Do you Have the Best Pumpkin Dessert Recipe? It's That Time Again!

The Cosumnes CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival is looking for your best Pumpkin Dessert Recipe! Contest rules and entry form are attached. Finalists will compete on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the GIANT Pumpkin Festival at Elk Grove Regional Park.

Winners of the best Pumpkin Dessert Recipe will receive:
First Place: $350
Second Place: $100
Third Place: $50

All entries must be received by Monday September 21, 2009.

Here are the rules of the contest directly from the press release: Recipes for the CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove Best Pumpkin Dessert Recipe Contest 2009 must be original and specify the use of fresh or canned pumpkin. The recipe contest encourages the use of pumpkin as a key ingredient; and fresh ingredients where appropriate.

All recipes will fall under the “Best Pumpkin Dessert Recipe” category.
Contestants may submit one entry per person. Each entry must be submitted typewritten and in recipe format. Recipe format lists ingredients in order of use with amount/quantity, followed by the step-by-step method of preparation.

All entries must be received no later than September 21, 2009. Entries can be received via postal mail or e-mail (the contact information is listed on the official entry form). All recipes submitted as entries become the property of the CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove. By entering the contest, all participants consent to the commercial use of their name, picture, likeness and recipe for advertising and publicity purposes without further compensation.

A team of judges will consider qualifying entries. They will select 10 finalists. Notification and details of finalist participation will be made by September 25, 2009. A certification of recipe originality will be required from each finalist.

Finalists must participate personally in the on site recipe contest to be eligible for prizes.

On October 4, 2009, completed dishes will be brought to the CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove to be judged by a panel of three to five local chefs, celebrities and/or food experts.

Entry must be submitted ready to serve between 9:30 am and 10:00 am on October 4, 2009. Final judging will take place at the festival promptly at 10:00 a.m. at the Safeway Pumpkin Pavilion. Selection of the judges is at the sole discretion of the CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove Committee.

Entry must serve at least 6 people. Finalists must provide the ingredients necessary for their recipes to produce their final entry.

There are no heating or cooling facilities at the CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove.

The basis for judging will be ease of preparation, flavor, texture, creativity, appearance and the use of pumpkin. The decision of the judging panel is final and binding.

Winners will be announced on the stage at the Safeway Pumpkin Pavilion at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2009. Prizes for the CSD GIANT Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove Best Pumpkin Dessert Recipe Contest are offered only to those finalists who participate in the final judging on October 4, 2009. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place. First prize: $350 and the First Place Ribbon. Second Prize: $100 and the Second Place Ribbon. Third Prize: $50 and the Third Place Ribbon. All taxes are the sole responsibility of the winners.

Winning recipes will be published online at www.yourcsd.com.

Entries may be emailed to: pumpkinfestivalrecipes at csdparks dot com
Or mailed to: Pumpkin Recipe Contest, Cosumnes CSD, 9014 Bruceville Road, Elk Grove, CA 95758

If you have any questions, or for more information, please contact Beth Gegogeine at(916) 405-5634 or Timory Desalernos at (916) 405-5667.

Good luck!