Celebrity Chef Ming Tsai Announces Winner of Ocean Spray's First Tailgating
Recipe Contest
LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- What does it take to be
named the "Unofficial Official Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots"?
According to Katie Pelczar of Dedham, Massachusetts - the winner of Ocean
Spray's first ever tailgating recipe contest - it takes mixing sweet and
savory flavors with the irresistible tang of Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Cocktail and Ocean Spray cranberries. Pelczar's tantalizing Grilled Bacon
Apple Bites with Chunky Cranberry Spread tailgate recipe, which exemplifies
the spirit of tailgating and highlights the versatility of the cranberry, will
be showcased at the New England Patriots Tailgate party on October 18.
Pelczar was among the three finalists today who participated in Ocean Spray's
Tailgating Recipe Contest cook-off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough,
Massachusetts. Finalists whipped up cranberry-inspired tailgate recipes using
equipment provided by Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place.
Well known Chef Ming Tsai, host of Simply Ming and chef/owner of the
award-winning Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, Massachusetts, announced
the winner. Pelczar's recipe was awarded the title of "Unofficial Official
Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots" and she received a prize package
including two tickets to the New England Patriots' October 18 game against the
Tennessee Titans.
"The recipes were imaginative, bringing the flavors of fall to the grill and
the gridiron. It was difficult to choose," said Ming Tsai. "The judges and I
felt that Katie Pelczar's recipe displayed the true versatility of the fruit
with Grilled Bacon Apple Bites with Chunky Cranberry Spread."
Ming Tsai, a football enthusiast, also got in on the action by preparing
several of his favorite tailgate recipes, including his Blue Ginger Cranberry
Chicken Wings and Cranberry-Ginger-Soju Fizz cocktail. To view his cranberry
inspired tailgate recipes visit, www.oceanspray.com or www.ming.com.
The contest was open to New England residents with a passion for cranberries
and tailgating. The recipes had to be original and reflect the overall theme
of tailgating. Creations were judged on creativity, use of product, taste,
overall appearance and ease of preparation. The respected panel of judges
included Chef Ming Tsai, Pro Football Hall of Famer John Hannah and Cindy
Taccini, senior test kitchen manager at Ocean Spray.
"Showcasing the versatility of the cranberry and our products year-round is
part of everything we do at Ocean Spray," said Larry Martin, vice president of
marketing at Ocean Spray. "While cranberry inspired holiday favorites are top
of mind this time of year, we're giving consumers yet another reason to enjoy
the sweet, tangy taste of cranberries."
The recipe contest was held at Gillette Stadium in conjunction with Ocean
Spray's "Patriot Place Bog." The free-standing, 1,500 square foot cranberry
bog - created using more than 2,000 pounds of cranberries - is on display and
open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 17 and to fans attending the Patriots
game on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Visitors are also encouraged to visit Ocean Spray's "Nature Trail and
Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place." The nature trail, which is free and open to
the public from dawn until dusk every day, sits on 16-acres behind the Bass
Pro Shops at Patriot Place and is a part of a 32-acre wetland system. Visitors
seeking light exercise or fun, educational activities for children are invited
to enjoy the cranberry bog and wide variety of wildlife and plant life from
the trail, bridge or observation platform, which extends across a six-acre
pond.
Tailgate Recipes
The winning recipe will be posted on the official New England Patriots website
www.patriots.com, delivered to thousands of Patriots fans via the Patriots Now
newsletter and featured on www.oceanspray.com.
Grilled Bacon Apple Bites with Chunky Cranberry Spread
Recipe by: Katie Pelczar
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Ocean Spray(R) Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup Ocean Spray(R) Cranberry Juice Cocktail
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
16 slices bacon
8 slices hearty whole-grain bread
4 teaspoons mustard
1 large apple, sliced
1/3 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
Directions:
Preheat grill to high.
Bring cranberries, water, cranberry juice cocktail, raisins, sugar, vinegar
and ginger to a boil in cast-iron pot or Dutch oven. Reduce heat; simmer for
10 minutes or until thickened.
Meanwhile, heat oil in small cast-iron skillet. Add onion and garlic; saute
until soft and slightly brown. Stir onion mixture into cranberry mixture.
Cook bacon on griddle until crisp. Spread 4 bread slices with mustard. Top
with bacon, apple and cheese. Spread cranberry mixture on remaining 4 bread
slices. Place bread slices, cranberry side down, on cheese to form sandwiches.
Grill sandwiches on griddle until browned on both sides and cheese is melted.
Cut each sandwich into 4 triangles. Serve with remaining cranberry mixture.
Makes 4 sandwiches.
Score big with other game day treats, including Ocean Spray's Ultimate Party
Meatballs. For more recipes visit, www.oceanspray.com
Ultimate Party Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray(R) Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 12-ounce bottle Heinz(R) Chili Sauce
1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs
Directions:
Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until
smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are
heated through, stirring occasionally.
Makes 30 appetizer servings.
Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and
pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.
About Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 600 cranberry
growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Oregon, Washington,
British Columbia and other parts of Canada as well as more than 50 Florida
grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed over 75 years ago by three
cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit
growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America's leading
producer of canned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the
best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled juice category since 1981.
Ocean Spray posted fiscal 2008 sales of $1.9 billion.
SOURCE Ocean Spray
Sharon Newcomb of Ocean Spray, +1-508-946-7185, snewcomb@oceanspray.com; or
Erin Johnson of Weber Shandwick for Ocean Spray, +1-617-520-7296,
ejohnson@webershandwick.com
