We are really excited about something over here and we’re finally ready to tell you all about it.

We are throwing a contest! It’s the Hamakua Springs Tomato Recipe Content, and it has some great prizes.

There are three categories:

Entree
Dessert
Preserves & Condiments

Here’s how it works. You send us your best, original recipe by January 31 (you can enter more than one recipe, but please send each entry separately).

Our judges will go through all entries and choose what are, in their expert opinions, top recipes in each category. Then those recipes will be prepared by students from the Hawai’i Community College Food Service program.

Then our panel of judges will taste and select the top three dishes in each category. We have some terrific judges!

Food writer Sonia Martinez
Food writer Joan Namkoong
Hawaii Community College School of Continuing Education program director Randy Nunokawa
Hawaii Tribune-Herald food columnist Audrey Wilson
Hawaii Community College Chancellor Rockne Freitas

Prizes? Each category will have a first, second and third place winner (nine prizes total). First prize in each category is $350 in Makana cards (gift certificates valid at Foodland or Sack & Save). Second prize is $300 in Makana cards, and third prize is $250 in Makana cards.

Winners will be announced right here on the blog on March 14.

Foodland has started advertising our contest in their newspaper insert — have you noticed it?

We’re excited about it. And I’m not just saying that; we really are. I hope we’ve got you thinking about your favorite tomato recipes. We want to hear them! Please send ’em in. Our mailing address and all the contest details are here.

Okay, go get your recipes out and put them in the mail to us right now while you’re thinking about it. You know, before the holidays distract you.

But you know we’ll be reminding you about it from time to time. — posted by Leslie Lang