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Like the New Orleans Saints, the 2010 Super Bowl victor, Christopher Ranch Roasted Garlic & Blue Cheese Crab Dip scored the winning touchdown in this year’s Christopher Ranch Garlic Gridiron Challenge.
Jo Anne Washburn, culinary student at the San Francisco-based California Culinary Academy, won first-place accolades in the first-ever challenge, which invited culinary students at several California culinary schools to create original, garlic-infused Super Bowl party dishes.
Washburn, who will receive $500 for her first-place finish, credits inspiration for her Christopher Ranch Roasted Garlic & Blue Cheese Crab Dip to the widespread popularity of crab dip, the recipe’s simplicity and her love of food experimentation. It is the garlic, however, that truly enhances the dish, she said.
“You must put a piece of the soft and creamy roasted Christopher Ranch garlic on top,” Washburn said. “It is imperative that you do this because the appetizer will not be complete without it; it’s like playing football without your star quarterback.”
Recipes were judged based on flavor (25%), innovation (25%), presentation (25%) and recipe’s ability to showcase the garlic (25%). Judging took place at the on-campus cooking competition, wherein the top-three contestants - selected from the first-round entry - prepared their winning recipes, Iron Chef-style.
Second-place runner up was Spicy Garlic Bacon-Wrapped Mushrooms, created by Annette Turek, followed by Shanda Cool’s third-place Game Day Garlic Pigskin Peanuts. Turek and Cool will receive $200 and $100, respectively, for their winning dishes.
The Garlic Gridiron Challenge is one step in Christopher Ranch efforts to establish relationships with culinary students and professors, in order to raise awareness about the differences in fresh garlic varieties, glean insight about the culinary industry and bridge the divide between farmers and chefs.
Without further adieu, the winning recipe....
Christopher Ranch Roasted Garlic & Blue Cheese Crab Dip
Servings: 20-25/Yield: about 2 1/2 cups dip
Ingredients:
- 2-cups fresh lump crab meat;
- 1/2-cup tiny shrimps - pre-cooked;
- 1/2-cup mozzarella cheese;
- 1/2-cup blue cheese - crumbled;
- 1/2-cup mayonnaise;
- 1/4-cup green onions - finely chopped;
- 1/4-cup fresh parsley - minced;
- 1/4-cup jalapenos - minced;
- 1-tsp. cayenne;
- 1/2-tsp. dry mustard;
- 2-tsp. Worcestershire sauce;
- 1-tsp. Tabasco hot sauce;
- 1 1/2-cup Christopher Ranch California Heirloom Garlic Cloves - roasted;
- Olive oil - to taste;
- Salt - to taste;
- Pepper - to taste;
- 1 whole French baguette
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all ingredients, with the exception of garlic. Mix well, and place crab mix in a baking dish. Set aside.
Spread the garlic cloves on a separate sheet pan, and drizzle olive oil over the garlic. Roast garlic in the oven for 30 min., or until soft and golden. Bake crab mix in the oven for 20 min.
Meanwhile, cut the French baguette into 1/4-inch circles. Spread slices on sheet pan, and drizzle olive oil atop. Lightly salt and pepper, and set aside.
Once the crab mix and garlic are finished baking, place bread in oven for about 3-5 min.
Once bread is properly toasted, spread the crab mix over each slice, and place a roasted garlic clove on top. Arrange the slices on a platter, and serve. Enjoy!
Inspiration: "I was inspired to make this dish because I love to play with my food. I could have gone with many other appetizers, but what's a Super Bowl party without a creamy, rich-flavored crab dip? I love crab on everything and also garlic. Making this dish is easy and takes very little time. Take a spoon, and scoop a nice helping of the crab mixture onto your toasted French baguette. Then, you MUST put a piece of the soft and creamy roasted Christopher Ranch garlic on top. It is imperative that you do this because the appetizer will not be complete without it; it's like playing football without your star quarterback. Enjoy, and Bon Appetite!"
Don't forget the runners up.....
Annette Turek's Spicy Garlic Bacon-Wrapped Mushrooms - 2nd Place
Servings: 12
Ingredients:
- 24 fresh button mushrooms;
- 48-62 cloves of Christopher Ranch California Heirloom Garlic - roasted;
- 2 jars prepared hot mango chutney;
- 2 packages smoked bacon - sliced and halved;
- Olive oil - to taste
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400-degrees Fahrenheit. Toss garlic cloves in olive oil, and bake for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove mushroom stems, and use melon baller to carefully hollow out. Place 1 tsp. chutney in each mushroom cap, and top with 2-3 cloves of roasted garlic. Place one end of bacon over open part of mushroom cap, and wrap around, covering completely. Avoid wrapping the bottom of the mushroom, and secure with a toothpick.
Preheat grill, or keep oven at 400 degrees. Place wrapped mushrooms on grill, or in oven on rack;