Hershey's Cocoa Classic Baking Contest Opens Across Pennsylvania; County Fairs Kick...

Hershey's Cocoa Classic Baking Contest Opens Across Pennsylvania; County Fairs
Kick Off Individual Contests

HERSHEY, Pa., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all bakers! The 2008
Hershey's Cocoa Classic baking contest is underway at a fair near you! This
annual confectionary competition, co-sponsored by The Hershey Company, the
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania State Association
of County Fairs, is held at county fairs across Pennsylvania now through
October 2008.
Over 110 fairs will offer cash prizes in two categories. Adults and youth
may enter for the best cake concoction, and children ages 8-18 may enter the
youth category for tastiest cookies, brownies or bars.
Each fair's contest serves as a preliminary competition for the final
Hershey's Cocoa Classic held each January at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show.
First place winners at the 2009 Farm Show will be awarded a cash grand prize
of $500 for the winning cake recipe and $250 for the winning cookie, brownie
or bar recipe.
Chocolate enthusiasts have reason to celebrate their beloved chocolate and
cocoa creations. Modern scientific research has affirmed that eating dark
chocolate and cocoa products can provide various important health benefits,
such as lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and protecting your body
from signs of aging.
Cocoa powder and chocolate are products made from the seeds of the fruit
of the tropical cacao tree. Modern science has linked specific naturally
occurring compounds found in dark chocolate and cocoa with several potential
cardiovascular benefits. Eating a small bar everyday can help lower your blood
pressure and reduce bad cholesterol by 10 percent, according to some studies.
Dark chocolate and cocoa also contain flavonoids. These act as nitric
oxide stimulators, which can help improve blood flow, and antioxidants, which
protect your body from aging. Some chocolate companies have now discovered how
to make dark chocolate that contains up to 95 percent of its flavonoids.
While more research is needed, the preliminary evidence about the benefits
of flavonoid in chocolate and cocoa is promising. Of course, chocolate is also
a source of calories and should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy
diet and active lifestyle. And, HERSHEY'S COCOA is the real deal!
For more information and a complete list of participating county fairs,
log onto http://www.pafairs.org.
Hershey's Cocoa Classic Rules

CAKE CONTEST RULES
1. Open to any individual who is a Pennsylvania resident; one entry per
person.
2. Entry must be a layered chocolate cake made from "scratch" and frosted
(no mixes).
3. A minimum of 1/4 cup of HERSHEY'S COCOA must be used and listed as
"HERSHEY'S COCOA" in the cake part of the recipe.
4. If chocolate frosting or chocolate drizzle is used, HERSHEY'S COCOA
must be used and listed as "HERSHEY'S COCOA" in the frosting/drizzle
parts of the recipe.
5. If candy, chocolate or flavored baking chips are used they must be
HERSHEY'S, REESE'S or HEATH branded products and listed with their
brand name in the recipe. (See http://www.hersheys.com for complete
product list.)
6. The entire cake entry must be submitted for judging on cardboard or a
disposable plate.
7. Recipe(s) must be submitted with the entry, printed on one side of
8-1/2" x 11" paper. Recipe must list all ingredients, quantities, and
the preparation instructions. Entrant's name, address and phone number
must be printed on the back side of all the pages.
8. Refrigeration is not available at the Fair or PA Farm Show. Entries
that require refrigeration after baking must indicate so in the recipe.
Those entries will not be sold, auctioned or otherwise distributed for
consumption after judging for food safety reasons.
9. Judging will be based on the following criteria:

Flavor 30 points
Texture 25 points
Inside characteristics 20 points
Outside characteristics 15 points
Frosting 10 points
TOTAL 100 points

PRIZES: 1st = $25 2nd = $20 3rd = $15

First place winner is eligible for the 2009 PA Farm Show competition.
Top prize for the PA State Hershey's Cocoa Cake Winner is $500.

COOKIE, BROWNIE OR BAR CONTEST RULES
1. Exhibitor must be an individual (age 8 through and including 18 years
ONLY) who is a Pennsylvania resident; one entry per person.
2. Entry must be a plate of six (6) cookies, brownies or bars made from
"scratch" (no mixes).
3. A minimum of 1/2 cup of HERSHEY'S BAKING CHIPS (any variety) must be
used and listed as "HERSHEY'S" and name the specific chip variety in
the cookie-brownie-bar part of the recipe.
4. If chocolate frosting or chocolate icing/drizzle is used, HERSHEY'S
COCOA must be used and listed as "HERSHEY'S COCOA" in the
frosting/drizzle part of the recipe.
5. If candy, chocolate or flavored baking chips are used they must be
HERSHEY'S, REESE'S or HEATH branded products. (See
http://www.hersheys.com for complete product list.)
6. Entry must be submitted for judging on a doily-covered cardboard or
disposable plate.
7. Recipe(s) must be submitted with the entry, printed on one side of
8-1/2" x 11" paper. Recipe must list all ingredients, quantities, and
the preparation instructions. Entrant's name, address and phone number
must be printed on the back side of all the pages.
8. Refrigeration is not available at the Fair or PA Farm Show. Entries
that require refrigeration after baking must indicate so in the recipe.
Those entries will not be sold, auctioned or otherwise distributed for
consumption after judging for food safety reasons.
9. Judging will be based on the following criteria:

Flavor 30 points
Texture 25 points
Inside characteristics 20 points
Outside characteristics 15 points
Frosting 10 points
TOTAL 100 points

PRIZES: 1st = $20 2nd = $15 3rd = $10

First place winner is eligible for the 2009 PA Farm Show competition.
Top prize for the PA State Hershey's Cookie-Brownie-Bar Winner is $250.

So dig out that favorite chocolate recipe and give it a try. You could be
this year's Hershey's Cocoa Classic winner.
SOURCE Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs

Natonia Palladino for Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs,
+1-717-232-1898, npalladino@pposinc.com