheese Announce 'Real Women of Philadelphia' Finalists

GLENVIEW, Ill., June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Philadelphia cream cheese and Southern Cooking Queen Paula Deen have selected the 16 finalists of the "Real Women of Philadelphia" cooking competition.  The quest to crown four fantastic female cooks the "Real Women of Philadelphia" heats up as the talented finalists compete in a cook-off with Paula in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.  On June 30, 2010 at 8 PM EDT, Paula Deen will host a live grand finale on www.PaulaDeen.com/RealWomen where we will meet all the finalists, share highlights from the cook-off and announce the final four winners.

Each contestant's recipe will be judged by Paula and her friends and four lucky ladies will be named the "Real Women of Philadelphia" – each winning a talent contract worth $25,000 and the opportunity to host their own weekly online cooking show on www.PaulaDeen.com/RealWomen. The winners will also have the chance to contribute to a cookbook featuring the community's favorite cream cheese recipes.  

The "Real Women of Philadelphia" competition categories, included: appetizers, side dishes, entrees and desserts.  

The finalists include:

Appetizers

• Annette Gladys – Fairfax Station, VA
• April Slayden – Murfreesboro, TN
• Stacey Shields – Las Vegas, NV
• Caryn Ross – Oklahoma City, OK

Side Dishes

• Jacqui Nicholson – Chicago, IL
• Cathy Hazzard – Palm Bay, FL
• Mandy Heaston – Seattle, WA
• Ann L. Miller-Tobin – Columbus, OH

Entrees

• Cynthia Price – Arlington, TX
• Sheila Cutchlow – Washington, DC
• Suzanne Clark – Phoenix, AZ
• Lenore Nolan-Ryan – Fort Lauderdale, FL

Desserts

• Laura Vitale – Minotola, NJ
• Lindsay Rudolph – Winchester, VA
• KC Quaretti Lee – Venice, FL
• Debbie Fabre – Southwest FL

The response to "Real Women of Philadelphia" has been staggering.  More than 10 million people watched the initial YouTube video through to completion.  Since the program's launch in March 2010, the "Real Women of Philadelphia" community has seen significant growth, and has hosted more than 550,000 unique visitors to the site. Approximately 25% of these are repeat visitors actively engaged with the content, creating a community of more than 150,000 passionate "Real Women". The "Real Women of Philadelphia" have created their own site profiles, uploaded pictures, written articles, and self-produced over 5,000 entertaining, emotional and creative short videos showcasing how they use Philly in their favorite dishes - whether it's their secret ingredient for smooth mashed potatoes or the perfect creamy pasta sauce.  To date, these compelling cream cheese-based recipe videos have received a total of approximately 19 million views across various media channels and the RWOP site.  Paula has also joined in the fun by posting her favorite recipes with "how to" videos along with sharing down-home ideas and tips and tricks with the community.  

Visit www.PaulaDeen.com/RealWomen to find out more about the "Real Women of Philadelphia" cooking competition and share recipes and tips with other real-life cooks.

About Kraft Foods

With annual revenues of approximately $48 billion, Kraft Foods is a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals. The company is the world's second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in more than 160 countries.  The portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion - Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gum; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats. Approximately 70 brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million. Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.

SOURCE Kraft Foods