2009 Sweet Rewards Recipe Contest Winners

The 2009 Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission's Sweet Rewards Recipe Contest was even bigger than last year's with more than 800 mouth-watering recipes submitted from amateur and professional cooks across the country.

For the contest, each recipe had to feature canned sweet potatoes, and fit into one of five categories: Open to amateur cooks only: Breads & Breakfast, Desserts, Sides, or Soups; Professional category, for professional chefs only, accepted recipes in all categories. The first place winner of each category received $500, and the Grand Prize for Overall Best Recipe was $1,000. Thank you to all of our readers and others who participated!

Sweet Potato Sausage Slider

From the kitchen of Peter Hafferty, Corpus Christi, TX

1st Place Winner – Breads and Breakfast: 

Sweet Potato & Zucchini Bread
From the kitchen of Barbara Guttierez, Ottaway, OH

1st Place Winner – Sides:

Critter Fritter
From the kitchen of Veronica Gantley, Norfolk, VA

1st Place Winner – Soups:

Savory Sweet Potato Stew
From the kitchen of Angelique Page, Chicago, IL

1st Place Winner – Desserts:

Sweet Potato Pie Coconut Cheesecake
Tony Austin, Jr., Miramar, FL

1st Place Winner – Professional:

Sweet Potato Bisque with Sweet Potato Crawfish Churros
Hugh A. Sinclair, Miami, FL